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Four Food Chiefs

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Four Food Chiefs Our People, Our Community Dec 2-3, 2013 Who We Are Felix & Francis Swite, Manuel Louie, Dennis and Charlie Swite 3 Wilson family, 1930s Photo courtesy: Kelowna Museum Robert Louie Mary Anne Eli Norman Lindley Millie Jack Bill Derrickson 5 The Community Vision Through self‐government Westbank First Nation (“WFN”) will recognize and honour its history, culture and connection to its lands and create a stable, accountable government to support social and economic development. 6 Westbank Lands (Reserves) 7 Chief and Council –the elected governing body (2013‐16) 8 Some Statistics • Number of reserves 5 • Approx. acreage of Westbank 5,340 Lands • Total Westbank membership 777 • Non‐member residents 10,000 • Businesses on‐reserve 400 • Council –elected every 3 years 5 four Councillors, one Chief • Advisory Council ‐ elected by 5 non‐members every 3 years • Budget $40+million • Number of Employees 200 + 9 The WFN Logo • Created in 1992 through a band member contest initiated by council. • Final design came from combining two separate creative entries by members Mary Derickson and Sherry Hamilton. • Depicts na’ha‐a‐ikt (ogopogo), Okanagan Lake, sen’klip (coyote) and the bear claw. • Aptly captures the essence of our legends, culture and history. Working for Westbank First Nation • A major employer on the Westside. • Community health and well‐being a priority. • Wide diversity within the workplace. • Laws, policies, programs and planning tools in place. • Opportunity to gain knowledge and increased awareness about aboriginal people, and more specifically the syilx (Okanagans). • Teambuilding, motivation, professional development –WFN priorities that contribute to ae positiv workplace environment. Working for Westbank First Nation (con’t) • Is important to know Westbank’s history, the community vision for the future, and the government structure. • One of the most progressive First Nations in Canada. • Government leadership and staff work first and foremost for the Westbank members. • In the past, the lack of appropriate institutions of government, jurisdiction and infrastructure limited Westbank’s potential. Today this is not the case. • As “self‐governing” WFN is not governed like most other First Nations in Canada. • WFN has more authority/powers and a different status and relationship to other governments in Canada than 95% of First Nations. 12 13 Westbank –Part of the Okanagan Nation • Okanagans (syilx) were self‐governing with customs, traditions and laws in place well before colonization and imposition of the Indian Act in 1876. • Westbank First Nation is one of eight member bands that comprise the Okanagan Nation: Okanagan (Vernon), Penticton, Osoyoos, Upper and Lower Similkameen, Upper Nicola and the Colville Confederated Tribe from Washington State. • The syilx occupy an area of approximately 69,000 sq. km –from Mica Creek, north, Kootenay Lake, east, Wilbur, WA, south, Nicola Valley, west. Westbank –Part of the Okanagan Nation (cont’d) • Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) formed in 1981. • Mandate is to advance and assert title and rights issues as a collective over the Okanagan Nation territory. • Priorities are the protection, preservation, and enhancement of the land, resources, language and culture of the syilx peoples. • Governed by the Chiefs Executive Council (CEC) comprised of the nation chiefs. Okanagan Nation territory Syilx Culture • capkʷl–a record of syilx oral knowledge passed down from generation‐to‐generation. • syilx ‐ from the root word “yil” that refers to taking a many stranded fibre and twisting it to make it one strong unit. • sqilxʷ‐the original people of this land. • Community/family learning was holistic and passed down through storytelling, song and dance. • Customs and laws were known, respected and followed. • Were a nomadic people. Traversed the territory via waterways –from the north end of Okanagan Lake to the Columbia River. • Utilized the land, resources, and the seasons for survival, ceremony and cultural traditions. • Survival activities were hunting, fishing, gathering, root digging, berry picking and trade with neighbouring nations. • Summer homes were portable and moved from place to place while winter homes were partially underground and were more permanent structures –winter homes were clustered and only occupied only during the winter months. A sweathouse –a place for prayer and cleansing the mind and spirit Syilx Culture – Four Food Chiefs • Chief Black Bear (skəm̓ xist)– chief for all creatures on the land –represents self‐ sacrifice, leadership and giving. • Chief Spring Salmon (sklw ̓ is)– chief for all creatures in the water –represents perseverance and hard work. • Chief Bitterroot (sp̓iƛ̓əm)– chief for all things underground –represents the complex relationship to the land. • Chief Saskatoon Berry (sıya̓ ʔ)– chief for all things growing on the land –represents growth, strength and community. syilx phrases way’ Hello or goodbye Xast ɬkʷkʷʕast Good morning Xast sxlx̌ ʕ̌ alt Good day Xast sklax ʷ Good evening ha t’iʔ kʷ_xast?