2022 Fall Newsletter

Tatl’a

INTRODUCTION

Message from the President .......................................... 1

Message from the Vice President .................................... . 3

Save the Dates ........................................................ 4

ANNOUNCEMENTS

New Tahltans / Condolences 8 New Staff 9

IN MEMORIAM

Jarett Quock .......................................................... 15

UPDATES

Wildlife Accord Signing 19 Orange Shirt Day 23 OnTrack 25

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DIRECTORS

REPORTS

Culture & Heritage – Sandra Marion 29

Dease Lake Director – Christina Callbreath ........................... 35

Education & Training – Cassandra Puckett ........................... 37 Fisheries – Cheri Frocklage .......................................... . 39 Lands – Connor Pritty ................................................ 41 Wildlife – Lance Nagwan ............................................. 43

Language – Pamela Labonte ........................................ . 45 Employment & Business – Ann Ball 51

Membership & Genealogy – Shannon Frank 54 Tourism – Alex Buri 55

TAHLTAN STEWARDSHIP INITIATIVE

Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) 61 Pull Out Map 64

PERSONAL PROFILES

Elder – Dan Edzerza 71

Culture – Rudy Day 72

Healthy Active Tahltans – Jace Tevely 73

Healthy Active Tahltans – Kendra Creyke 75

Inspiring Young Tahltans – Trisha McCreery 76

Inspiring Young Tahltans – Noah Allison 77

1910 Declaration of the Tahltan Tribe

WE THE UNDERSIGNED MEMBERS OF THE TAHLTAN TRIBE, speaking for ourselves, and our entire tribe, hereby make known to all whom it may concern, that we have heard of the Indian Rights movement among the Indian tribes of the Coast, and of the southern interior of B.C. Also, we have read the Declaration made by the chiefs of the southern interior tribes at Spences Bridge on the 16th July last, and we hereby declare our complete agreement with the demands of same, and with the position taken by the said chiefs, and their people on all the questions stated in the said Declaration, and we furthermore make known that it is our desire and intention to join with them in the fight for our mutual rights, and that we will assist in the furtherance of this object in every way we can, until such time as all these matters of moment to us are finally settled. We further declare as follows:

FIRSTLY – We claim the sovereign right to all the country of our tribe—this country of ours which we have held intact from the encroachments of other tribes, from time immemorial, at the cost of our own blood. We have done this because our lives depended on our country. To lose it meant we would lose our means of living, and therefore our lives. We are still, as heretofore, dependent for our living on our country, and we do not intend to give away the title to any part of same without adequate compensation. We deny the B.C. government has any title or right of ownership in our country. We have never treatied with them, nor given them any such title. (We have only very lately learned the B.C. government makes this claim, and that it has for long considered as its property all the territories of the Indian tribes in B.C.)

SECONDLY – We desire that a part of our country, consisting of one or more large areas (to be selected by us), be retained by us for our own use, said lands and all thereon to be acknowledged by the government as our absolute property. The rest of our tribal land we are willing to relinquish to the B.C. government for adequate compensation.

THIRDLY – We wish it known that a small portion of our lands at the mouth of the Tahltan river, was set apart a few years ago by Mr. Vowell as an Indian reservation. These few acres are the only reservation made for our tribe. We may state we never applied for the reservation of this piece of land, and we had no knowledge why the government set it apart for us, nor do we know exactly yet.

FOURTHLY – We desire that all questions regarding our lands, hunting, fshing, etc., and every matter concerning our welfare, be settled by treaty between us and the Dominion and B.C. governments.

FIFTHLY – We are of the opinion it will be better for ourselves, also better for the governments and all concerned, if these treaties are made with us at a very early date, so all friction, and misunderstanding between us and the whites may be avoided, for we hear lately much talk of white settlements in the region and the building of railways, etc., in the near future.

Signed at Telegraph Creek, B.C., this eighteenth day of October, nineteen hundred and ten, by NANOK, Chief of the Tahltans NASTULTA, alias Little Jackson GEORGE ASSADZA, KENETL, alias Big Jackson And eighty other members of our tribe.

Message from the President

as Tahltans and as human beings. Enough is enough. We will not stop until we are heard and meaningful upgrades to our infrastructure and services happen for our people in Tahltan Territory.

I am excited to welcome back Lance Nagwan, our Wildlife Director, who has returned to his position after a six-month paternity leave. We are happy to have him back and look forward to seeing his input into our stewardship projects in the days to come. I would like to thank Westin Creyke for the great job he did as Acting Director of the Wildlife Department during Lance’s absence. As the recent recipient of a 2022 Together for Wildlife and Interior University Research Coalition grant, which will support his research focusing on stone sheep in Northwestern B.C., I welcome to see what the future holds for him in supporting our Nation. Mēduh for your service and leadership, my friend.

Chad Norman Day President, Tahltan Central Government

Tahltan Nation,

As the fall comes to an end, I hope you have enjoyed spending time on the land in our beautiful territory, be it hunting, fshing, hiking, or something else that allowed you to appreciate the connection, solitude, and comfort that Tahltan Territory offers each and every one of us.

I have been very busy in my role as President of the Tahltan Central Government (TCG) in the lead up to the coming winter months with a strong focus on socio-cultural issues, including the creation of the frst ever TCG Health Department and the upcoming hiring of our new Health Director. I am so excited to see this department come into being and look forward to all of the work to be done to support our Nation and people. The TCG is advocating the Province of British Columbia strongly for services and infrastructure in our territory before we welcome any further development with mining. This includes signifcant upgrades needed for Highway 37 and Telegraph Creek Road, such as the addition of a passing lane, and emergency access to cell reception or Wi-Fi for members along the way. We will be holding contractors accountable for maintenance on roads to ensure the safety and wellness of our people. So much wealth is taken out of our territory each year. It is past due time that the Province of British Columbia recognizes our rights

The TCG strives to protect our wildlife through efforts to establish world-class wildlife stewardship in Tahltan Territory led by our Nation. The continuous efforts made by our Wildlife Department have seen through the recent signing of the Tahltan Central Government – British Columbia Accord on Wildlife Management. Through this accord, Tahltan knowledge, values, and worldview in relation to wildlife are recognized as essential. Our knowledge must be included in the management of wildlife in Tahltan Territory. I am extremely proud of all who have contributed to this work.

