JANUARY | Kha∙yo di∙dze 2014 ‘Middle of winter month’ Central Council In this edition: r President’s Message r Two Tahltan- Tlingit Artists Awarded r Honouring Our Elders: Willie Williams r Chief McLean Donates Moose Meat r Bill Adsit: Aboriginal Business Visionary r Callison & Hanna Earn Law Award r Michael Cohen on his passion and successful career r Tahltan Author Louise Framst r Tahltan Leaders’ Retreat on Health Celebrating Tahltans! r Lisa Lawley - For this edition of the Tahltan Central newsletter, our focus is on celebrating the achievements of Tahltan FASD work people near and far. Join us in acknowledging the achievements of Tahltan people in all areas of work r Leadership Camp and life. Beginning with this issue, we will be honouring our Tahltan Elders and artists with profi les so we for two young can all learn more about these special people from our communities. Tahltans r Artist Pro" le: In this issue, we congratulate Ken McNeil and Dale Campbell, two artists who won BC Creative Achievement Awards for First Nations’ Art, Callison & Hanna, a law fi rm that won a Special Contribution Mary Dennis Award for their consistent dedication to Aboriginal people, as well as Bill Adsit, former CEO of the Tahltan Nation Development Corporation who won an Aboriginal Business Visionary Award for his dedication to improving the lives of Tahltan members through smart economic development. We also get to learn more about the work Lisa Lawley is doing to support mothers dealing with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, as well as hearing from Louise Framst on being an author. This issue also includes the tale of two Tahltan girls going to Leadership Camp in Ottawa, and Michael Cohen’s story on his love of Star Wars and his career as a graphic designer. Finally we are also thrilled to share the story of Chief Rick McLean donating moose meat for First Nations people on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Happy New Year from the Tahltan Central Council team. Wishing you all the best in 2014! President’s Message Annita McPhee, President of Tahltan Central Council the workers who were willing to protect face in approaching development. these lands and for their recognition that the lands need protection. On the National Day of Action against reckless tar sands expansion, pipelines, This past month I’ve been travelling and runaway climate change, I spoke to places across the country and in at a rally in Terrace against Enbridge the United States to share the Tahltan and supertankers along our coast. I approach to development and to ensure spoke to show the federal government people know and understand why we that communities across Canada are oppose irresponsible development. standing up with a united voice against such developments. We need to work In the words of the late, great Nelson together to defend our coasts and Mandela, “Education is the most protect the salmon that so many First powerful weapon which you can use to Nations communities depend on for their change the world.” survival and sustenance. In November, I attended the Canadian Later in the month, I travelled to San Aboriginal Mining Association Francisco with Christine Ball, TCC Conference. The conference provided Director, Nancy McGee, Tahltan Elder the opportunity for First Nations to share and Oscar Dennis, Tahltan Language Happy New Year Elders, members information on how to address mining Instructor to a conference for investors and youth. This edition of the TCC developments in our territories. in minerals and metals. Fortune Minerals newsletter is a true celebration of all the had a booth there, and it was important achievements our people are earning I was honoured to give a special to share the Tahltan’s opposition against in various fi elds. I am very proud of our presentation at the University of Toronto their Arctos project. accomplishments in 2013, as individuals named “Saving our Sacred Headwaters and as a nation. - triumphs and challenges in the battle to I was also honoured to present a lecture protect Canada’s northern wilderness.” at the Justice Institute of BC on First I raise my hands to our warriors who The presentation was at Faisal Moola’s Nations engagement and the resource stood out in the cold, heat, rain and even class, who is the executive director of sector. During the lecture, we discussed snow to protect our Sacred Headwaters. David Suzuki Foundation. good and ‘not so good’ practices when I raise my hands to all the people who it comes to development. helped us in getting Shell Oil out of I understand the diffi culties the First the Klappan. I raise my hands to the Nations in Ontario’s Ring of Fire are I am looking forward to the new year as children and youth who are learning facing and was glad to share our story there is still much work to be done. from their parents about protecting our and knowledge in the hope that it helps lands for the future. I raise my hands to them with the complex decisions they Meduh! 