Two Haida Language Learners Participating in the Cultural Camp in Ketchikan, Alaska. Story See Page 4
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REPORTING OUT: BEING OUR ANCESTORS SUMMER SESSION AT SEA MADE THESE pg 5 pg 7 MARKS pg 13 HAIDA LAAS Newsletter of the Council of the Haida Nation October 2016 Two Haida language learners participating in the cultural camp in Ketchikan, Alaska. Story see page 4. Haida Laas - Newsletter of the Council of the Haida Nation Haida Nation welcomes the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Following is the address given by the President of the Haida Nation, kil tlaats ‘gaa Peter Lantin on the occasion of the Royal visit to Haida HAIDA LAAS Gwaii, September 30, 2016. NEWSLETTER of the COUNCIL OF THE HAIDA NATION published by the The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Xaadaa Koyaa’iisis. Council of the Haida Nation Our ancient name for these Islands is Xaaydla Gwaayaay, meaning Islands Managing Editor Out of Concealment from the Supernatural Beings – for our oral traditions Simon Davies come from the time of the arrival of the first tree, the birth of humans, and Layout & Web Development Raven bringing light to the world. Mare Levesque These islands birthed a magnificent culture and art form showcased Writer throughout the world, which was developed over 15,000 years of occupation Graham Richard Rhonda Lee McIsaac from a population decimated to a mere 500 from over 10,000 at first contact Tawla Jaad in 1774. Jaskwaan Let us briefly acknowledge that the federal and provincial governments [email protected] tried to dispossess us of our land, resources, children, and spirit. But we are p.250.559.4468 survivors. We are survivors. Council of the Haida Nation We owe our existence to these Islands and waters, which provide our Administrator material, economic, cultural and spiritual wealth. Box 589, Old Massett Haida Gwaii Today, the Haida Nation does not ask you to advocate on our behalf with V0T 1M0 Canada or BC. We do not because thirty years ago our ancestors said it was p.250.626.5252 f.250.626.3403 time for the Haida Nation to rise again and to take our children’s future into 1.888.638.7778 our own hands. We have taken direct action and litigation to protect Haida [email protected] Gwaii. We have blazed a new path away from Canada’s colonial history, Council of the Haida Nation and remain deeply committed to achieve reconciliation for the oceans – the President last frontier –- through all means necessary. Just as we respectfully returned Box 98, Queen Charlotte Haida Gwaii the name the Queen Charlotte Islands, we are respectfully returning to V0T 1S0 sustainable, economic autonomy over the Haida Gwaii, the Islands of the p.250.559.4468 f.250.559.8951 People. 1.877.559.4468 We know that good will come from your visit, for you bring hope – hope [email protected] that the past will illuminate the future and that we will attain what was October 2016 beyond the reach of our ancestors. We welcome global attention to both the www.haidanation.ca Crown’s unfinished business, and the opportunity to fulfill the dreams of our ancestors and future generations. It is with great honour, I welcome the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. 2 October 2016 Haida Nation welcomes Haida Language Camp 2016 the Duke and Duchess Submitted by sdaahl k'awaas (Lucy Bell) and Gulḵiihlgad (Marianne Ignace) Between July 29 and August 3, 2016, especially blessed to have fluent speakers Pansy Collison, Leona Clow and . We also of Cambridge seventeen learners and speakers of Xaad elders Lawrence Bell, Duuna Red Victoria thank our cook Gene Davidson, sr. and camp Kil (Massett dialect of Haida language), Edgars and Marianne Ignace from Simon director Raven Potschka, who cooked great sponsored by Xaad Kihl ga Suu.u Society Fraser University, who has worked with food and kept us safe as we carried out our of Gaaw Massett, gathered at T'aalan Stl'ang the Massett elders and learners for many Haida language learning. In addition, the Cultural Camp on the stunning and beautiful years, with us. Led by music educator watchmen at K'yuusda helped with hauling beach of the west coast, across from the old Joanne Montgomery, wife of participant Bill water and gear. Háw'aa. Daláng 'waadluwaan village of K'yuusda Kiusta to practice and Montgomery, the group practiced singing, aa t'aláng kil'laagang. hone their language skills. voice projection and sang some songs that Xaad Kihl ga Suu.u Society would like to During four fun-filled and active days of probably have not been sung for decades acknowledge the support of Pacific Coastal learning, the group, comprised of learners including a song about T’aalan Stl’ang. Airlines, Langara Lodge, Old Massett Village and teachers between six months of age With participant Erika Stocker bringing Council, especially Cecil Brown, Simon and 75, along with several