“Learning Haisla Nuuyum through stories about traditional territory, feasting and lifestyles” written by Kundoqk Jacquie Louise Green BSW, University of Victoria, 1998 MPA, University of Victoria, 2000 A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in Interdisciplinary Studies Kundoqk Jacquie Louise Green, 2013 University of Victoria All rights reserved. This dissertation may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means, without the permission of the author. ii Supervisory Committee “Learning Haisla Nuuyum through stories about traditional territory, feasting and lifestyles” written by Kundoqk Jacquie Louise Green BSW, University of Victoria, 1998 MPA, University of Victoria, 2000 Supervisory Committee Co-Supervisor Dr. Mary Ellen Purkis School of Nursing Co-Supervisor Dr. Michael Prince Department of Human and Social Development Departmental Member Dr. Leslie Brown School of Social Work iii Abstract Supervisory Committee Co-Supervisor Dr. Mary Ellen Purkis, Supervisor School of Nursing Co-Supervisor Dr. Michael Prince, Supervisor Department of Human and Social Development Departmental Member Dr. Leslie Brown, departmental member School of Social Work Haisla Nuuyum is our way of life and laws and includes knowledge of place, seasons, weather, feasting, and oolichan fishing including cultural practices that are important to sustain our Nuuyum. Throughout this dissertation work, I examine whether our Nuuyum and its philosophical underpinnings can intertwine and have a productive relationship with contemporary forms of leadership and Chief and Council governance systems. I draw on old Haisla stories of place and identity to examine how they affirm our governing responsibilities within contemporary community leadership. I show how our cultural practices have been affected and have shifted through colonial encounters. I argue that despite the effects of colonialism, the philosophical underpinnings of our Nuuyum have remained at the core of who we are as a Haisla people. This dissertation work is a compilation of published articles and as such, is organized thematically. I introduce each article to weave together the elements of Nuuyum. iv Table of Contents Supervisory Committee ........................................................................................................................ii Abstract ............................................................................................................................................... iii Table of Contents ................................................................................................................................. iv List of Figures .....................................................................................................................................vii Preface ............................................................................................................................................... viii Haisla Terminology .......................................................................................................................... xiii Acknowledgments .............................................................................................................................xiv Dedication ..........................................................................................................................................xvi Noosa – A Haisla Paradigm of Sacred Storying “Learning diverse and sacred cultural practices – ethically?”.............................................................................................................................................. 1 Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction to Article ...................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 3 Why Noosa is necessary for re-learning and re-teaching............................................................... 5 Borrowed teachings – research and sharing cultural and sacred practices ................................... 8 Cree teachings ................................................................................................................................... 9 Anishnabe and Ojibway teachings ................................................................................................ 10 Understanding storying .................................................................................................................. 13 Weaving in westernized critical approaches ................................................................................. 14 Weaving in participatory action research ...................................................................................... 16 Contemplating westernized „narrative‟ frameworks .................................................................... 17 Contemplating westernized research methods .............................................................................. 20 Hermeneutic framework that contemplates challenges and complexities .................................. 23 Moving in – Indigenous research in academia ............................................................................. 25 Sharing sacred teachings through Noosa ...................................................................................... 27 Theorizing Noosa ........................................................................................................................... 28 Living Noosa ................................................................................................................................... 31 Re-learning and re-living Noosa .................................................................................................... 32 Noosta! ............................................................................................................................................ 32 Aixgwellas – see you soon – in another story .............................................................................. 33 References ....................................................................................................................................... 34 Reclaiming Haisla ways: Remembering oolichan fishing ............................................................... 37 Introduction to Article .................................................................................................................... 37 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 39 Haisla Peoples: Our place, our existence ...................................................................................... 44 Oolichan Fishing: Core of who we are.......................................................................................... 46 Teachings of gyawaglaab ............................................................................................................... 51 Through our stories our Elders remind us about resilience ......................................................... 53 I remember our stories: Re-learning and re-generation of Haisla teachings .............................. 55 My oolichan vision! ........................................................................................................................ 56 Transforming our Nuuyum: Contemporary Indigenous Leadership and Governance.................... 59 Acknowledgements/Protocol ......................................................................................................... 59 Introduction to Article .................................................................................................................... 59 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 61 v hkenuuk kundoqk, hkenuuk helkinew, hkenuuk xanaksiyala, kitselas, haisla ........................... 61 Haisla Nuuyum as leadership and governance ............................................................................. 64 Theorizing and surviance to and within forces of colonialism .................................................... 67 Who Haisla people are ................................................................................................................... 72 A shift in Haisla living ................................................................................................................... 78 Laws, policies and regulations affecting Nuuyum: A way of life ............................................... 80 Feasting – Haisla philosophical roots to living and learning our Nuuyum ................................. 84 Weaving stories and histories ........................................................................................................ 92 Reflection ........................................................................................................................................ 94 Suggestions for centering Haisla Nuuyum into leadership and governance............................... 95 Finding our way back and reclaiming ........................................................................................