Recently, an elderly resident of Iskut had a frightening encounter with a Grizzly bear which was dealt with through our Wildlife Guardians and Predator Management Technicians. BC’s Conservation Offcers were called for assistance, but at the time, there were no support staff available in territory. Fortunately, the TCG’s Wildlife Department has hired and trained Wildlife Guardians and Predator Management Technicians who, with their expertise, were able to quickly capture and kill the dangerous bear. This is just one example of why Tahltans managing our own wildlife is absolutely vital and something we are willing to fght for. This is our home, these are our rights. We will not stand down and will always do what is best for our Nation and for the Tahltan people.

In November, the TCG was pleased to host and support a successful Elders meeting in Dease Lake. The TCG is prioritizing building a collaborative approach to the work of the Nation with the Elders’ Council. We are working to purchase audio/visual equipment to support the virtual component of these meetings and ensure that Elders and those wishing to participate in

in-territory engagement sessions who are unable to attend in person, can join online or by phone for future meetings.

The fall season also saw the Stikine Claw/Thicke Family Representative by-election. I would like to extend a welcome to our new Board member, Colleen Parker. We also welcome Curtis Rattray, who will be taking over as the new Cawtoonma Family Representative. Thank you to Jodi Payne, the previous Cawtoonma Family Representative for her service. Jodi has left the TCG to pursue other opportunities.

As always, a warm welcome to all new Tahltans who were born this season. The work we do now aims to leave each of you with a bright future, protected and bountiful lands, fsh and wildlife, and greater social and economic security. I also share my condolences with the Tahltans who have lost loved ones. I share your grief. This season we had to say goodbye to my brother, Jarett Quock. I cannot begin to express my gratitude for all he did for our Nation as our frst Wildlife Guardian working to ensure our people, culture, and identity survive and remain strong. Thank you for all of the adventures, support, love, and teachings that we shared together. Mēduh, Jarett.

Left: Richard Louie with the problem bear. He shared: “My son Lucious finished him off. He was with me the whole two days, tracking and chasing. We skinned him out at the school and gave the fat to an Elder, Morris Louie.”

Message from the Vice President

In October and November, we had a great deal of meetings as a new Board and with TCG staff. We are strategizing and prioritizing as a new team to always better serve the Tahltan people. It is so wonderful to meet and work with Tahltans that are so energetic, educated in many different capacities, and passionate about working for the Nation.

It has been very uplifting to be able to gather since the COVID-19 restrictions were lifted. We were able to have community meetings regarding mineral exploration staking, the Section 7 Agreement, and the Eskay Creek Revitalization Project. These meetings included members of the Iskut Band’s Chief and Council, the Tahltan Band and all three Tahltan Territory communities. I look forward to engaging with our Tahltan citizens at many more future scheduled community meetings. In the latter part of November, I had the opportunity to sit and listen in at the latest Elders’ meeting in Dease Lake, BC. I learned a lot about respect for oneself and others, governance, and traditional knowledge.

Hawkins Vice President, Tahltan Central Government

Dẕenēs hoti’e, Tahltans,

This year’s fall brought about a lot of change to our Tahltan Nation and to our Tahltan Central Government (TCG) family. We have all experienced sorrow in the losses throughout the past couple of years. This September began with a very dear friend, family member, and colleague’s transition to the spirit world. His passing was a diffcult one to work through to say the least. One thing that I do have to say is that his legacy will carry on with all of us; Jarett’s wisdom, knowledge, and love for both the land and people will leave an everlasting imprint on all of us. Mēduh chō, Jar.

I look forward to engaging with all Tahltans in the very near future.

Mēduh chō, Tsundy

Heather

THE DATES

w Tahltans

ELLA MAE MANN

Tanisha Mensies & Mark Mann

October 10, 2022 — 9lbs 2oz

LENNON ET’ANE LEWIS INKSTER

James & Janet Inkster

August 16, 2022 — 6lbs 14oz

DWAYNE EUGENE LESTER ETZERZA

Justine Dennis & Dwayne Etzerza

August 12, 2022 — 8lbs 15oz

Condolences

JARETT QUOCK

June 1985 – September 2022

VERDA GREENE

October 1970 – November 2022

HARRY WATTS JR

AIYDEN MICHAEL MCPHEE

Summer McPhee

July 16, 2022 — 7lbs 10oz

December 1990 – September 2022

JOHN QUOCK

April 1954 – November 2022

BLAYKE FARMER

June 2022 – October 2022

New Staff Mariko Waite

Hello, I am excited to start my new position as the Culture and Heritage Coordinator for the Tahltan Central Government (TCG). I was born in Cassiar and lived in Dease Lake for thirty years where I was very active in the community, volunteering for many organizations. I moved to Terrace four years ago, but my heart is still in the north and I enjoy visiting my family in Dease Lake. I hope this new role will give me more opportunities to make my way back to the territory. I have had the privilege of experiencing a lot of the Tahltan culture while growing up in the area. I was part of a Tahltan dancing group that travelled and performed in schools. Both my children attended the Dease Lake Language Nest prior to us moving.  We have many wonderful memories from when we lived in the area.

Mariko Waite Culture & Heritage Coordinator

My most recent employment was as a Public Service Employee for the RCMP. I worked in the Dease Lake detachment for four years and transferred to the Terrace detachment for the last four years. During that time, I did a variety of offce roles, such as Records, Court Liaison Offcer, and Exhibit Custodian. I worked for Rescan Tahltan Environmental Consultants before my work with the federal government. The majority of my work was in the offce, but I did make my way to some incredible places when I did manage to get out in the feld.