parents, children along the youngest learner, her six-month Fraser University, the Social Sciences and and grandchildren, practiced speaking and old daughter Eliza, the elders also provided Humanities Research Council of Canada and conversation around the topics of place, guidance on "baby talk" and traditional the T’aalan Stl’ang team. beach, the camp activities and chores at lullaby song, and a number of songs played For a copy of the language lessons from T'aalan Stl'ang camp, listened to stories on piano by Joanne Montgomery, a legacy for camp, stop by the Haida Rose with a memory connected to the West Coast, K'yuusda future mothers, fathers, naaniis, chinnis and stick. and K'iis Gwaay North Island, and also babies! learned how to make a food blessing or meal We thank all of our learners and teachers: prayer in Haida, say a prayer at a gathering, Erika Stocker and baby Eliza, Lucy's introduce their family and themselves, and daughter Amelia Rea, the Collison three- know how to give a greeting when in a generation family (Steven, Marilyn, Suzanne, Brown Tyson different people's territory. Hannah, Steven and Markus), Bill and Joanne The Haida language camp group was Montgomery, Lawrence Bell, Victoria Edgars, 1000 pages of wisdom This past month, volunteers to learn the Haida language," and members of the Skidegate said Luu Gahlandaay Kevin Haida Immersion Program Borserio. distributed HlG̲ aagilda X̲ aayda SHIP sees the new glossary Kil K̲ 'aalang to each household as another step in furthering in HlGaagilda Skidegate. the conversation and learning HlG̲ aagilda X̲ aayda Kil about x̲ aayda kil. K̲ 'aalang is the most recent HlG̲ aagilda X̲ aayda Skidegate Xaayda kil Haida Kil K̲ 'aalang will also be language glossary, complete available for purchase in with a definitive list of all September, you can contact SHIP's resources created over SHIP at 250.559.9073 or the years. The glossary is a gift [email protected] to order to the people of HlGaagilda a copy! from SHIP and Gwaii Trust. Jiixa Gladys Vandal and Luu Gahlandaay Kevin Borserio excited about the "We don't want money to new Xaayda kil Haida Language glossary. be an impediment for people 3 Haida Laas - Newsletter of the Council of the Haida Nation Photo: Nang Jáadaas Gudangáay K'íinganggang (Susie Edwardson) Photo: Young Haida language learners enjoying the cultural camp organized by Ketchikan volunteers this summer. Language games a ton of fun Haida language received another boost In addition, participants learned weaving, newfound and improved language-skills. this summer as Ketchikan volunteers and sewing, and formline design. This was the In coming years Parrott hopes to get kids organizers ran two culture camps during the annual program’s biggest year, and organizer out into the community and the land to put first and second weeks of August. Katie Parrott says students who return each the language within a strong context. “We The first camp included 50 kids from year show notable improvements in their want this to be a very site-based culture kindergarten through third grade with 30 language and other skills. camp where we’re learning in the traditional older kids from the fourth through eighth “It was a lot of work, these kids have a context,” she explained. “There are so many grade attending the second camp. The camps ton of energy,” she said. “We were really harvesting opportunities. We want to get kids were based out of Houghtaling Elementary impressed with their abilities. They really, out on the land to get children to learn their School and Ketchikan High School. really enjoyed the games. Every day more language that way.” During day trips to the longhouses at and more students came.” The camps are open to everybody who Saxman Village park and Totem Bight The camps culminated in a family wants to learn, so look out for next year’s historical park students learned stories and celebration with student’s parents and culture camps in Ketchikan at the beginning songs with Haida speaker Julie Colburn and families. Participants presented their crafts of August! language teachers K'uyáang Benjamin Young and projects and gifted them to family and Skil Jaadei Linda Schrack. members. They also demonstrated their 4 October 2016 REPORTING OUT Summer Session 2016 September began with the Council of provincial governments,” he said. Environment and Climate Change and Marc the Haida Nation’s Summer Session at Garneau, Minister of Transport both came Naagudgiikyagangs Skidegate Community for talks. Reconciliation with Canada Hall with the executive and elected Minister McKenna heard the CHN’s representatives taking their seats for two days Since the past Winter Session, discussions official position on LNG and the Petronas of passionate dialogue and discussion about with Canada have taken on a more serious project and the governments discussed their activities with Haida citizens.