2 | Tahltan Central Council News - January 2014 HappyHappy NewNew YearYear Two Tahltan-Tlingit Artists Earn BC Creative Achievement Awards The British Columbia Creative Achievement Award for First Nations’ Art is a competition celebrating artistic excellence and highlighting the cultural significance of the arts of the First Nations in British Columbia. The awards are for artists from BC First Nations who have dedicated themselves to their artwork, created a body of work, and who are recognized in their community and peers as artists. Six artists were recognized for their work at a ceremony at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel Vancouver. Among them were Tahltan-Tlingit artists Ken McNeil and Dale Campbell. Ken McNeil is a master carver who works exclusively with wood. He has art work all over the world, from small sculptures to very large totem poles, one of which stands at the University of British Columbia’s First Nations House of Learning. Ken was trained by his uncle, traditional teacher Dempsey Bob, and has taught First Nation Fine Arts at the Northwest Community College in Terrace since it opened in 2006 when it opened. He enjoys passing down his knowledge to his students. “All artists have to learn their own history and know themselves before they start creating,” he said. “Then you can work by that, leaving room for innovation.” Dale Campbell is also a master carver, and she was also taught by Dempsey Bob – as well as his teacher, the renowned carver Freda Diesing. Dale is known for her masks, plaques, and totem poles, including a 30-foot totem pole she carved with her brother Terrence. That piece was selected by the Prime Minister of Canada to be given to Hong Kong during the Canada Festival Celebration in Hong Kong, which they were a part of. Dale’s work has been shown in museum collections in North American and abroad, and is also featured in numerous books. “We were honoured to be representatives for First Nations people from Canada,” said Dale. “We were there for five weeks, carving another totem pole so people could watch.” Tahltan Central Council News - January 2014 | 3 Honouring Our Elders: Willie WiIliams The Tahltan Central Council is committed to building a strong, Later, he worked as a riverboat deckhand hauling freight to united Tahltan Nation. As part of that commitment, we will be Alaska and trapped and hunted with his Uncle Benny. honouring an Elder in each issue of our newsletter. We look forward to continuing to share the stories of our Elders and our In 1959, Willie married Grace and began his 30-year career as ancestors. We are pleased to share the story of Willie Williams. an operator at the Department of Highways. Since 1965, they have owned land and a little horse business along the Stikine Willie Williams has had a long and happy life, and is quick to River, taking tourists on excursions throughout the beautiful credit his wife Grace (nee Creyke) and his mother Mary Williams Tahltan territory. Willie’s five children and 23 grandchildren enjoy (nee Frank) as the good women behind this achievement. coming out to explore the territory and to help. Willie says that Grace, and her father, John Creyke, were very important influences on him. Mary raised Willie and his five It is on this land that they have hosted a gospel music festival siblings on her own after Willie’s father, Jack Williams, passed for the past 16 years with their friend Andy Quock, who takes away when Willie was just two years old. care of all the music and equipment. At 14, Willie left school in Telegraph Creek, where he was born “It’s like a big family reunion,” said Willie. “Everyone volunteers and raised, to work as a horse wrangler, packer, and guide for to make it work. It’s all about honouring God for the many George Ball Big Game Hunting. blessings He has given us. There is no better life.” Artist Profile: Mary Dennis In 1982, Mary Dennis was taught to tan hides and sew by an Elder. Since then, she has been creating moccasins, gloves, vests, button blankets, ribbon shirts, shawls and much more. She enjoys embroidery and beading, and says working on her projects is therapy for her when she goes through difficult times. Mary is well known for her high quality, beautiful work. Twenty-five years ago, Mary made two pairs of mukluks for a customer who had had two babies. Recently she came across one of those pairs of mukluks and was proud of how well they kept after all these years.