I am looking forward to working with the incredible staff and people in the TCG. I have seen some of the wonderful things going on in the organization and I am pleased to have the opportunity to be a part of what is to come in the Culture & Heritage Department.

I am looking forward to working with the incredible staff and people in the TCG. I have seen some of the wonderful things going on in the organization and I am pleased to have the opportunity to be a part of what is to come in the Culture & Heritage Department.

New Staff Kathy Cottrell

I worked remotely from my home in Gibsons, BC. The projects I worked on included the First Voices website, putting together children’s e-books, and working on the Dictionary Project as a scribe.

Working on the First Voices website was so satisfying! This is because when I returned to university, one of my Linguistics teachers suggested I check out the First Voices website to fnd Tāłtān to help me with my project. When I did, Tāłtan was not there yet. I am happy Tāłtan is now on First Voices, and anyone can listen to the audio from the Tahltan Children’s Dictionary and the Tahltan Basic Conversation Lessons. You can search for words on the site alphabetically or by category. Each word entry in the Tahltan Children’s Illustrated Dictionary is also accompanied by an example sentence. It is a great learning resource, especially when you do not have a fuent speaker nearby. There are also games for the children.

Kathy Cottrell

Language Nest Manager

My name is Tsahtsoyemā, Kathy Cottrell. I was born and raised in Prince Rupert, B.C. My parents are Cathryn (née Callbreath) and Wally Thompson. My maternal grandparents are Julia and Charley Callbreath. My husband and I have four grown children and ten grandchildren.

I completed my Bachelor of Arts with a major in Anthropology and a minor in First Nations and Endangered Languages at the University of British Columbia in 2018. I am nearing completion of a Master of Arts in Linguistics of a First Nations Language at Simon Fraser University.

I worked with the Tahltan Central Government (TCG) Language Department from 2018 to 2019 and returned in 2021. When I started with the department,

My husband and I moved to Dease Lake in late June. To be closer to fuent speakers was one of the many reasons I moved to Dease Lake. I knew that no amount of reading and listening to Tāłtān online would help me to become a profcient speaker. Living outside of Tahltan Territory with no speakers nearby was a hindrance to my language learning, so we decided to uproot our life and make the drastic change that would bring me closer to my language.

I am pleased to now take on the role as the Language Nest Manager. The Language Nest Manager’s role is to oversee the day-to-day operations of the language nest. I am looking forward to developing programs and resources to help the children begin to learn Tāłtān. I will also work with the parents to help them with speaking the language at home.

A major part of my preparation to open the nest is my participation in the Mentor Apprenticeship Program (MAP) which we started in November. I am overjoyed to be able to participate in this program.

I look forward to being a part of the revitalization of Tāłtān.

New Staff Derek Louie

Hi, my name is Derek Louie. I reside in Dease Lake, and I have lived in territory for most of my life. I descend from the Carlick family and belong to the Tsesk’iye Clan. My parents are Andy and Penny Louie.

My time growing up was split between attending school and being out on the land. I remember as a young boy going to school in Iskut and running home for lunch so my dad, my late brother Ashley, and I could go run our rabbit snares, eat lunch, then go back to school for the afternoon. Growing up, if I was not in school, I was out on the land camping, hunting, or trapping, learning our traditional ways from my parents and my uncles and aunties.

Louie Predator Management Technician

I have been hired as one of the Predator Management Technicians for the Tahltan Central Government’s Wildlife Department. With my traditional lifestyle of hunting, fshing, trapping, and gathering medicines, I will be bringing all of my knowledge to my new position. I am excited to be a part of a team working to help restore the moose and caribou populations in the territory back to, or close to, the numbers that my Elders have spoken to me about in the stories of what they used to see when they went out on the land.

Derek

It is important to me that I do my part in the conservation and protection of these resources to ensure that my children and my grandchildren can also practice their traditional culture.

New Staff Eugene Etzerza Jr.

Hello, my name is Eugene Etzerza Jr. I am working as a Predator Management Technician. I grew up in Telegraph Creek and now I live in Dease Lake. My wife and I have three adult sons.

Growing up in Telegraph Creek, I was taught how to hunt and trap by my father. My parents are Eugene and Lola Etzerza. I enjoy being out on the land and sharing my knowledge. Our family likes to go out hunting, fshing, and camping together as often as possible. I look forward to the opportunity to be out in the bush, trapping and hunting wolves and bears within our territory.

I feel as though this is the perfect job for me and I am sure there will be many great experiences during my time with the Tahltan Central Government (TCG). Previously, I have worked as a mechanic and a carpenter on various projects and worksites in Telegraph Creek, Dease Lake, and locations within Tahltan Territory. Throughout my lifetime, I have been to many areas within our territory either for work or hunting or trapping. I always appreciate seeing all the animals and spending time outdoors.

Eugene Etzerza Jr. Predator Management Technician

Before I joined the TCG team, I recognized the overabundance of predators. Now, I spend my days out on the land using my knowledge to reduce their numbers.

New Staff Dennis Quock

I grew up in the community of Telegraph Creek my entire life, hunting, fshing, and trapping under my grandfather’s tutelage. Raised in an outftter family, hunting has always been a large part of my life. My role as a Predator Management Technician allows me to practice my traditional skills for wildlife management. I am excited to join the Tahltan Central Government Wildlife Department team. I started in my position late October 2022, so I have spent the last month learning the system used to trap and remove wolves from the Tahltan Guardians. I will be based out of my home community of Telegraph Creek, and this winter I hope to catch a few wolves and gain experience while trapping using the techniques that I learn daily.

Protecting wildlife species and populations in and around my home is important to me. I want to protect our animals for my children, so that they may continue to practice our Tahltan culture with their children in the future.

Quock Predator Management Technician

Priority over this winter will be documenting a GPS trail network in and around Telegraph Creek, working with local members interested in trapping in Tahltan Territory, and building skills of the Youth and awareness of the methods needed to become a successful trapper.

