The Gwich’in People Visit the Nisga’a Nation
Gitlaxt’aamiks, June 21, 2013 – Norman Snowshoe, Vice-President of the Gwich’in Tribal Council, along with four other members of their Nation, paid a visit to the Nisga’a Nation as part of province-wide tour of modern treaty groups which included visits to the Maa-nulth and Tsawwassen First Nations.
The Gwich’in people have over 7,000 members who live in the McKenzie Delta, and have a land claims settlement which took effect in 1992. They are now working to finalize their governance, jurisdictions, and develop their own Constitution. So their group wanted to see how we have governed ourselves for 13 years under our Treaty and Nisga’a Constitution. The Gwich’in are also our coalition partners in the Land Claims Agreement Coalition, http://www.nisgaanation.ca/land-claims-agreement-coalition which is why we were happy to accommodate their request on short notice.
On Thursday morning, we met their delegation at the airport and travelled up to valley along Nisga’a Highway 113. We stopped by Lava lake (see photos) and photographed the scenic beauty of the land. We then proceeded to the offices of Nisga’a Lisims Government for lunch where they were greeted by the Officers of Nisga’a Nation President Mitchell Stevens, Secretary-Treasurer Corinne McKay, Chairperson Kevin McKay and Chair of the Council of Elders Shirley Morven. The representatives shared how smoked salmon is a highly coveted delicacy in their culture, so we ensured they got plenty of spring and even some sockeye during their trip.
Chairperson Kevin McKay then gave a presentation with the assistance of Bobby Clark on Nisga’a governance which covered the Nisga’a Treaty, the Nisga’a Constitution, our law-making processes and the jurisdictions we have under our Treaty. The representatives of the Gwich’in were inquisitive and peppered our team with questions: how did we achieve ratification? How did we develop a constitution for the Nisga’a Nation and Charters for the Nisga’a Village Governments? How did we prepare for the effective date of our Treaty? The discussion went on for several hours until finally the Vice President Norman Snowshoe asked ‘Do you think you are better off after the Treaty?” To this, Chairperson McKay resoundingly replied ‘Yes’! We then shared the resources on our website they could access. Chairperson McKay then presented our guests with gifts.
At the end of the day, our guests drove to Gingolx where they would stay for the night at Lavinia’s B&B. In one day, this delegation had travelled from Vancouver, travelled through the entire valley, ate more seafood, and slept by the sea.
On Friday, the delegation visited our Nisga’a Museum. They shared how deeply moved they were to see so many of our beautiful and historic artifacts on display, with the photos of our elders in the Museum, Hli Goothl Wilp-Adokshl Nisga’a www.nisgaamuseum.ca
Finally, the delegation returned to GItlaxt’aamiks to participate in the Aboriginal Day celebrations where they had more chance to eat salmon before travelling home, although one of their delegation asked if anyone had any smoked t’ibin. As they were preparing to leave, I said to Norman “Dim Huwx ga’ay’ n’iin” (see you later) to which he replied “We don’t have a word for good-bye in our language, ” which is the same for us. So, until we meet again Vice-President Snowshoe.
