loisfay

St’at’imc Declaration May 10, 1911

To Whom It May Concern:

We the underwritten chiefs of the Lillooet tribe (being all the chiefs of said tribe) declare as follows:

We speak the truth, and we speak for our whole tribe, numbering about 1400 people at the present time.

We claim that we are the rightful owners of our tribal territory, and everything pertaining thereto. We have always lived in our Country; at no time have we ever deserted it, or left it to others. We have retained it from the invasion of other tribes at the cost of our blood. Our ancestors were in possession of our Country centuries before the whites came. It is the same as yesterday when the latter came, and like the day before when the first fur trader came. We are aware the B.C. government claims our Country, like all other Indian territories in B.C.; but we deny their right to it. We never gave it nor sold it to them. They certainly never got the title to the Country from us, neither by agreement nor conquest, and none other than us could have any right to give them title. In early days we considered white chiefs like a superior race that never lied nor stole, and always acted wisely and honorably. We expected they would lay claim to what belonged to themselves only. In these considerations we have been mistaken, and gradually have learned how cunning, cruel, untruthful and thieving some of them can be. We have felt keenly the stealing of our Lands by the B.C. government, but we could never learn how to get redress. We felt helpless and dejected but lately we begin to hope. We think that perhaps after all we may get redress from the greater white chiefs away in the King’s Country, or in Ottawa. It seemed to us all white chiefs and governments were against us, but now we commence to think we may yet get a measure of justice.

We have been informed of the stand taken by the Thompson River, Shuswap, and Okanagan tribes, as per their declaration of July 16th, 1910. We have learned of the Indian Rights Association of B.C., and have also heard the glad news that the Ottawa government will help us to obtain our rights. As we are in the same position in regard to our lands, etc., and labour under the same disadvantages as the other tribes of B.C., we resolved to join with them in their movement for our mutual rights. With this object, several of our chiefs attended the Indian meeting at Lytton on Feb. 13th, 1910, and again the meeting at Kamloops on the 6th Feb. last. Thereafter we held a meeting ourselves at Lillooet on the 24th Feb. last, when the chiefs of all the Lillooet bands resolved as follows:

First – That we join the other interior tribes affiliated with the Indian Rights Association of the Coast.

Second – That we stand with them in the demand for their rights, and the settlement of the Indian land question.

Third – That we agree unanimously with them in all the eight articles of their Declaration, as made at Spences Bridge, July, 1910.

In conclusion, we wish to protest against the recent seizing of certain of our lands at “The Short Portage,” by white settlers on authority of the B.C. government. These lands have been continually occupied by us from time out of mind, and have been cultivated by us unmolested for over thirty years. We also wish to protest against the building of railway depots and sidings on any of our reservations, as we hear is projected. We agree that a copy of this Declaration be sent each to the Hon. Mr. Oliver, the superintendent of Indian Affairs, the Secretary of the Indian Rights Association, Mr. Clark, K.C., and Mr. McDonald, Inspector of Indian Agencies.

(Signed) JAMES NRAITESKEL, Chief Lillooet Band JAMES STAGER, Chief Pemberton Band PETER CHALAL, Chief Mission Band JAMES JAMES, Chief Seaton Lake Band JOHN KOIUSTGHEN, Chief Pasulko Band DAVID EKSIEPALUS, Chief No. 2 Lillooet Band CHARLES NEKAULA, Chief Nkempts Band JAMES SMITH, Chief Tenas Lake Band HARRY NKASUSA, Chief Samakwa Band PAUL KOlTELAMUGH, Chief Skookum Chuck Band AUGUST AKSTONKAIL, Chief Port Douglas Band JEAN BABTISTE, Chief No. 1 Cayuse Creek Band DAVID SKWINSTWAUGH, Chief Bridge River Band THOMAS BULL, Chief Slahoos Band THOMAS JACK, Chief Anderson Lake Band CHIEF FRANSOIS THOMAS ADOLPH, for La Fountain Indians Spences Bridge, B.C. May 10th, 1911

swátas ku huz̓ ats̓xentáli ts7a:

snímulh ltsáwna kupkúkwpi7 lts7a st̓át̓imc,
húz̓lhkalh tsut, snímulh lts7a kupkúkwpi7
st̓a̓t́imc wa7 metscál.