Dennis

Jarett Quock

June 1987 - September 2022

It is with great sadness that we, as a Tahltan Nation family, grieve the loss of our beloved friend, family member and colleague, Jarett Quock. Jarett served our Nation and people as our first Wildlife Guardian. He devoted himself to the protection of our land, animals and way of being. Known for his love of family, his kindness, energy and passion, he will be greatly missed by our team and everyone who has had the pleasure of knowing him. Our hearts go out to everyone grieving. We stand with you and honour his memory together.

Mēduh

PRESS RELEASE

Tahltan Central Government –British Columbia Accord on Wildlife Management

VANCOUVER, SEPTEMBER 8, 2022 – President Chad Norman Day of the Tahltan Central Government (TCG), Chief Carmen McPhee of the Tahltan Band, and Councillor John Nole of the Iskut Band Council are meeting with Ministers from the Province of British Columbia to frmly advance Tahltan efforts to establish world-class wildlife stewardship in Tahltan Territory - led by our Nation.

Tahltan Leadership are bringing to reality the long discussed Tahltan Central Government – British Columbia Accord on Wildlife Management. Joined by Katrine Conroy, Minister of Forests, Murray Rankin, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, Bruce Ralston, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, Josie Osborne, Minister of Land, Water and Resource Stewardship, and George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, Tahltan Leaders shared their concerns and visions for the future preservation and strengthening of our wildlife, culture and way of being.

The TCG has been working tirelessly over recent years to address the wildlife concerns of Tahltans, to protect our wildlife populations and strengthen our hunting rights. In collaboration with the Province, our work to date to protect Tahltan wildlife includes the Caribou Stewardship Project under the Tahltan Stewardship Initiative, and other joint programs such as Stone’s Sheep monitoring, Klappan Moose Population Monitoring and Stewardship Planning, Communitybased Moose Action Plans and wildlife health as part of the 3 Nations Collaborative Stewardship Framework. Our Wildlife Department, Directed by Lance Nagwan

along with Interim Wildlife Director Westin Creyke, strive to protect wildlife in Tahltan Territory for Tahltan people focusing heavily on caribou restoration and predator management.

Since time immemorial, the Tahltan Nation’s identity and the essence of who we are as a distinct society has been connected to our land. We are the land. We are our wildlife. Through this work, we are standing up for our rights as Tahltan people, demanding respect of our knowledge and values, and fghting for our future generations. Our vision and commitment to establish a world-class wildlife stewardship regime in Tahltan Territory builds on years of efforts to advance wildlife stewardship in Tahltan Territory.

We want to include all Tahltans in this important work. Later in September, our Wildlife Department and team led by Interim Director, Westin Creyke will be visiting Tahltans for dinner in Telegraph Creek, Dease Lake and Iskut to share what we have been up to and seek your guidance as we move forward and make change together. We will also be holding online engagement sessions.

Stay tuned for details to be shared in the coming days about location, dates and times.

Learn more about our ongoing stewardship work at any time by exploring our Tahltan Stewardship Initiative website: https://tsi.tahltan.org/

Tahltan Central Government, B.C. take step forward to develop wildlife stewardship in Tahltan Territory

VICTORIA, OCTOBER 18, 2022 − The Tahltan Central Government and the Province of B.C. have agreed to work together toward the development and implementation of a world-class wildlife regime, led by Tahltan knowledge and expertise that will protect and preserve Tahltan wildlife, culture and way of being.

The Tahltan Central Government − British Columbia Accord on Wildlife Management outlines a vision and commitment for establishing a wildlife stewardship regime in Tahltan Territory. The accord highlights the Tahltan Central Government’s ongoing efforts to address the wildlife concerns of Tahltan people by protecting wildlife populations in Tahltan Territory with a focus on caribou restoration and predator management. It builds on and continues years of efforts to collaboratively advance enhanced wildlife stewardship in Tahltan Territory with the Province, including regional approaches achieved through the current Collaborative Stewardship Forum.

“The Tahltan Central Government − British Columbia Accord on Wildlife Management recognizes Tahltan title and rights, Tahltan local knowledge and Tahltan values. Since time immemorial, the Tahltan Nation’s identity and the essence of who we are as a distinct society has been connected to our land. We are the land. We are our wildlife,” said Chad Norman Day, President, Tahltan Central Government. “Tahltans have reiterated that there will be no world- class mining in our territory without world-class wildlife management and stewardship. This accord echoes our view. We have been standing up for our rights as Tahltan people, demanding respect of our knowledge and values, and fghting for our future generations. As a Nation, we are grieving the loss of our frst Tahltan Wildlife Guardian, Jarett Quock. I am proud to see his passionate work

refected in this accord and thank him for all that he has done for the Tahltan Central Government, our Wildlife Department and the Tahltan Nation. I am grateful to our Wildlife Department and our guardians who are out on the land working hard to protect our wildlife. Mēduh.”

Katrine Conroy, Minister of Forests, said “British Columbians value the incredible variety of wildlife and supporting ecology in our province. Wildlife is crucial to protecting the Tahltan’s Aboriginal rights, culture and way of life. This accord creates opportunities for expanded collaboration on wildlife stewardship that respects Tahltan needs and offers clear opportunities for resident hunters, guide outftters and shared benefts throughout the region.”

The shared vision and commitment is an integral step along the reconciliation pathway between the Province and the Tahltan Nation. The accord parallels other efforts to foster resource development founded on recognition and respect of Tahltan Aboriginal title and rights, fostering sustainable economic growth, rigorous environmental standards and social responsibility.

The new wildlife management system will have three core elements:

• joint wildlife governance;

• co-management; and

• joint information and data collection.

There are also immediate measures to be implemented that include caribou and moose monitoring plans and support for Tahltan predator monitoring and management.

Orange Shirt Day

Tsedẕe edōne edanādih

In honour of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30th, the Tahltan Central Government worked with our Language Working Group to design orange shirts with the Tahltan phrase “tsedẕe edōne edanādih,” which translates to “we respect all the children.”

