Dootilh - April 2018

Dootilh April 2018

All Nations Cultural Gathering a big success /page 2

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”BUILDING A POWERFUL, PROSPEROUS AND PROUD COMMUNITY, HEALTHY IN MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT.”

All Nations Cultural Gathering

The Five Crest Clan is the Haisla Youth Program’s effort to bridge the cultural divide. That is, representing the Haisla clans, but also the “fifth clan” of anyone who is not Haisla as well.

It was that guiding effort which led to the March 31 All Nations Cultural Gathering, an entire day of celebration and socializing, both among Haisla members, and friends from other communities and Nations.

Guest performers include the Gidahmes Dancers from Gitsegukla Village, Khast’an Drummers based in Prince George, Mexican dancers from Kitimat, and of course the local Spirit of the Kitlope dancers.

It was an exciting event and the Five Crest Clan was happy to see so many visitors from Kitimat and beyond who together made the event so successful and a great way to bridge cultures together.

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Haisla Senior Women won the finals for the Women’s Division, while the NW Ballers took the title in the Mens.

Congratulations to everyone. Also congratulations to Mike Ridsdale for earning the Cultural Spirit Award.

KITAMAAT OPEN 2018 A BIG SUCCESS

Immunization clinic for kindergartners Is your child starting kindergarten this year?

Boulevard. Phone 250-632-3181, extension 1, to

If so, they are due for their immunizations. The make an appointment. (Children in kindergarten clinic will be held on

kindergarten or grade 1 who missed this

, at Kitimat Public Health, 920 Lahakas immunization are also welcome.)

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Haislakala learners group taking off Haisla members and the public are being provided a valuable place to learn Haislakala, with the Haislakala Learner’s Group which, soon, will begin meeting weekly.

Using a combination of inperson meetings and social media video, Windsor is looking to break down any barriers between members and the language.

Haisla Nation Council’s Community Cultural Coordinator Teresa Windsor organized the Learner’s Group after taking inspiration from Juneau, Alaska with the Sm'algyax Learner’s Group, which has been a successful effort there.

“It encourages community members to see people they relate to,” she said. “The response has been really good.”

Yawc' hello

Her goal is to bring together the Haisla’s political and traditional leaders with fluent and semi-fluent speakers, of

Aiks naqwa good morning

which there are just 89 left, she said.

Right now the Haislakala Learner’s Group has a presence on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, and other platforms will be used as they’re found valuable.

“We want to encourage people to learn our language,” she said, which means for anyone whether they are Haisla or not. She hopes language lessons, in particular, reach the younger generations.

Sas waila how are you?

Junior All Native coming to Haisla Paula Smith is putting the pieces together for a Haisla-hosted Junior All Native basketball tournament in the spring of 2019.

As the Chair for this event, and the one who submitted Haisla for consideration as the host community, Smith is assembling a planning committee for the event which will do the legwork of bringing the event together, which is estimated to have approximately 50 teams participating.

Smith says she's very excited for the event, despite the daunting prospect of having it all come together. She says there are very experienced and supportive people getting involved which will make the process go 4

smoothly.

This is not Haisla's first time hosting this event. Smith even remembers it. She played for the winning team that year, in 1994.

There are no official dates for the event just yet as more details have to be finalized, but she said more details will be known in about a month's time.

Chief Councillor Crystal Smith says she's excited for this event to take place.

"I'm looking forward to this opportunity for the community to showcase its hospitality.

This is a great example of Haisla pride, which will bring the community together for this successful event."

Students learning the way with oolichan

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HAISLA GILWA (canoe): Fragments & Progression

C

onsidering my nomadic, unsettled life-style during my post-secondary school years, the two pieces of broken & battered wood (seen above with 5 newly carved models) were odd things for NOO-GWA (I/me) to keep for over 30 years!

declined. While hiking the beach south of KITAMAAT, NOO-GWA saw many fragments of GILWA amongst all the AH-AH-WACH debris that were caught in numerous nooks and crannies of the shoreline. As the years passed GILWA fragments still remained, but they were getting smaller as they were slowly battered to pieces by the AH-AH-WACH’s tidal action.