húz̓lhkalh qwal̓út, kalh lts7a qwal̓út ku7 tí7tecw.
wa7 qwal̓utcítem tákem ts7a i ucwalmícwa,
q̓em̓p wi xw7útsin xetspqéqinst lhkúnsa.

wa7 zwátnem kwa stsuwa7lhkálh ts7a tmicw
wíwa7 lhkúnsa.
cw7ays t̓u7 sas lhwalen tmicwkálh, cw7ays
t̓u7 lhwálen swat.
wa7 i wa7 t̓ak kam̓antúmulhas ken skwanítas
ti tmicwkálha, cw7ays t̓u7 ka-xilhwítas-a i
kelkekla7kálha.
cin̓ t̓u7 wa7 xan̓wítas ts7a ti tmicwkálha,
t̓iq aylh i sám7a. nilh inátcwas wa7 t̓íqwit
lhkúnsa sq̓it.

wa7 zwátnem kwa stsuwa7mínitas ti B.C.
kv́pmen, ti tmicwkálha, ts̓íla tsuwa7mínsas
akún7a ti núkwa úcwalmicw tmicw;
cw7aoz hem̓ t̓u7 kwes ts̓íla a̓ti7 wa7 t̓u7
tsuwa7lhkálh ti tmícwa. cw7aoz nástsi, cw7ays
t̓u7 tawmínem.
cw7ays t̓u7 ku swat ku tsut nká7as mets,
cw7ays t̓u7. Wa7 tsut ku úcwalmicw wa7
tsúw7as ti kv́pmena, t̓u7 wa7 tsuwa7lhkálh
tákem.
texw t̓u7 ntsutánwas i ucwalmícwa kwes tí7tecw
lhes qwal̓út i sám7a, cw7aoz kwas kákza7.
nilh aylh naqw̓tà́nemwit áma qwal̓útwit.
wa7 zwátnem aylh plan wa7 kakz7antumulítas
lhkúnsa. tsutánwas i ucwalmícwa kwes tsukw ti7
láti7 kwíkwsa ti kwanítas, nilh t̓u7
lil̓qscitánemwit.
nilh-awílh-ka áku7 ti xzúma aylh kwanítas iz̓ i
sám7a. wa7 zwátnem ken s7ícwa7
szaytenlhkálha, cw7aoz ku zwátnem ku ts̓ilawít,
tákem stam̓ ku kwanítas ts̓íla, kakz7antumulítas,
naqw̓tumulítas, tákem stam̓ ts̓íla qvl száyten-i.
wa7 zwa̓tnem kwes naqw̓tumulítas ti tmícwa ti
B.C. kv́pmena.
cw7ays t̓u7 zwátnem ku kaststúma ku7
p̓an̓tstúma, cw7ays t̓u7 ku7 ts̓íla wa7 snilh.
qvlwít, tákem t̓u7 stam̓ wa7 p̓elp̓elkanítas
wa7 zwátnem texw t̓u7 naqw̓cittumulítas ti
tmicwkálha, ti kv́pmena. nilh cw7ays t̓u7
zwátnem kwes kánem, cw7ays káti7 kwes
nukw̓7anstúma. plánlhkalh ku zam̓ aylh wa7
gélgel ti sptinusemlhkálha.
wa7 qwal̓utmínem i tákem stam̓ nilh lhes ku
p̓an̓tstúma, nilh ts7a sptínusem. wa7lhkan
tsutánwas s7ents ku huz̓ p̓an̓tstúma ti
tmicwkálha.
tsícwkalh, qwal̓ulhkálh akú7na ti sám7a
kúkwpi7, England, King-ha múta7 akú7na
Ottawa.
ts̓íla ku7 cw7aoz kwes t̓iqstumulítas i sám7a
kupkúkwpi7 múta7 kv́pmena lhkúnsa.
ts̓íla t̓u7 zam̓ ku plan wa7 ts7as culelwít, k̓al̓án̓wit
huz̓ ínwat.
qaním̓lhkalh plans maysenítas i tsuwíha
sqwal̓út láku7 i Nlhkápmec-ha, múta7 i
Scwápmec-ha, múta7 i Ts̓wánamc-ha.
plans maysenítas i gélgela sqwal̓út láti7 lti7
pípantsek, 16, 1910.
qaním̓lhkalh zam̓ ti ámha sqwal̓út láku7
Ottawa kv́pmen. Húy̓lhkalh qwezném i tsuwa7lhkálha
gélgel sqwal̓út. ts̓íla ku ts̓íla ti tmicwlhkálha,
ts̓íla ku7 cat̓ kw̓ezusemlhkálh, ts̓íla kw̓ezúsem et7ú
núkwa, B.C.