The day was a great success and shirts were distributed in each community in territory and sent out to members who had requested them outside of

territory. Mēduh to everyone who came out and got a shirt, to everyone who helped distribute shirts in each community, and to the Tāłtān language speakers who contributed their knowledge to the project.

If you would like an orange shirt, please contact our Communications & External Relations Director, Ombrielle Neria, at communicationsdirector@tahltan.org.

Tahltan OnTrack

The Tahltan Central Government is working hard to connect Tahltans–no matter where you live, your education, or your job experience–with the vast array of job opportunities in Tahltan Territory!

Visit Tahltan OnTrack to learn more and match your skill set with current employment opportunities. ontrack.tahltan.org

Directors’ Reports

29 Culture & Heritage, Sandra Marion

Dease Lake Director, Christina Callbreath

Education & Training, Cassandra Puckett

Fisheries, Cheri Frocklage

Lands, Connor Pritty

Wildlife, Lance Nagwan

Language, Pamela Labonte

Employment & Business, Ann Ball

Membership & Genealogy, Shannon Frank

Tourism, Alex Buri

Culture & Heritage Director Report

regarding locating, handling, and storing our ancestors’ belongings as they are found out on the land. We will, of course, consider all the work that was done by our predecessors regarding archaeology.

We are currently in discussions with Cordillera Archaeology and other consulting frms about hosting RISC Training in community in the spring. We want to build up our team of archaeology/cultural monitors in territory during the warmer months. Please keep your eye open for postings in the future to sign up for this course.

Sandra Marion Culture & Heritage Director

Dẕenēs hoti’e, Tahltans, the Culture & Heritage Department had the opportunity to support the ancestral remains archaeology work that occurred in territory last summer. In July 2022, we were able to send Lesli Louie and Kianna Quigley to Galore Creek to participate in Resources Information Standard Committee (RISC) Training to become archaeology monitors. Once Lesli completed the RISC training, we were able to send her out on permitted archaeological work with consulting frms that were hired by proponents. During this time, we had some locals observe ancestral remains eroding from the ground and at risk of further disturbance. Luckily, based on their location, the BC Archaeology Branch told us we could determine how we wanted to relocate these remains. Once the team collected the remains we held a burial ceremony as we relocated them to a safer area. You can read more about this endeavour in Lesli’s article that speaks to her experiences. We understand the BC Archaeology Branch standards are much lower than what we would like to see and differ from how we handle our belongings from our ancestors that are found in our territory. The Culture & Heritage Department is looking to partner with the Lands Department to create an Archaeology Division under both our departments. We have spoken to qualifed professionals who have infuenced the BC Archaeology Branch’s standards for other Indigenous Nations within BC and have experience setting the bar much higher

In September we were able to host two-thirds of the frst round of Tahltan place names work since 1980s interviews and the Land Use Study work. We still need to meet in Iskut with our Elders who would like to participate there. We have been able to provide maps and recording equipment to record these events. We will be looking to continue with place names work throughout the year, to make it a more common practice. We sure enjoy spending time with our Elders, and we are grateful for the knowledge they are willing to share with us. We will also be budgeting and planning out how to go about interviewing Elders who no longer reside in the territory. We know we have a large amount of untapped knowledge that rests in the hands of Elders who live across BC, and western Canada. We hope to be able to start reaching everyone sooner rather than later.

Several documents are being drafted by the Culture & Heritage Department that will require engagement with a culture and heritage committee. I am currently working on drafting the terms of reference for this committee and I will share a post to update our Tahltan membership on when they can submit their expressions of interest to be on this committee. I will also include the requirements that we would like to fulfll through this committee work on that said poster.

The Dease Lake School dance group has hit the ground running. We have designed a logo with Christina Callbreath for the dancers. With this logo we plan on developing some swag for when the dance group is away representing the Nation. We look forward to including them on trips to specifc events as the calendar year unfolds.

Top: June Louie and Sandra Marion at Telegraph Creek, attending the ancestral remains burial ceremony

Bottom: Ancestral remains burial ceremony at Telegraph Creek.

Lesli Louie: My Archaeology Experience

Valley. Our teachings came into effect the following day. We caught a helicopter ride and had to do a toe-in on the mountain side on one of the mountains above the confuence of the Scud and Stikine Rivers.

We had some notes from the Tahltan Ancestral Study (TAS) data on some cairns in the area, given by my great uncle, Jackie Williams. Well, that morning, we found them, and we were super stoked. Questions pondered in my mind. I wondered how old these were, how long ago they had been built, how long it took, and why they were built. These boulders were about forty to sixty pounds each and different shapes and sizes, all in fve-foot-long by fve-foot-wide piles, each about three to four feet high. These were probably all packed up the mountain side by our people hundreds and maybe thousands of years ago. We found about seven of them that day and were so happy to document and record the petroforms.

The highlight of my summer was in August. I had the best two-week experience. I have always wanted to be an archaeologist and I enjoy watching the series Wild Archaeology.  I love seeing all the cool artifacts and how archaeology connects us to history and tells us so much about the people of the land. One of my wishes was to work in this feld and being able to do it on our land and learn my history while at it, I was honoured; it is worth more than silver and gold. I wish to continue learning and inspire others as well.

In July, I was offered the opportunity to take the BC Provincial Resources Information Standards Committee (RISC) Archaeology training course with others in Galore Creek. Later that summer, Kleanza Consulting, an archaeology frm invited me to join them to work in the feld in Galore.  In my frst helicopter ride this year, it was amazing to be high up in the clouds and above the peaks; we sure have a beautiful country. Rolling mountains, jagged mountains, and hilly mountains; with beautiful glaciers in between and the blue hues of the glacier-fed lakes. I can see why our people fought hard for our land; lots of good food, medicine, berries, and water resources. Dah nene łān konelīn!