While NOO-GWA saw many GILWA fragments while hiking the beach, these are the only 2 pieces that were picked up. Both fragments qualify as “real traditional artifacts” but there isn’t enough left to interest most people, or museums, so their “value” rests They do, however, connect to by-gone era of entirely on the beholder’s perception --- and the HAISLA GAH-U-CA-LOOT. even NOO-GWA thought of them as 2 pieces of mildly interesting AH-AH-WACH “flotsam”.

My generation saw the last of the HAISLA GILWA (canoe) still being used for fishing, hunting, travelling, family picnics, etc. In those early years many HAISLA families had a GILWA --- some at the old dock; separately tied up, by long bow-lines tied to the dock’s railing with the bows (front) facing the incoming southeast waves and the sterns (back) Decades passed and NOO-GWA eventually anchored to ensure the bows kept facing those realized the GILWA fragments represented a waves. time-period of HAISLA history that’s long since passed away.

In summer, we swam from the old dockfloat to, and amongst, all the GILWA --- often Examining the smaller GILWA fragment, climbing aboard to pretend we were using it’s obvious that it had been painted at least 4 them. different colors and the original GILWA’s cracked hull was also repaired. This GILWA was repaired by using a modern metal strip As the HAISLA switched to modern boats the GILWA was usually “retired” to just above carefully laid over a canvas strip and nailed in the AH-AH-WACH (ocean) high-tide line, sides place --- the older HAISLA generation invented an ingenious traditional repair technique: a of houses or smokehouses --- forgotten as carved, hard-wood piece, that was shaped like they eventually broke into pieces and rotted 2 diamonds joined together, which was away. carefully placed, then inlaid, so the narrow During trips back to KITAMAAT, NOO-GWA middle part was centered on the crack. Such thought, time, maintenance and repairs of the noticed the number of surviving GILWA had

GILWA were necessary simply because it was still essential to fishing, hunting and travelling!

Sr. and Joe Nelson Sr. each making a Traditional GILWA specifically for the annual HAISLA Sports Day GILWA races. It was odd to see their first test-paddle because it looked All Native peoples along the coast had their as though they were being paddled “wrong”! own versions of the GILWA but its everyday usage disappeared a long The vertical cut-water of the time ago. With Expo 86 and Traditional GILWA’s bow was the Paddle to Bella Bella, the the “problem” because the traditional GILWA experienced motor-driven Modern GILWA a resurgence that became reversed its placement in order known as the Great Canoe to use the vertical cut-water as Revival in 1986. a stern “keel” to stabilize the attached outboard motor. So it looked to NOO-GWA that these However, even before these newly-made, racing Traditional two events there were still a GILWA were being paddled few HAISLA GILWA makers backwards! When NOO-GWA alive, a few “modern” GILWA mentioned this to Jeff Legaik, being used, as well as 3 he laughed good-naturedly at traditional-style GILWA racing my confusion. in the annual HAISLA Sports Day --- NOO-GWA once Jeff said that the HAISLA tried both stern and bow to The newly introduced outboard motor needed to be accommodated so accommodate the outboard motor and apparently the Traditional GILWA bow’s one end of the Traditional GILWA was cut off vertical cut-water worked so well as a stern --- thus creating a Modern “keel” feature, the pragmatic GILWA. While NOO-GWA HAISLA chose to continue the grew up, the motor-driven practice --- the last model Modern GILWA was common represents the Modern GILWA. and the resulting speed and power meant a fishermen/hunter could be Current HAISLA head-chief, JASEE (Sam Robinson), tells of much more efficient during earlier times when the such activities. NOO-GWA Traditional GILWA bow’s used a GWATHLAB’s (uncle) vertical cut-water caused a few deaths --- as motor-driven GILWA much like this one tied up at the Kitamaat Village floats sometime in GAH-U-CA-LOOT paddled down the swiftflowing currents of GICH-LAA-LEES-LA the mid-late 1970’s --- when there were still a (Kitimat River) the vertical cut-water hit, and few Modern GILWA in everyday use; contrary caught, on the broken, underwater, stakes to many experts proclaiming the GILWA, their used to anchor a TAC-GALTH (traditional makers, and traditional knowledge, had cone-shaped eulachon net) in the river. The disappeared. powerful river current then caused the GILWA to capsize and its occupants drowned.

