Celebrating First Nation leaders who gave their lives protecting their lands in Canada
From New Westminster News Leader
Tsilhqot’in celebrate warrior chiefs in New Westminster
New Westminster may seem an odd location for the Tsilhqot’in First Nation people to celebrate one of their most important holidays but Tsilhqot’in chief Joe Alphonse says it is a fitting place.
Klatsassin Memorial Day, celebrated Oct. 26, remembers the Tsilhqot’in warrior chiefs, led by Klatsassin, who fought in the Chilcotin War of 1864 to stop white road builders from invading their land. The chiefs were later captured, tried for murder, found guilty and six were hung.
Five are buried in Quesnel and one in New Westminster.
Normally held in Tsilhqot’in communities in the Chilcotin and Cariboo, Klatsassin Memorial Day was celebrated at New Westminster secondary school Tuesday because warrior Chief Ahan is buried somewhere in the city, said Alphonse, who lives in Williams Lake.
“This is long overdue. The six war chiefs we honour had an impact on the history of B.C. and the truth was buried,” he said.
“We are here to acknowledge him, our history and who we are.”
The graves of the other Tsilhqot’in warriors are marked and commemorated in Quesnel but the location of Ahan, who was transported to New Westminster for his trial, is still unknown. He may have been originally buried on the grounds of the old New Westminster courthouse (on the other side of Carnarvon Street from the current courthouse) and the remains later relocated, possibly to the Douglas Road cemetery where NWSS is now.
“If remains are found when the new school is built, we want them tested for DNA. If it is him then the whole site must be excavated,” said Alphonse.
The Tsilhqot’in plan to return Ahan’s remains to his homeland by foot and horseback if they are found.
“That is how he was brought here and that is how he should return,” said Alphonse.
Tuesday’s celebration was attended by other Tsilhqot’in chiefs and members of other first nations, including Chief Rhonda Larrabee of Qayqayt First Nation. New Westminster city and school district officials, and Barry Penner, the newly appointed provincial Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, attended the ceremony at New Westminster secondary school.
Ten drummers and singers performed traditional Tsilhqot’in songs to commemorate the warrior chiefs and their people, followed by speeches by six current Tsilhqot’in chiefs and dignitaries.
“We celebrate today for the warriors that protected our land. We wouldn’t be who we are without the sacrifice they made,” said Chief Marilyn Baptiste with the Xeni Gwet’in.
“On this day it is good to be a Tsilhqot’in. The warrior chiefs knew our land is who we are and the most important part of our identity,” said Chief Francis Laceese of the Toosey First Nation.
“We hope we are able to find (Ahan’s) remains and bring him home. That would be a happy ending,” said Chief Percy Guichon from the Alexis Creek community.
The celebration was Penner’s first public event after being appointed Aboriginal Affairs minister on Monday.
“This is my first full day on the job so it is an honour to speak here for the first time,” said Penner. “This incident in history was unfortunate and it created deep divides between the Tsilhqot’in people and the B.C. government. The provincial government is committed to reconciliation with the Tsilhqot’in.”
New Westminster city councillor Bill Harper and school board chair James Janzen also spoke, and both support the Tsilhqot’in in their quest to honour Ahan.
Part of the NWSS property is being rededicated as a cemetery and will become a park once the new school is built. The city and district say a memorial will be built there to honour the warrior chief and others buried there.
After the celebration, members of the Tsilhqot’in met at the old courthouse grounds, where it is believed Ahan was hung, to hold a smudging ceremony—used for the cleansing and purification for the physical and spiritual bodies.