Our frst week of work was pretty damn exciting. We did some hiking and digging around in the Round Lake

What a view it was from the mountain. I could see the vast beauty our land holds. I was in awe with the sounds of nature, just soaking it all in. Just hearing the whistles from groundhogs and seeing all the berries in abundance makes me realize how rich we are with what the land can offer us. It felt pretty empowering to be standing where our ancestors once stood. We asked the pilot if we could take some photos and we found even more cairns!

Above: Beautiful Round Lake.

Lesli Louie

Dẕenēs hoti’e. Didenek’eh Dagay ush’yē. Lesli Louie ush’yē.

We counted about twenty (including the ones we had found earlier that day). There was a rock wall, possibly used as a hunting blind. It was about twenty feet long and two feet wide, and four feet high. It was incredible! I was so enthralled that time few by, and I did not want to quit working. But we had to wait until the following day. It was quitting time. The next day our groups joined together to work on the site; measuring, digging, sifting, and looking for lithics and other materials left behind by our ancestors. We counted each cobble and stone, flling in outfeld notes as we went along.

The night before, our team lead, Kay Jollymore, got a call from the Culture & Heritage Director about Ancestral Remains (AR). A local had discovered a skull and humerus bone sticking out of the ground. These were eroding from a bank above a road and were at risk of more exposed over time. We were asked to assess and help with the fnd and we were happy to reply and offer our services. After hearing the news, we broke into groups again and I had a fantastic crew: Kevin Haugrud, Suzy Carruthers, and myself. We got packed and ready to hit the road, bound for Tlēgōhīn (Telegraph Creek).

It was a nice sunny day and very humid. I acted as an archaeologist but also as the tour guide. I showed them the mountains I knew the names of along the way, and our beautiful land, including the lakes, rivers, and views. We got to Tahltan and waited for Chief Carmen McPhee to join us. I told them about and showed them Tses’kiye Chō Kime (Big Crow House) and Dediye Ts’ede (Groundhog Blanket) and shared the stories of how they came to be. After the Chief arrived to show us where the AR were located, we discussed the protocols and smudged before going in to do our site assessment; then we planned for the coming days. Later, we went into town to check-in to our motel rooms at the good old Stikine Riversong. We unloaded our gear and continued our tour down the road to Six Mile.

Bottom:

Above: Just above the confluence of Scud and Stikine rivers.

Rock transitioning from sedimentary to metamorphic.

I wanted to show them the petroglyph marker on the river side. A Tlingit marker from the agreement that we (the Tahltans) had with Chief Shakes, the petroglyph stated that he could fsh up here in our territory. We had to dig it out as it had been buried by the river rising and was just peeking out. Our job was done quickly, as we had some help. It was a nice evening.

The next day the real work started at nine in the morning when we got out to the site. We started a bit of the excavation work and did some sketches every fve to ten centimetres. The day went by quickly and we had some family members from the community come help and support us. After work, we ate dinner then we had the grand tour from the mayor of Old Town, Uncle Lee Marion. He showed around us and taught us so much history from the area. You can really feel and see the pride; it was awesome to share and witness.

We continued over the next few days, carefully digging, sifting, and moving cobbles and boulders ten cents at a time. We found obsidian fakes, red ochre, and a few shell casings, here and there throughout the excavation, probably set out as offerings over time. It took us a total of four days and we did it as carefully and respectfully as we could, smudging going in and out. On the fnal day we were able to move the ancestors into their new caskets and transfer them to a safer area.

There were two of our ancestors buried head-to-head, with one facing upstream and the other downstream. It was beautiful. We anticipate one of them to be a woman who was buried with a twisted copper necklace that had dentalium shells and abalone. She also had a piece of copper in her mouth. To me, maybe this signifes that they wanted her to be wealthy in the afterlife. I think she was wrapped in some skin and bark, possibly balsam and birch. She must have been someone of high status as she had beautiful jewelry.

It was a good day that day. We saw a few eagles and had more support and family come out. Mēduh chō! There was a beautiful rainbow, sideways (kind of like the northern lights), and a light sprinkle of rain. It almost felt like a thank you. I know we all did good by them.

Later that day, we sat with some family and friends to share our experience and hiked around a bit, but we were also so exhausted from all the digging and sifting through the dirt over the past few days so we

Above: Lesli Louie, Kay Jollymore, and Suzy Carruthers.

Bottom: Dylan and Lesli Louie working in the same camp, Galore Creek Mine.

went back to our beds to rest. The next day, we joined everyone down at Tahltan and held a little service for our ancestors while we brought them to a safer place. It was so awesome to see everyone that came out to join us and share this amazing once in lifetime experience. It was truly an honour to be there and help. But we still had not fnished our turnaround in Galore Creek, so we had to go back to camp the next day to continue.

My crew was nice enough to let me go home for the night and then they picked me up on the way back to camp. We continued our last days of work in camp getting rides in the helicopter to a safe location near our sites. Then we hiked through thick and dense brush up and along mountain sides and through meadows near Mess Lake. We worked and hiked in the area for three days and then fnished up our time in Galore Creek; what a blast! Now we wait to hear back on the data from our AR at Tahltan. I cannot wait for the projects coming up in 2023 in our territory and hope to fnd out more of our history!

Top: Suzy with one of the cairns.

Middle: Petroform.

Bottom: Lesli Louie and the first cairn recorded.

Dease Lake Director Report

Christina Callbreath Dease Lake Director

Hello everyone! The snow is starting to drift down the mountains and it looks like our fall has come to an end.

I think we have had an exceptional season with warm days and extra time to enjoy the beautiful colours of autumn.

I have been enjoying my time being busy organizing events and courses, applying for funding, and being in the community. There have been the regular activities; Youth nights, Elder lunches, and work meetings, and also some other fun ones, including a canning beets workshop with the community, making fall decorations with the Youth, and a Halloween dance at the Dease Lake School.

I recently had an opportunity to attend a Healthy Living Leader workshop in Terrace where I learned about what is happening in other communities through the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation Council (ISPARC). I am looking forward to working with them in the future and applying for funding for a health initiative in Dease Lake.