NOO-GWA remember Jeff Legaik, Tom Nyce Continued on page 8

Continued from page 7 The JASSEE of that time-period, ordered every HAISLA coming down GICH-LAA-LEESLA to paddle the GILWA downriver backwards because the GILWA stern (having no vertical cut-water) just slid over, or aside from, the abandoned TAC-GALTH stakes.

So it’s easy to see why the HAISLA chose practical function over tradition, elegance and beauty when they chose to use the bow’s vertical cut-water as a stabilizing stern “keel” for the newly introduced out-board motors.

The bottom GILWA fragment (with the 3 model GILWA attached) will be used as one of the learning tools in a new educational initiative: the Haisla Education Cart (HEC). The HEC will contain examples (basket, cedar

HaislaNation

haisla_nation

rope, tools, carvings, etc.) of traditional Haisla culture and will be based in the Haisla Community School so our younger GAH-U-CALOOT will learn about HAISLA history in a hands-on, positive and visually-concrete manner.

haisla_nation 8

Haisla Nation Council reserves the right to accept or decline to publish submissions.

: If a Haisla band member passes on, a family member can contact me to request a Bereavement Assistance Cheque.

Once again, Aboriginal Affairs cannot make changes to the registry list without proper documents, so please hand in a copy of the Death Certificate to me for submitting.

Status Card Info I take appointments for Wednesdays to Fridays. Please have two pieces of valid ID (one being a valid picture ID) before making appointments. I cannot issue a status card without ID. I can use your old or current status card as picture ID as long it has not been expired for more than six months. For children 12 and under I need the child’s birth certificate as well as 2 valid pieces of ID for the parent.

For children 12 and over that are renewing their status card I do require 2 valid pieces of ID as they can now sign for themselves.

If you have married and your spouse wishes to transfer from their band to the Haisla Nation you will first need to report your marriage to Aboriginal Affairs. You will need to bring in your marriage certificate to me to do the paperwork required.

Once your marriage has been reported you can then request transfer papers from me.

Registering your child is not mandatory, but is the sole responsibility of the parents to do so. First you must apply for the long form birth certificate.

Then you can request registration papers from me. If both parents are listed in the birth certificate then both parents need to sign the registration forms. The original birth certificate does get sent away but will be sent back once Aboriginal Affairs makes their copy. The registrations can take six or more months, so it is up to you to have your child registered as soon as possible. Your child is only covered by your medical for up to one year. I cannot send registration forms to INAC without a birth certificate.

If you wish to report your marriage and/or change your family name you must bring in your marriage certificate. Aboriginal Affairs cannot change anything on the registry list without proper documents. If your marriage has ended and you wish to revert back to your maiden name, your Certificate of Divorce will need to be submitted along with a form stating that you wish to revert back to your maiden name.

If you are calling for your status number (for example) I can only give this information to you as you will need to verify your identity with some questions. I can only give status information to parents if the child is under 18 years of age.

