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18 August 2011
A Visitor from Yesteryear
Mr. Rodger Tasse was one of many legal advisors to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, the era of repatriating the Canadian Constitution. With his visit, I took him to the Anspayaxw totems, the Sikitox Salvation Army Church, to Gitsegukla to visit Mavis’s smoke house and Highway 16 Bannok Stand, and our final stop was with Simoygyet Niitsxw in Gitwangax. He introduced where he belongs in Gitxsan country and spoke generalities of the totems as I did in Kispiox. The totems belong to particular Hereditary chiefs and only they can give details if they so choose. Mr. Tasse’s job was to protect the interests of the crown during that repatriation process.
Just so that we as Canada’s natives don’t get left out, persons like Mr. Ray Jones, Mr. Elmer Derrick were there to protect our interests, insist that aboriginal rights be protected. Many a time, we do not appreciate our own unsung heroes. In conclusion of the rights we fought for and won in Delgam’uukxw. It puts some Gitxsan meat to the bones of Sec. 35 of the Canadian Constitution on behalf of the Gitxsan.
In all modern day treaties, other nations sign away those rights for dollars. The Gitxsan ‘Nahisjaja is different; our gwalaxyee’nst will be there forever. All things have been done incrementally so that the system does not jerk us around.
Last week’s article, re- communications? We will likely add responsibility on other colleagues where we likely don’t have the luxury of having extra dollars. It may have a difference to my added help now, who knows.
I appreciate your positive comments on the street, have a good day.
Art Wilson
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