Canada’s Oldest First Nations Newspaper - Serving Nuu-chah-nulth-aht since 1974 Canadian Publications Mail Product haas^i>sa “Interesting News” Vol. 34 - No. 22 - Nov. 8, 2007 Sales Agreement No. 40047776
Kiista Keith Atleo Keith Atleo has been the chief councillor of Ahousaht for the past three years. He is a humble man who takes his leadership very seriously. He says he draws upon the guidance of elders to tackle difficult problems in his community. The cultural teachings of his parents, uncles and aunties inspire pride in being Nuu-chah-nulth and grounds his decisions in traditional wisdom. His father is the late Mark Atleo and his mother is Evelyn. After living in Port Alberni and Victoria, he returned to Ahousaht 14 years ago. He currently holds a seat for Ha-wilth A-in-chut Shawn Atleo, as he fullfills the duties as the Assembly of First Nations regional chief for B.C. Continued on page 4.
Hugh Braker Hugh Braker was a young lawyer working as director of self-government for the Assembly of First Nations in Ottawa when his uncle George Watts, then the chair of the Nuuchah-nulth Tribal Council, called on Hugh to return home to work for his people. He became the tribal council staff lawyer and has worked, on and off, for the organization in some capacity since. In fact, it was before that time that the long association began. He worked as a summer student for the tribal council as he earned his credentials. Braker attended the University of British Columbia and studied international relations in the honors program for four years. Continued on page 14.
Mexsis Tom Happynook
Karla Point
Dave Watts Sr.
Mexsis—His name means whale hunter in the Nuu-chahnulth language and he is Huu-ayaht from Carnation Creek. For the past 14 years he has worked to deliver the Huu-ay-ahts a treaty. “Mission accomplished,” he told Ha-Shilth-Sa. Mexsis Tom Happynook is married to Kathy and has three children–Tommy, Brian and Jadine. Jadine has a son and a daughter, which makes Mexsis a grandfather twice over. His grandparents Billy and Lizzie Happynook raised him. His great grandparents were Jackson and Maggie Jack on his grandmother’s side and Tommy and Annie (Moses) Happynook on his grandfather’s. Continued on page 5.
Karla Point is a Hesquiaht woman who has embraced the traditional teachings of iisaak (respect) and hishuk ish tsawalk (everything is one and all is connected) that she learned at the knees of grandparents Alex and Mary Amos. She weaves the haahopa teachings with lessons she has learned from life, where she became a wife, a mother and a grandmother, and from within the formal educational settings where she attained a criminal justice diploma, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities and, more recently, a law degree. Her focus was on Aboriginal law as it relates to governance, doing the best she could to learn about constitutional development. Continued on page 9.
As Nuu-chah-nulth members go out into the wider world to develop their skills, earning degrees and diplomas and getting life experience through employment, there needs to be efforts made in their communities so, when they are ready, they can bring those skills home to the betterment of their people, said a candidate in the upcoming byelection for president. Dave Watts Sr. is running for the top spot in the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council so he can be a part of that effort to create change. “A lot of people want to come back home and right now…there’s no economy being built that they are going to fit in to… It’s very limited the jobs they can fill within their communities.” Continued on page 15.
Introducing the candidates for president Two young women celebrated at special party By Jack F. Little Ha-Shilth-Sa Reporter
Jack F. Little
Ahmber Barbosa is carried into the hall during her special coming of age party.
Entrepreneur still successful at 15 .............................Page 2 The ties that bind us together .................................... Page 3 Victoria gallery features Louie....................................Page 5 Atleos/Franks give thanks and celebrate life........... Page 6 School survivors gather to share...............................Page 12 Community and Beyond events................................Page 18
Tseshaht – On Nov. 3, many Nuu-chah-nulth members attended the coming of age party for the grandchildren of Kla-kisht-kei-iss (Simon Lucas) and Topat (Julia Lucas). Ahmber Barbosa’s parents are Lynnette and Shayne. and Brooklyn George’s parents are Claudette and Lloyd. Linus Lucas, the eldest son of Kla-kisht-kei-iss and Topat, started the party first with a chant. Kla-kisht-kei-iss then asked permission from Walter Thomas to conduct their family business in Tseshaht traditional territory. Kla-kisht-kei-iss acknowledged and thanked Thomas with a gift of money. Topat explained to Ha-Shilth-Sa that this is called huc-yach. Because the Lucas family are Hesquiaht and are not at home, this had to be done. The importance of protocol was being practiced and followed by the Lucas family. Continued on page 7. If undeliverable, please return to: Ha-Shilth-Sa P.O. Box 1383, Port Alberni, B.C. V9Y 7M2
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