All Indians are dead

Here’s the article of the day: "All Indians Are Dead" - Indian Country.

For a long time, I didn’t think much about it. I kept hearing stories about Indians who once existed, as if they were just figures in the past. I never knew anything different until I left the Indian Reserve for Vancouver. 

My son’s dad opened my eyes to the truth—we are still here, and we are still practicing our laws and traditions. 

At first, I learned about the smudge, a powerful ritual for cleansing and connection. Then, I was taken to a sweat lodge. I was shocked! This is it! This is happening! We still do this! 

The sweat lodge I attended was different from how the Gitxsan use them. For us, the lodge was a place for emotional healing; in our tradition, we would use it to remove the human scent before going out to hunt. We don’t just go somewhere to pray; we believe that the Creator is within us and with us always. Every thought is a prayer.

We would also fast in the mountains to learn respect for life, for spirit, for the land and the animals. Spending time alone in nature helps us connect deeply with everything around us.

As time went on, I quickly started to realize… I am Gitxsan, and I am here. No matter where I go in this world, I will always be Gitxsan.

All my life, these lessons have been woven into my upbringing by my elders. My dad would often say, “White people are trying to brainwash us to be white. We need to brainwash ourselves into being Indian.” 

He spent ten years in the Indian Residential School, a place that sought to erase our culture, yet he emerged with a fierce love for our traditions. Despite the impacts of genocide and the scars of the residential school experience, we have managed to survive. My dad would drill me with Gitxsan stories and teachings, while my mom held the traditions close to her heart. 

I never fully appreciated how strong my upbringing was until I reflected on it. For years, I thought my dad was crazy, but as I grew older, I realized he was a genius. It took years of investigation and self-discovery for me to understand and accept how brilliant we Indigenous people truly are.

He would tell me about leaving buckets hung in trees along the trails filled with food for travelers. I see our Indigenous brothers and sisters in the USA still practicing this tradition. If you drive through, you’ll see food left by the “monument” for those passing through. 

Let us honor our past and the resilience of our people. Together, we carry the strength of our ancestors and the wisdom of our traditions. #respectlife #honourtheapology


Popular posts from this blog

Bear with hanging tongue

Image
The bear with the tongue hanging out of its mouth is not what you think.  Gather around, and let me share a story that carries the weight of our history, a tale that speaks of resilience and survival. Many people do not understand the significance of the tongue, often mistaking it as merely a feature of the bear. But there is much more to this story, one that we must keep alive as our Aboriginal stories, culture, and beliefs are too often appropriated for the profit of others. In our tradition, totem poles are read from the bottom up, with the tribe usually depicted at the base. It is important to note that the Gitxsan do not have a bear tribe. Instead, the bear symbolizes Russia, a powerful force that once threatened our lands. Long ago, the West Coast nations—including the Gitxsan, Nisga'a, Haida, and others—joined together to stand against Russia when they began to claim our traditional territories and take our people as slaves. Among those who suffered was a woman from th...
Read more

When the food drops

Image
I learned a lot from my grandfather and my parents just by watching them every day. We didn’t talk much about spirituality; we just lived it. Spirituality runs deep in our upbringing; it’s something that flows through our blood and is passed down by our ancestors who have gone before us. Our beliefs aren’t fancy or dramatic—there's no fire and lightning, just the spirit. We used to respect all of life, knowing that spirits are present in everything, including ourselves. God is within us and beside us; every thought we have is a prayer. I should mention that medicine can be used for harm too. Thoughts filled with hatred can be prayers as well. Some people who mix their medicine with bad intentions are called Hel'dow'gwit, or witchcraft. Over the past 50 years, many Gitxsan have changed and evolved. Sweat lodges, which were once only for hunting preparation, are now spaces for prayers and healing. Traditional gatherings have transformed into Healing Circles where we talk abou...
Read more

Burning

Image
Too often, our Gitxsan culture is romanticized, which can create an illusion that it is unattainable or far removed from the realities of our daily lives. This perception can make it seem uninviting to our young people, who may feel disconnected from the traditions and values that define us. We must remember to light the fire, to gather together, and to prepare meals with love for our family and friends. The act of burning food is not a failure but a reminder of our humanity and the lessons we learn along the way. Each meal shared is an opportunity to connect, to nurture, and to honor those we cherish. Every thought is a prayer. When we think of our loved ones who have journeyed on, they are with us in spirit, surrounding us with their love and gratitude for the respect and intention we hold in our hearts. It is in these moments that we can feel their presence, reminding us of the strength of our connections and the importance of our cultural practices. Let us not shy away from the imp...
Read more