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GET YOUR

CAREER ON TRACK APRIL 18

Meet with CN Rail Meet with BCIT Question and Answers

606 Mountainview Square, Kitimat Hosted by:

HAISLA NATION COUNCIL 10

Bowen is inspiring on and off the field Haisla member Corben Bowen has made a name for himself in the world of rugby, as it was recently announced he earned a 2017 Premier's Awards for Aboriginal Youth Excellence, one of just 12

LEARN ABOUT THE HAISLA YOUTH SPORTS FUND BY GOING ONLINE TO HAISLAYOUTHFUND.COM

persons who received one at a reception held in March this year.

“I’m kind of speechless,” said Bowen when asked how it felt to have received the award. The distinction includes his work off the field as well, where he spends energy speaking out against bullying. Especially in terms of how it impacts

affected his ability to compete in last year’s

sport, he says bullying can weaken a team. To

Commonwealth Games in the Bahamas.

him, it’s important that everyone gets an equal

However he’s excited to get back to the

say and that a person’s opinion is never

field and has his sights set on trying out for

discounted.

the Canadian Rugby Championships U20

Bowen says that receiving the Premier’s Award team for next year.

Bowen credits the support of Haisla

was important to him as a son, and that he’s

Nation’s Amateur Youth Sports Fund which

happy to make his parents proud.

“Seeing their smiles really hits home,” he says, helped him during his U18 tour, noting that also adding that he’s happy the award

the support helped relieve a lot of stress in

recognizes all of the hard work that goes on

participating.

behind the scenes in preparing for competition,

Bowen currently lives in Victoria and

the less glamorous but important part of

attends the University of Victoria with a

training.

scholarship.

He has been playing rugby since he was

Bowen is recovering from an injury and subsequent surgery from last year, which

13.

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Daring to good. Kitimat RCMP hosted the DARE program at the Haisla Community School, and students through the program were encouraged to make and recognize good and healthy life choices.

The program celebrated the students’ graduation at the end of March. At left is the Kitimat RCMP’s Cst. Rebekah Draht, and Cst. Kalan Gillmann.

These sea lions were hanging around Kitamaat Village in late March, trying to get their hands on some WAH-nee. (Herring.)

Their arrival, and the arrival of other marine life seeking a big meal, gave plenty of life to the coast line. Visit the Haisla Nation on Facebook to view a drone video by Chris Wilson taken the week these visitors arrived.

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VANCOUVER

HAISLA River Rock Casino Resort 8811 River Road, Richmond April 23 Doors open at 5:30 pm Dinner at 6 pm ALL HAISLA MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE WELCOME Public transit recommended, venue at Bridgeport Station, Canada Line Please RSVP, including if you need parking, to Kailee Gardiner KGardiner@haisla.ca or, 1-877-809-8098 ext. 6001 14

EDUCATION AND

EMPLOYMENT DINNER Learn about the latest Education & Employment Initiatives Cultural activity updates with Teresa Windsor, Culture Coordinator

Learn about services through the department Haisla language family activities Fun Haisla language games

DOOR PRIZES HAISLA NATION COUNCIL

HEALTHand

WELLNESS

MAY 3 2018 FAIR

HAISLA RECREATION CENTRE GUEST SPEAKERS PLUS ARTHUR RENWICK TO PERFORM

2-5pm BOOTHS

DOOR PRIZES

2-3pm

3-4pm

DREAM CATCHER MAKING

ESSENTIAL OILS WORKSHOP

Register by calling Delilah at the Health Centre at 250-632-3600

HAISLA NATION COUNHaisla Health Centre 15

5:30pm DINNER

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Haisla artist John Wilson was awarded a YVR Art Foundation Masterpiece Study Program Grant (March 13-15th, 2018, and recipients are eligible for up to $3,800) that enabled him to fly to Vancouver to study and handle HAISLA artifacts. John then travelled to the University of British Columbia's, Museum of Anthropology and studied: GEE-GEE-WA (frontlet headdress), GLA-GLA-QWIL-SALA (totem pole), GUH-YO-JEELTH (bentwood box), CHULL-CHAL-LOO (canoe bailer), GO-MA (paddle) and SOOCH-LA (chief's ladle). John also invited any GAH-U-CA-LOOT in the Vancouver area to join him and the following GAH-U-CA-LOOT responded: Paul Windsor, Brett Robinson & Cecelia Reekie.

