Laws of Matriarch

Gitxsan Traditions: Accountability and Justice As a Gitxsan grandmother, I want to share the wisdom of our ancestors and how our traditional practices reflect our values of accountability, honesty, and respect for all spirits.  In the past, our Gitxsan community was very strict about upholding these values. Serious crimes, particularly violence against women and children, were dealt with during the Potlatch, our sacred feast. For the gravest offenses, such as violence against our most vulnerable, the offender would be 'brought hunting'—a euphemism for receiving the death sentence. In these cases, a feast would be held, and the offender's family, house, and tribe would compensate the victims' family, house, and tribe for the harm done. For lesser crimes, we held a Shame Feast. During this gathering, the offender would publicly announce their mistakes and explain how they planned to make amends to the victims and their families, under the guidance of our chiefs. Once the ...

Today, I was on the bus and noticed a grandmother sitting with her grandson. She was speaking to him a bit sternly, telling him to sit forward and not face the back of the bus. When he asked her why, she replied, “I don’t have to tell you anything. I don’t need to explain.” The boy looked about seven years old. He listened to her and obediently took the seat that faced forward. As I watched, I felt a connection to what she was saying. She corrected him again when he started to gaze down at the ground, reminding him to keep his eyes up so he could see his surroundings. I understood why this was important to her.  It’s the same way I feel when I walk around during the day; I don’t feel safe looking down or sitting backwards. I always keep my head up to be aware of what’s happening around me. It feels like a way to protect myself, to avoid being caught off guard. I remember how angry I would get when I was on the bus with my kids when they were little. I didn’t realize then that my an...