Working with our Education & Training Department and through Contact North, we have recently brought a Babysitting course to Dease Lake and all fourteen Youth who attended have passed the course. Well done to all who participated.

We have also recently started a Fitness Trainer course, and soon we will have another Possession and Acquisition License (PAL) course. Congratulations to everyone that has joined; it really makes me happy to see the community participation.

October 18th was Tahltan Day, and I spent the day in the Dease Lake School doing an art project with all the students. It was such a great day flled with fun and wonderful traditional food!

I extend my thanks to People’s Haven and our school district as we continue to work together for the beneft of the community. Our collaboration on the dance and upcoming events and initiatives is truly awesome.

As always, I am a grateful for any suggestions or ideas for the community. Feel free to give me a call or drop in to have a chat. Stay warm and stay safe!

Education & Training Director Report

twenty-six applicants in post-secondary, trades/skills training, and community development. The following sixteen Tahltans received Coeur Silvertip awards totalling $30,000. As always, we are grateful for the generosity of our partners at Coeur and look forward to their continued support of education and training for Tahltan members.

Cassandra Puckett Education & Training Director

The fall is always an exciting time within the Tahltan Central Government (TCG) Education & Training Department. It marks the beginning a new academic year and is always a flurry of activity as many Tahltan students return to, or start, their education journey in the programs of their choosing. We are thrilled to share the latest developments within the TCG Education & Training team.

With a new academic year, the TCG Education Coordinator, Kelli Louie, has been busier than ever supporting the education application process and the bursary program. Within a month and a half, the TCG Education & Training Department has received a total of seventy-two new applications. Additionally, the bursary program continues to support Tahltan students in their fnancial needs. The 2022 Coeur Silvertip Bursary closed on August 14, 2022, with

Post Secondary

Taylor Peterson Ocean Van Meirlo

Kody Penner Shelby Wallace-Booth Nikita Weiss-Day Alysha Hawkins Haley McLean Romeo Nash Isaac O’Brien Andrew Reimert Tina Nash Layla Joe Callison Foreman Sage Nowak

Trades Technical Training Community Development

Erich Mostad

Leigh Lindstrom

On Tahltan Day, October 18th, 2022, Galore Creek Mining Corporation (GCMC) announced the 2022 GCMC and Ann M Ball Bursaries award recipients for a total of $25,000. Each year, GCMC commits to providing bursaries to advance the educational goals of the Tahltan Nation and Tahltan members.

Ann M Ball Bursary

Westin Creyke

GCMC – Tahltan Bursary

Shesley Callison-Hanna Amber-Lyn May Kody Penner Andrew Reimert

Taylor Peterson Romeo Nash

Kyle Risby Janessa Garcia

Ocean Van Mierlo Erich Mostad

Teneal Nole Leigh Lindstrom Haley McLean Nikita Weiss Day

Merissa Gallup

In other related bursary news, the TCG has developed an online bursary application process. Applying online will ensure that students submit all required documents and will hopefully result in an increase in applications received.

We are also excited to share that the Contract North BC (CNBC) Community Learning Centers continue to support Tahltan students in Dease Lake, Telegraph Creek, and Iskut. Each community has participated in various course offerings in the past few months.

In collaboration with the TCG Dease Lake Director and the Iskut Band Education Director, a Canadian Red Cross Babysitting Course from Coast Mountain College took place in Dease Lake and Iskut with registered youth from all three communities. Approximately twenty-seven youth attended and completed the course. Additionally, the frst part of a Fitness Knowledge Online Course started in October 2022 with eleven participants from all three communities. The practical course will be taught in spring 2023. Completing the online curriculum and practical coursework will result in certifed personal trainers in the territory providing community advice, safe training practices, and personal ftness courses.

Courses in November 2022 will include a Red Cross First Aid Basics and a Canadian Firearms Safety Course.

Our CNBC Community Learning Centers can support students in a wide variety of programming across many academic institutions. Some examples of current programs being accessed include upgrading programs with Coast Mountain College, Early the Childhood Education Assistant course with Vancouver Island University (VIU), the Education Assistant program with Coast Mountain College, the Master of Business Administration with Simon Fraser University, and the Business Administration courses with Northern Lights College and Langara College. With the many programs and classes, Caitlin Nicholson, Regional Coordinator at CNBC, can also support programming on a systems level by facilitating coursework and exams. CNBC currently has ffteen clients taking online courses in the fall semester in Tahltan Territory.

Additionally, CNBC is working with First Nations Technology Council and Northern Lights College to arrange for fundamental computer training for several interested clients in Dease Lake, Iskut, and Telegraph Creek starting in November or January. CNBC also supports VIU clients by attending monthly Zoom meetings with VIU faculty to ensure clients are supported remotely if they have any problems or questions regarding their program.

Another exciting development is the staffng of the CNBC Community Learning Centers. Jozef Bienkowski-Gibbs and May Quock are staffng the Tatl’ah (Dease Lake) Centre and doing a fabulous job training for their new positions and supporting the centre. The Kluachon (Iskut) CNBC Learning Centre is fully staffed; Lena Jackson is our full-time day shift employee, and Jozef Bienkowsk-Gibbs works two evenings a week. Both are doing great work supporting the centre and training for their new positions. The Tlēgōhīn (Telegraph Creek) CNBC Learning Center is open one day a week as we continue to recruit for full-time staffng.

The TCG Education & Training Director continues to work within the partnership aspects through securing funding for the 2023 Dease Lake Trades Sampler program that will be delivered in partnership with Coast Mountain College and School District 87 to support students acquire hands-on experience in welding, electrical, automotive, carpentry, and plumbing trades. Additionally, we continue to work towards developing an in-territory Heavy Equipment Operators course that will provide Tahltans with an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in heavy equipment operation to address labour market gaps within the territory.

In closing, as the department grows in number student applications, capacity, and partnership opportunities, we are committed to high operational standards in supporting the Tahltan students looking to further their education. It is of the utmost importance to continue to provide pathways for all Tahltan students in all areas of education and training that will continue to beneft the Tahltan Nation for generations.