Get the most out of your doctor’s visit Many people are more satisfied with their health care if they share the responsibility with their doctors. Your doctor is an expert on medical care, but you are the expert on yourself. Often there is more than one option for diagnosing or treating a condition. By being a partner with your doctor, you can help choose the option that best fits your values, beliefs, and lifestyle. You also will feel more confident about carrying out the chosen treatment.

Here are some tips for being a good partner with your doctor: Build a relationship with your doctor. Let your doctor know that you want to be a partner in your health care. Tell the doctor what your expectations are.

Be an active participant in each appointment. Listen carefully to what your doctor says. If you do not understand a diagnosis or treatment, ask questions. And tell the doctor if you think that following the prescribed treatment will be hard for you.

Have a family member or friend with you during your appointment, if possible. He or she can take notes, ask questions to clarify

information, and help you remember what your doctor says.

Ask for instructions. Before you leave the doctor's office, make sure you know what you are supposed to do to care for yourself. Ask for written information, links to videos and websites, and any other instructions.

Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.

Prepare your child for tests and examinations. Let your child know why he or she is seeing a doctor and what will be done during the visit. Your child's age and developmental level will determine how best to prepare him or her. And ask your older child if he or she would like to speak to the doctor alone. Teenagers may be more willing to talk about topics such as sexuality, mental health, and drugs or alcohol if they know they can have time on their own with their doctors.

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A bit about c’imo’ca Head Start Play is the way in which children learn. They learn most effectively when they are relaxed and having fun. Children's learning becomes meaningful when they are free to learn at their own rate and in their own way. Here at c'imo'ca childcare centre our Head Start program curriculum is based on what is known as a play based program, in which children are offered choices that reflect their developmental stage.

In practical terms, a play-based program gives emphasis to encouraging children to express their own ideas in play, to represent their world in order to understand it better. In the process of representation, as they play with others, children's language and social abilities are fostered. They are encouraged to think flexibly and creatively

spends a half an hour a day with the children

as they seek solutions to problems and

teaching the Haisla language and culture. We

conflicts; they share their understandings with also encourage and welcome Haisla others and explore and experience the content community members or family who would like to teach drumming, dancing, cedar weaving,

associated with all the learning areas. c'imo'ca Aboriginal Head start is based on

traditional food preparation, etc. to join us. : We focus on the physical,

these six principals.

The Haisla language teacher from the Haisla Community School 18

spiritual, emotional, intellectual and social development of each individual child. Our

childcare centre staff work collaboratively with guide which is comparable to Canada's food the Haisla Community School Kindergarten

guide but respects the local traditions and

teacher and staff towards kindergarten

customs.

readiness skills.

We will identify the need for Ensure children are

social support such as providing referrals,

immunized, as well as visiting qualified health implementing, family needs assessments, and care professionals on a regular basis,

utilizing community outreach programs. We

ensuring appropriate physical, vision, hearing

also have a list of service providers for those

and speech assessments are done. We teach

looking for support or information on or about

and encourage self care: i.e., dental, hand

services.

washing and toileting skills. We help to

The

develop gross motor skills and assist to

purpose of this involvement component is to

promote a physically healthy lifestyle.

support the parent and family role as the

: We try to ensure that children

primary teachers of their children. This

meet their nutritional needs, to educate

component provides the opportunity to

parents as well as children about the

empower parents to bring forth their gifts to

relationship between nutrition and a child's

further develop as role models for the children

abilities to learn and develop both physically

in our community.

and mentally. We use the Aboriginal food

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Steps to Registering Your Baby Once your baby is born, there are some important steps that you need to take:

elsewhere in B.C. A credit card is required.

