July 30, 2013 by Black Press Media Group

and my heart soars Memories from the BC Elders Gathering

hosted by the Lheidli Tâ€™enneh Nation

bringing

people together

Telling our stories, marking our past and visualizing our future.

37th Annual BC Elders Gathering | 37theldersgathering.ca

and my heart soars....

2015 Canada Winter Games Gathering of the Rocks

Memories from the BC Elders Gathering

This year’s gathering, hosted by Lheidli T’enneh, was a huge success. Elders from all across British Columbia came together for this amazing three day event that took place in Prince George, BC. It is with the support of all our amazing sponsors and partners that the 37th Annual BC Elders Gathering was made possible, along with the many volunteers and staff. The theme “Honour Your Journey” was significant to Lheidli T’enneh. This event falls on the 100th Anniversary of Lheidli T’enneh being forced from their village in what is now downtown Prince George to their current reserve east of town. They honoured their journey through a fantastic production with singing, slideshow and narration of their journey from past to present and future.

From February 13-March 1, 2015, Prince George and northern British Columbia will welcome the 2015 Canada Winter Games on the traditional territory of the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation. To honour the traditional territory, the Lheidli T’enneh have been named the Official Host First Nation of the 2015 Games. Since the Canada Games inception in 1967, this is the first time in history that a First Nation has been acknowledged as a formal partner. Continued on page 4

Over the duration of the three days it was wonderful to see so many elders enjoying themselves, laughing, smiling and sharing their stories. We saw many great performers, heard some lovely speeches and attended a variety of workshops. This was a very busy, fun filled three days!

Program Published by

37theldersgathering.ca | 37th Annual BC Elders Gathering

2015 Canada Winter Games Gathering of the Rocks Cont’d Canada’s next champions. Over 15,000 visitors, 3,600 athletes, coaches, team staff and officials and 4,500 volunteers will journey to Prince George for 18 days of sports, arts, culture and entertainment. The Canada Games are a gathering of the entire country as athletes from over 800 Canadian communities will arrive in Prince George in 2015. To celebrate this, the 2015 Canada Winter Games Host Society will be creating an art sculpture in Prince George that will be filled with a variety of rocks gathered from across Canada. Over the next 700 - plus

The 2015 Canada Winter Games occurring in conjunction with the City of Prince George’s 100th Anniversary will mark the first time a Canada Winter Games has been hosted in the province of British Columbia. The 2015 Canada Winter Games will be the largest multi-sport and cultural event to ever be held in Prince George and northern British Columbia and is forecasted to generate an economic impact of between $70$90 million while building champions and inspiring dreams amongst Canadian youth.

Athletes from 10 provinces and 3 territories will compete in 19 sports with the dream of becoming

37th Annual BC Elders Gathering | 37theldersgathering.ca

days, citizens, visitors, delegates, athletes, business leaders and many other groups will be encouraged to bring a small rock from their home community to place in the translucent art sculpture. Once enough

rocks have been placed inside the hollow sculpture, the shape will be complete and compiled by rocks from across the nation. This July 2013, as you make your journey to the traditional territory of the Lheidli T’enneh Nation, it would be an honour if an indigenous rock of your land could be brought to form the foundation of this national art sculpture. Rocks gathered from the Lheidli T’enneh and Elders from across the province of British Columbia will be the first rocks placed inside the sculpture, symbolizing them as the first inhabitants of the region. Choose your path, leave your tracks and make the journey with Prince George and northern British Columbia as preparations are made to host the nation in just under 2 years.

37theldersgathering.ca | 37th Annual BC Elders Gathering

37th Annual BC Elders Gathering | 37theldersgathering.ca

37theldersgathering.ca | 37th Annual BC Elders Gathering

37th Annual BC Elders Gathering | 37theldersgathering.ca

37theldersgathering.ca | 37th Annual BC Elders Gathering

37th Annual BC Elders Gathering | 37theldersgathering.ca

37theldersgathering.ca | 37th Annual BC Elders Gathering

37th Annual BC Elders Gathering | 37theldersgathering.ca

Moccasin Joe leaves elders laughing by Teresa Mallam Prince George Free Press Moccasin Joe knows how to tell a good joke. More than that, he knows how to inspire people with his stories and his humour. The comedian and motivational speaker whose real name is Leonard Dick hails from Thunder Bay. He was in Prince George for the 37th Annual Elders Gathering. Moccasin Joe began his stand-up routine by telling the audience Thursday about his trip to the local casino. “I won eighty bucks,” he said, leaning into the mic. Audience applause. Then he follows with, “It only cost me $240 to get it. What an investment, eh?” With that, he set the tone for an hour of non-stop laughter, pausing in his comedy routine only long enough to poke fun at people passing by the stage. The show included a magic act where he made a bottle in a brown paper bag disappear and a display of his custom-made buffalo bathing trunks. The comedian got behind the mic to read aloud from two torn and dog-eared Dick and Jane readers in use, he said, at his residential school. The hilarious skit poked fun at the 1950s education tool and its use of words. That one left the audience in tears. “Nobody’s safe in my show,”

Moccasin Joe gave a workshop Healing Through the Spirit of Laughter as well as performing his stand up comedy routine during the 37th Annual B.C. Elders Gathering. Teresa Mallam photo

Dick (who swears he did not take the name from Dick and Jane) said after the stage show. “But you have to look at them and you decide if that’s someone you can make fun of. My act is very family friendly, it’s not a night club act. I don’t use four-letter words. Twentyfive years in comedy has been a long journey but it’s been a healthy one.” A member of the Ojibway Nation, Dick began doing comedy when he saw too much distress and despair among his own First Nations people. “I was selling arts and crafts and I was always joking around. I would make up funny stories and people would laugh. I could see it was making them feel a lot better about their lives,” he

said. “So I decided to take this gift I had – the gift of comedy – and try to do this for a living.”

him sad, he’s still found that he could draw on all his life experiences as fodder for his comedy routines.

