A Gukwdzi – why this is so important to the Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Gwa’sala Peoples For the Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw the Potlatch is an institution necessary to conduct sacred ceremonial practices. During a potlatch we assert who we are -families, clans, and nations. The place where a potlatch is to be conducted is in the Bighouse, or the Gukwdzi, (in our bakwam’kala bakwam language). Inside the Gukwdzi are the sacred and material representations of our peoples; the clans/families are represented in designs carved on each pole, on crossbeams, on chief’s chairs, on ceremonial curtains, on “talking sticks” and on regalia shown in the ceremonies. The whale, the maxinuxw, tells the original story of a ‘being’ some of us are descended from rom or the ‘caw’ ‘ (beaver) shows an origin story of another clan of the Gwa’sala and ‘Nakwaxda’xw. And so on. The important role of a Gukwdzi to the Gwa’sala wa’sala and the ‘Nakwaxda’xw ‘ is illustrated in a statement often made by Chief Paddy Walkus, “The Gukwdzi is our parliament building, it is a place where we conduct our business and our government.” These sacred ceremonies illustrate our connections and responsibilities to our territories – the lands, the seas, the lakes, rivers and the natural resources such as the plants, animals and wildlife. Through birth, coming of age, marriage and death ceremonies we illustrate ties to who we are and where we come from. We assert that we are the Gwa’sala and the ‘Nakwaxda’xw and in the Gukwdzi we show how we are connected connect to our territories in Seymour Inlet, Smith Inlet, t, outlying islands, mountains, bays and waters. In this way we assert and practice our rights and title as Nations. Our Gukwdzi was lost when we were forcefully relocated out of our territories in 1964. The federal government,, who moved us, promised a new Gukwdzi here in Tsulquate ….54 54 years later we still do not have one. Since the ’64 relocation our people have longed for our own Gukwdzi, many efforts have been in place to see reconstruction. Upright poles have been designed and carved by great carvers who have now passed on. Those poles remain as reminders of what needs to be done now.
Gukwdzi. With the sustained efforts of our chiefs, leaders, elders, youth, community members and GN administration we have developed plans, nearly finalized the architecture designs, we have attained a large portion of necessary funds, we have hired our own ‘Kawa’c awa’ci Construction crew as wellll as secured the master carver who will overse oversee completion of the ceremonial crossbeams and posts posts. We have blessed, fell and soon will have the great cedar trees (to b be transformed) into the newly constructed carving shed for the carving and teaching of interested GN carvers. Our estimated completion date for the Gwa’sala‘Nakwaxda’xw akwaxda’xw Gukwdzi is about a year from now. Our community is in anticipati anticipation of getting this Gukwdzi done. We especially need this for our elders who will finally get to see their dreams come true and young people will learn from the elders in our own ceremonial house. There will be learning, there will be healing and joy, there will be tears. To me, this will be true selfdetermination, self self-government and nation building. That is the some of the reasons we need our Gukwdzi. He’am. Gila’kasla. Written by, Colleen Hemphill, Chief Negotiator, Gwa’sala Gwa’sala-Nakwaxda’xw Nations Treaty Office Office.
During the past five years, on behalf of the Gwa’sala wa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw community in my role I have helped to facilitate acilitate an effort to finalize construction of a new
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Birthday/Requests Henrietta Nelson September 28th I would like to wish Faith lola a happiest 9th birthday! I love you baby girl and I hope you have a wonderful wonderful day on your special day. Mama loves u. Kianna Marie September 10th i would like to wish my best friend Seryna a happy 19th birthday❤ i hope you have a good day love! Love you so much girl.