- By Mail: Send a completed Application for

- Birth Registration - this is the only way to create a permanent legal record of a person's

Birth Certificate or Registration Photocopy (VSA 430B) form with payment to:

birth. Parents of children born in B.C. are

Vital Statistics Agency

required to register their child within 30 days

PO Box 9657 Stn. Prov. Govt.

of the birth.

Victoria, B.C., V8W 9P3

- This can be done online at:

- Status Card - You should register your baby

https://ebr.vs.gov.bc.ca/

as soon as possible after they are born. You

- By Mail: fill out the form and follow

will need to have a copy of their Long form

instructions to mail it in.

Birth Certificate (Has parents information on

- Birth Certificates - Your birth certificate is your foundation identity document. You'll need

it).

- Fill out the enclosed form and bring it to

it to apply for other important documents like

Elaine Maitland at Haisla Nation Council along

a social insurance number, driver's licence,

with the original Long Form Birth Certificate. If

and passport.

both parents are on the birth certificate, both

- This can be done online while registering your baby with Vital statics or at

parents will need to sign the Status Card Application form.

https://ecos.vs.gov.bc.ca/. You will need a credit card.

- By Phone: Call the Vital Statistics Agency at 250 952-2681 in Victoria or 1 888 876-1633

Northern Exposures exhibition The Kitimat Museum & Archives is hosting a photo exhibition by Ab Morrison-Hayward from April 6 to May 5. From their artist profile: “This is his first solo exhibit; it is a collection of his First Nations art and photographs taken in 20

Haisla territory and other areas in the north.

Morrison-Hayward decided to call this show “Northern Exposures” because it shows his homeland and the many great sights that it offers.”

YVR Art Foundation 2018 aspiring artist awards The YVR Art Foundation is now accepting applications for the $500 Aspiring Artist Awards, which recognize visual art potential in BC and Yukon First Nations youth between the ages of 13 and 19.

Each art award is for $500 and up to ten Aspiring Artist Awards will be awarded in 2018. The award is to support the recipients' self-directed work in the visual arts.

The deadline for applications is Friday, April 27th, 2018.

To be eligible for this award, applicants

must: - Be of BC or Yukon First Nations ancestry - Reside in BC or the Yukon - Be between the ages of 13 and 19 (year of birth between 1999 and 2005) - Show artistic potential and create visual art that reflects BC or Yukon First Nations' art and culture For more information on YVR Art Foundation and to apply for an award go to: www.yvraf.com/programs.

Sign up for eye exams in Kitamaat Village Dr. Ahmed, Optometrist, would like to come to the community in June 2018. He will only come if he has enough clients to see.

If you would like to put your name down for prior approval please call (250)639-9631 x 310 with your:

Status card - Care card - Date of birth - Contact number

House for rent in Kitamaat Village Haisla Nation Council Housing Department has one house Rental available May 1, 2018; which includes: - 3 bedrooms - 1 ½ bathroom - 5 appliances fridge, stove, washer, dryer, dishwasher; also includes a woodstove and carport - Structure & Content Insurance included in rent.

Requirements: - Must be a Registered Haisla - Bank Pre authorization or payroll deduction is a must - $750/month (includes hydro & insurance) - phone + internet is tenants responsibility - Non smoking - No drugs or alcohol

- No Pets - Must include letter of reference from latest landlord - Must include verification of income - Damage deposit which is ½ months' rent = $375.00 - Independent Living - Preference will be given to small families Applications can be picked up at the Community Development office located at 729 Gitksan in Kitamaat Village. Phone (250)6399361 ext 214 or 215. Email: EStewart@haisla.ca; communitydevelopment@haisla.ca.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

DEADLINE: April 20, 2018 21

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SENIORS THING

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Haisla members, your copy of this guide will be in the mail soon. You can find a digital version to read on haisla.ca, plus you can pick up a copy at the HNC Administration building and the Haisla Education & Employment office at 606 Mountainview Square, in Kitimat.

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