wá7lhkalh zam̓ wa7 síwlec et7úna wa7 snilh i
t̓ákmens et7úna i swá7a.
cw7it zam̓ i kupkúkwpi7 tsicw áta7 Lytton
pala7mintwálwit láti7 lti7 n7ú7ts̓qa7, 13, 1910.
kw̓in tsicw-íha pálla7 láku7 Tk̓emlúps (Kamloops)
tsicwwítas n7ú7ts̓qa7, 6, 1910
tsícwwit múta7 et7ú Lillooet n7ú7ts̓qa7, 24, 1910.

nilh aylh sqwal̓út i, pal7ulwílhkalh et7ú ti
nk̓áclumc múta7 et7úna i k̓út̓mec-ha.

wá7lhkalh stálhlec úll̓us ku snilh t́u7 tsicw uts
ts7a ti ucwalmícwa tmicw.

Cuz̓ hem̓ ts̓íla qwal̓utlhkálha, qwal̓ut-i̓ha láku7
ets7áwna i pal7úpsta gélgel sqwal̓út láku7 lti7
Spences Bridge, pípantsek 1910.
ts7áwna, múta7 ti áw̓ta, texw t̓u7 xat̓stúm
kwancittumulítas ti tmicwkálha, láta7 “The Short
Portage”, nilh zam̓ íza i sám7a kúkwpi7 B.C.
kv́pmen.
lheltúsa kwes zwátnem kwas tsuwa7lhkálh ts7a
ti tmícwa. lan tu7 p̓a7cw ku kálhas kwe sq̓em̓p
máqa7 kwes qwezném ti7.

wa7 t̓it xát̓stum tsamaysenítas ti tmícwa, láta7 ti
nkaoh-háwsa múta7 ti síwlectnsa ti train-a.

Cw7ítkalh hem̓ áku7 t̓ákstum ti “ku ts̓íla ku
ts7áwna ti sqwal̓utkálha” cw7its̓cítem áku7
sHonorable Mr. Oliver, Superintendant Indian
Affairs, múta7 ti Secretary-ha Indian Rights
Association Mr. Clark K.C., múta7 sMr.
McDonald, ti Inspector-ha Indian Agencies.

A modern lens on Indigenous connection to land, family and community.

“Hello, I’m a dandelion. A lot of people call me a weed but I’m a friend and come to help you!

When you see me, remember that I’m the ONLY one who wants and can grow in that particular spot. Because:

Either the soil is too compact / hard / stomped and I want to loosen it for you with my roots.

Or there is too little calcium in the soil – don’t worry, I will replenish that for you with the dying of my leaves.

Or the soil is too acidic. But I will also improve that for you if you give me the chance.
Or a mixture of the above reasons, of course.

I’m here because your soil needs my help so best you let me grow without disturbing me! When everything is fixed, I will disappear again, I promise!

Are you trying to remove me prematurely with my root? However meticulous you are, I will return 2x as strong! Just until your soil is improved.

You can even tell by my growth at which stage my help is at. If my leaves are flat on the ground then I’m far from ready but if they all reach up then I’m already a long way on my way.

Something completely different is that I am 1 of the first bloomers in spring so I will announce spring / summer for you.

During the day when it’s hot, I open my flowers but in the evening when it cools off I close them again quickly. In fact, if it’s not hot enough during the day I won’t open them at all!

My flowers are the first food for insects after hibernation and unlike most other plants, I have pollen AND nectar, not merely one OR the other! And I am generous with them!

My flowers are even delicious for you people by the way, did you know? I used to be called ′′honey (or gold) of the poor′′ because my flowers are so sweet in e.g. jam, sauce or salad! The internet is full of
recipes – check them out.

But wait until the end of May or later before you start picking and even then, don’t pick everything yet! The biodiversity and bees will be very grateful!”

Ps – quote – not my words.