His long and successful career surprises even him, he said.

Every once in a while he turns serious – sort of.

“I never knew I’d be in such demand. My workshops are one of the most outgoing things that I do. I tour and I do over 200 comedy shows a year but my workshops are the thing I really like to do to help people find humour in their lives,” said Dick, who also facilitated a Healing Through the Spirit of Laughter workshop. Dick, 70, is a former corrections officer (at the jail in Thunder Bay,) a military policeman and border guard. He says that while he’s seen a lot of things in that capacity that have made

At the end of his time on stage, he told the audience: “It is important to give the gift of laughter to our children, it makes them feel secure.” Then as an Elder himself, Dick gave a little advice. “Your journey in life may bring you happiness...(but), where there are bumps in the road, walk over them – and don’t burn your bridges because you may have to walk back over them.” For more about Moccasin Joe visit www.moccasinjoe. com.

37theldersgathering.ca | 37th Annual BC Elders Gathering

Showing some pride by Alistair McInnis Prince George Free Press Tl’azt’en Nation hereditary Chief Edward John learned a lot while he was growing up. He stressed the role Carrier elders played in his upbringing at the 37th annual B.C. Elders Gathering, where he pointed out five topics in particular that they always discussed. Topping the list was their children. “They talked about the children who are in care of government,” John said during his dignitary speech at the Northern Sport Centre. “They wanted to make sure those kids went back to their communities, they wanted to make sure

they fought for every child to make sure the children were not taken by the government and put into foster homes.” John noted that it’s important elders stay connected with their children, that they aren’t segregated so culture and traditions get carried on through generations. That was only the start. John went on to discuss four other subjects: languages, education, water and unity. Language plays an important role in maintaining culture. John stressed the crucial role First Nations play, noting that the first place to teach language is in the communities. He said he

heard through the United Nations that one indigenous language is lost every two weeks, calling the long stretch from B.C. to California a hot spot. As for education, First Nations need to only look at the success of John to see where it can lead. A lawyer for 30 years, John holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Victoria, a law degree from UBC an an honorary Doctor of Law degree from UNBC. His education has helped him pursue social and economic justice for indigenous people in Canada. John mentioned the importance First Nations played in establishment of the very institution in which the Elders Gathering

was held. First Nations helped build UNBC towards its establishment in 1994, and band leaders have stressed the importance of a UNBC presence in their communities. John noted that every civilization needs higher learning to survive. Water is crucial to survival. Organisms need it. John talked about the importance of environmental responsibility. As for unity, John had this to say: “We can’t be strong if we stand by ourselves.” Working together and staying connected helps deliver a stronger message. John said they need to stand up their beliefs. While the Canadian constitution honours rights, the government needs to respect their rights. With it comes to pipeline exploration, dams development and other projects over First Nations land, John said they better come knocking on their doors. John added that First Nations should be proud of who they are and where they came from. “Our ways are as good as anybody else’s ways.” John was among a group of First Nations leaders who gave speeches during this year’s B.C. Elders Gathering. The theme for the 37th annual event was “Honour Your Journey.” What made this year’s event Continued on page 15

37th Annual BC Elders Gathering | 37theldersgathering.ca

Showing some pride Cont’d part of the government of Canada, on other governments of this country, to obliterate, to absolutely obliterate indigenous languages, indigenous culture,” Phillip said, “and thereby our traditions and teachings that tell us we have a duty and an obligation to protect the land, and everything that that represents for the sake of our children because it is their birthright.” Phillip encourages First Nations to attend the Walk for Reconciliation, Sept. 22 in Vancouver. The event

significant is that it’s been 100 years since the Lheidli T’enneh was forced out of their village, in which now sits downtown Prince George, to their current reserve. Preceding John on stage was Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, the President of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, who’s

wraps up Reconciliation Week Vancouver 2013. “We are not only survivors, we are flourishing,” he said. “As each day goes by, we are more and more empowered and we are more vibrant.” The Elders Gathering is held so elders can meet as advisors, teachers and leaders. The gatherings allow elders to share traditional ways, celebrate past accomplishments and look forward.

also served as Chief of the Penticton Indian Band. He gave praise to the elders for maintaining First Nations culture in the face of abuse in Canada. “If it wasn’t for our elders, who resisted the abuses of the residential school system, who resisted the ugly experiments on the 37theldersgathering.ca | 37th Annual BC Elders Gathering

and my heart soars

Memories from the....

hosted by the Lheidli Tâ€™enneh Nation