Gary Walkus Happy birthday Shania September 16th...happy 3rd birthday to my baby girl Kamaya Kinsley Walkus September 24th, happy anniversary Lucy Scow and Ernie Scow September 29th from all of us :) Ollie Walkus A very Special Happy 19th Birthday to our Granddaughter Seryna from Gran and Grandpa
Jamie Miranda Coon September 9th Would like to wish our baby sister Stephanie trish a happy 8 birthday! Hope you have a wonderful day baby girl ❤ Love: Jamie & baby A-j
Margaret Joe Special Birthday Wishes To: My Niece Stephanie For Sept 9th, And To Our Handsome Grandson Ryker Lucas For Sept 14th ❤ My Nephew Jimmy Vrinder Charlie For The 15th, My Nephew Jayree Sept 27th, Nephew Thomas For The 28th & Also To My Nephew Tony Jr For The 29th ❤ Love You All Fr Margaret, Luke & Family
Maggie Jack September 14 Wishing my grandson Ryker a very Happy 1st Birthday Love & prayer from his Auda & Tynisha September 28th Wishing my granddaughter Faith a very Happy 9th Birthday sweetie & coming from Auda & Tynisha
Lucy Scow Happy birthday to our son Logan Rufus Sept 10th, Niece Shania on the 16th, baby Kamaya on the 26th, happy anniversary sis Rave and bro Darryl and also happy 18th to my honey Ernie for the 29th love you all
Ronnie David-Louie Wakas Happy Nineteenth Birthday Too my niece Seryna Walkus on Sept/10/18 love u from twins and I
Mary-ann Darlene Paul-Blizzard Happy birthday September 22 to unlce/brother Richard Paul-Blizzard Happy birthday September 26 to granny/mommiiyo Stacey Paul-Wamiss love Rome Connie and me
Ernie Scow Would like to wish my beautyful wife Lucy a happy 18 anniversary love Ernie On september 29th Carolyn Wakas September 10th Putting it on paper is not enough to say how amazing you are my beautiful daughter but I’m here wishing you a happy 19th birthday! Hoping you read this knowing I love you so very much! I’m so proud to be your mother. You are an amazing daughter! Seryna Hanuse Happy 19th Birthday Beautiful Love Momma, Corey Victor, Bree, Aaliyah, Ethan, illiyanna, and Baby Corey Jr Norman Galis Sr. September 26th Would like to wish our Baby girl, Shirley a happy 7th birthday.... Hope your day is filled with joy, happiness and lots of love.. From Daddy, Momma and big sister, Veronica Andrea M Walkus-Andrew We would like to wish our Son Sonny Andrew a very happy birthday! Love uou and hope you have many more birthdays! Yo! News 8 Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw
Stacey Paul-Wamiss Happy birthday sept 22 to my son Richard Paul-Blizzard. Love from mom and dad Angela Johnson HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY TOM we love you Lisa Michelle Dawn Happy 19th birthday Seryna! Love you so much babe, and hope you have an amazing day! From: auntie Lisa, uncle Charles, and your lil cousins I would like to wish my son Romeo Clayton a very Happy 14th Birthday September 23rd love mom, dad, evette and xavian. I would also like to wish my sister Nataleen Clayton a Happy Birthday September 27th, love you sis bern, brandon and kids.
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Yo! News is prepared by Bernadine Clayton, Gwa’sala-’Nakwaxda’xw Receptionist This newsletter is delivered to all houses on the Tsulquate Reserve every second week and posted to the Gwa’sala-’Nakwaxda’xw website. If you have questions or comments about this newsletter, contact Bernadine at (250) 949-8343. The purpose of this newsletter is to keep Gwa’sala-’Nakwaxda’xw community members informed about what is happening in the Gwa’sala-’Nakwaxda’xw Band Office and the surrounding community. Anybody is welcome to make submissions to the newsletter, including announcements, lost-and-found, photographs, bakwam’kwala words, stories, legends, drawings, etc. etc. etc.
Staff Gwa’sala-’Nakwaxda’xw Band Office Phone: (250) 949-8343 Fax: (250) 949-7402 Roger Nopper,Band Manager (250) 902-2309
Other ways to stay connected to the Gwa’sala-’Nakwaxda’xw community are: Facebook (User: Gwanak nations)
Margaret Bernard/ Finance (250) 902-2308
Gwa’sala-’Nakwaxda’xw Nations Band Office PO Box 998, 154 Tsulquate Reserve Port Hardy, B.C. V0N 2P0
Lorna Henderson/Finance (250) 902-2311 Conrad Browne, Economic Development
COUNCIL
Katie Walkus/Communications (250) 902-2301
(Chief) Paddy Walkus (Council) Crystal Wlakus (Council) Darryl Coon (Council) Dodie Rufus (Council) Leslie Walkus (Council) Thomas Jack (Council) Terry Walkus (Council) Sandra Charlie (Council) Eddie Charlie
Charles Willie/Social Development (250) 902-2307 Colleen Hemphill, Treaty (250) 949-8424 Leo Lawson, Capital Specialist Officer (250) 902-2306
Gwa’sala-’Nakwaxda’xw Elders Centre Elders Program Administrator (250) 949-7406
Cathy Swain, Housing Administrator (250) 902-2304
Gwa’sala-’Nakwaxda’xw Health & Family Services Front Desk: (250) 949-8131 / Fax: (250) 949-6811 Gwa’sala-’Nakwaxda’xw School Front Desk: (250) 949-7743 / Fax: (250) 949-7422 www.gwanak.bc.ca
David Schmit, Natural Resource Manager (250) 902-2310 Grace Smith, Education (250) 9022320
Eke Me-Xi School (250) 949-8332
Bob Swain, Public Works Cell: (250) 230-0087 Bernadine Clayton, Receptionist/IRA(250) 949-8343 Native Courtworker Office(250) 902-2223
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