Erasure




Angela's Identity

Angela has been a strong ally for Aboriginal people for many years. In our culture, we often adopt loved ones into our house so they can join our traditional practices.

Angela Sterritt, despite her bloodline connection through her grandfather, is not automatically considered a member of the Gitxsan Nation. However, she may have been adopted by the Gitxsan house Wilp Wiik’aax during the Potlatch Feast. This could grant her a form of dual citizenship, allowing her to participate in Gitxsan traditions while still maintaining her connection to her white mother. She might also obtain an Indian Status Card through the Indian Act, but that doesn’t define her belonging.

In Gitxsan culture, we uphold matriarchal laws that honor and respect women as life-givers. Angela is recognized as belonging to her mother, who is from Bell Island in Newfoundland. This practice emphasizes values such as respect, responsibility, and accountability. It also considers health implications, as research shows that marrying within closely related families increases the risk of genetic disorders. That’s why we avoid marrying within the same tribes.

Unlike the patriarchal norms of Canadian society, the Gitxsan continue to uphold our matriarchal traditions, which are essential to our cultural identity. However, Canada’s Indian Act threatens our existence by deciding who is recognized as Gitxsan, perpetuating a system that erases Indigenous identities and asserts control over our lands.

The ongoing erasure and colonization of the Gitxsan is a form of genocide that seeks to control our land and resources. Once a thriving community with millions of people on both sides of the Skeena River, the Gitxsan are now reduced to a small population on Indian Reserves, facing high rates of poverty and poor health.

To combat this erasure and support the Gitxsan people, it is crucial for individuals and communities to advocate for Indigenous rights, challenge discriminatory laws and policies, amplify Indigenous voices, support Indigenous-led initiatives, and work toward reconciliation and decolonization. Education, allyship, and solidarity are vital in stopping the erasure of the Gitxsan and other Indigenous communities.

---

---
Location: Hazelton, BC, Canada

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