̌ How are you? t’iʔ kən_xasť I’m fine swit askʷist? What is your name? iskʷist… My name is… lıml̓ əmt Thank you Stqaʔtkʷɬniw’t Westbank A LOOK BACK… Photo courtesy: Kelowna Museum In the Beginning… • Aboriginal people were organized into complex societies and occupied the land now known as Canada before the Europeans arrived. • Newcomers began settling in the Okanagan Valley after 1811 and not in any significant numbers until the 1860s. • Before European people came to the Americas it is estimated that there were between 90 to 112 million Aboriginal people in North and South America. Pictographs Imposition of the Indian Act, 1876 • Paternalistic federal legislation that regulated most aspects of Aboriginal people’s lives. Had no input from aboriginal people. • Established “Indians’” as wards of the state. • Defined who was “Indian” and what legal rights they had. • Restricted aboriginal people’s movements . • Set out a new form of government over aboriginal people with band councils having limited administrative authority. • Exerted federal, political and financial authority over Indians and reserves with the intention to eventually assimilate Indians (i.e. no need for reserves or Indian Act after enfranchisement”). Government Actions Under the Indian Act • On the coast the Potlatch was outlawed. Elsewhere other cultural practices were dissuaded. • Compulsory enfranchisement (i.e. “educated” Indians, voting privileges, war veterans). • Many inequities for aboriginal people compared to other Canadians. • Aboriginal women doubly discriminated against. • Indian agents ran the reserves and land was granted to individuals as certificates of possession (CPs). At Westbank, over time, 80% of land gets allocated to individuals. • Aboriginal children taken to residential schools. 26 Residential Schools • 1840s –first residential schools established –last one closed in 1996. At Westbank, some went to Kamloops, others to Cranbrook and Washington State. • Government developed an aggressive assimilation policy . The thinking was that aboriginal culture and spiritual beliefs were inferior and aboriginal children had to fit into mainstream Canadian society. • Schools were church run and funded by the government. • Children were removed from their communities and forced to attend . • Severed ties to language, culture, and families. • Widespread physical, emotional and sexual abuse. • Unhealthy living conditions –resulted in horrifying death rates. • Loss of culture, language, and family connection –in turn led to shame, low self‐worth, drug, alcohol and domestic abuse and high suicide rates. Loading up the kids Kamloops Indian Residential School Early Treaty Making • The Royal Proclamation of 1763 states that the nations or tribes of Indians would not be harmed or disturbed and that, before settlement could occur, the lands would be acquired through treaty. • Today, except for BC, most of Canada is covered by treaties (pre‐confederation, numbered and modern). • Under Canada’s Constitution, the federal government has exclusive jurisdiction and responsibility for “Indians and lands reserved for Indians” –(s. 91(24)). BC –A Different Story… • Between 1850 and 1854, 14 land purchases totalling 358 sq miles were made from aboriginals on Vancouver Island. • Became known as the Douglas Treaties and was one of two historical treaties signed in BC (the other being Treaty 8). • After 1854 ‐ no more historical treaties were made – dispute over who would pay the cost of settlements. • 1871 –BC joins Canada. Federal government assumes responsibility for Indians. • 1876 ‐ Reserves unilaterally set out for each tribe by reserve commissions (no negotiations). • Were to be located where First Nations lived, camped, fished, etc. For the most part, limited in size. • Originally, and for a short time, First Nation people could vote, pre‐empt land and farm/ranch on the same terms as settlers. These rights were legislated away. BC –A Different Story… (con’t) • Aboriginal title and rights were not adequately addressed. • Next 100 years would see little progress on the “land question”. • 1912 –Royal Commission established by the federal and provincial government to resolve the “Indian Land Question” in BC. • Became known as the McKenna‐McBride Royal Commission. • Commission had power to adjust the acreage of Indian reserves in BC. • Federal/Provincial agreement clearly states that any reductions made to reserve lands could only be made with the consent of the Indians concerned. BC –A Different Story…
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