Fisheries Director Report

Cheri Frocklage Fisheries Director

With a busy and productive field season drawing to a close, I want to share a few highlights from the Fisheries Department.

Our feld season commenced in April, and on October 29th, the Coho Assessment Project feld staff mobilized from the Lower Stikine River Camp by boat with Myles Sampson. This will conclude the fnal project to be delivered this year. Yes, they went by boat. Sounds cold, doesn’t it? Our technicians are tough. It was a very busy season and I express my sincere gratitude to the Tahltan Central Government (TCG) Fisheries Department staff for their ongoing dedication and commitment to the Stikine River salmon resources and the monitoring and stock assessment projects we conduct. For detailed information on 2022 catches and escapements, and project activities, please watch for the upcoming Fish & Wildlife Newsletter.

We were very fortunate to have the Multimedia Director, Adam Amir, join us on site for four days of flming during the Tahltan Lake sockeye egg take.

It was a pleasure to have him at the lake with the crew and we are looking forward to seeing what he captured from the department’s activities to share with our membership. Watch for the video release soon. We look forward to many more collaborations with Adam.

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation found me sitting in the Museum of Anthropology attending Tahltan Stewardship Initiative (TSI) meeting sessions with other TCG Directors. We were provided a tour of the museum, and I was humbled to walk through the displays on a day of such magnitude and signifcance to me as a Tahltan First Nation member.

To see the Tahltan artifacts contained within, brought tears to my eyes. Until then, I had only seen these beautiful, historic items in photographs. I had my ancestors in my heart and in my mind as we walked through. It was a spiritual experience, and a solid reminder of why I have chosen this important work.

I attended the TCG Strategic Planning Sessions in Vancouver along with my fellow directors and presented the Fisheries Department strategic goals to the new Board of Directors and Leadership. It was truly an honour to sit in the presence of the Board over the course of the meeting and to strengthen the growing relationships with all the TCG Department Directors and Leadership. I am excited for the work and years ahead to accomplish these goals.

Lands Director Report

Connor Pritty Lands Director

As Lands Director for the Tahltan Central Government (TCG), I am pleased to provide an update on the Lands Department’s conservation, management and protection initiatives relating to lands governance and major projects over the past few months. The Lands Department has been extremely busy, and I want to thank the entire team for their work, specifcally Shawn Ducharme, Shared Engagement Record (SER) Coordinator, and Norm Maclean, Tahltan Heritage Resources Environmental Assessment Team (THREAT) Senior Advisor.

GOVERNMENT TO GOVERNMENT

Eskay Creek Section 7 Agreement: The Lands Department has consistently liaised with the Province to ensure that the Section 7 Consent-Based DecisionMaking Agreement fulsomely acknowledges Tahltan Nation’s decision-making authority concerning the Eskay Creek Revitalization Project. Currently, the Lands Department is developing an implementation checklist with the Province to track key milestones under the agreement. The Lands Department is also working with Canada to ensure that the implementation of a tri-lateral government to government relationship as we progress through the Eskay Creek Environmental Assessment process.

Jade Placer Interim Measures: The Lands Department is fnalizing our review of the Placer/Jade Collaborative Working Groups’ third recommendations report with BC, Kaska, and Liard River First Nations. The recommendations are progressing towards completion and include vital features, such as: information-sharing requirements, revenue sharing, reclamation directives, access, areas of activity restriction, compliance, and cleanup of legacy sites.

Red Chris Environmental Assessment Amendment Negotiations: Under the June 2021 Order in Council (OIC), there was a requirement for the Province of BC to negotiate a consent-based decision-making agreement with the Tahltan Nation for the Red Chris Block Cave Environmental Assessment Amendment. Currently, the Lands Department is proceeding through negotiations of this agreement with support from TCG Legal Counsel representatives.

MAJOR PROJECTS

Eskay Creek: The Lands Department has been working extensively on the Eskay Creek Revitalization Project over the past two months to fnalize the TCG’s Readiness Decision Report and formally decide whether the Project should proceed into an environmental assessment. On October 25, October 26 and October 27, the Lands Department held in-territory community engagement on the Eskay Creek Revitalization Project to provide further information on the Section 7 Agreement and where the Eskay Creek Revitalization Project currently resided in the early engagement phase of BC’s Environmental Assessment process.

On November 18, the TCG Lands Department formally recommended to the Province of B.C. that the Eskay Creek Revitalization Project be required to undertake a full environmental assessment. As of November 18, 2022, the Project has formally proceeded into the Process Planning Phase of the Environmental Assessment process under the 2018 BC Environmental Assessment Act. During the Process Planning Phase, extensive work will begin to fnalize the Application Information Requirements (AIR), Process Order and Assessment Plan.

Red Chris: THREAT has reviewed multiple regulatory permitting applications over the past month. A pre-production application is pending conclusion, and the Lands Department is re-negotiating the current project bond held by the Province before the pre-production application permit is issued to the proponent. The Lands Department is working with Newcrest to arrange a Tailings Impoundment Facility consultation session in all three communities. The Lands Department will continue to work on scoping the Block Cave Environmental Assessment Amendment with the Province concerning the consentbased decision-making agreement.

Brucejack: The Brucejack Project has fnalized the eighth Project Environmental Assessment Certifcate Amendment and is currently working on the ninth Environmental Assessment Certifcate Amendment. We are also working through an amendment to the Permitted Mine Area under the Mines Act M-243 Permit and a Production Increase Application. A site visit was completed by the Lands Director to the Brucejack site in late September to review the current operations and environmental compliance/monitoring program.

Galore Creek: The Lands Department has been working with Galore through a series of workshops on various aspects of the Project, including tailings impoundment designs, regulatory processes, and water quality. The last workshop for the 2022 year is on November 29, 2022, and will focus on reviewing the Project’s current water modelling design results.

Kutcho: The Lands Department continues to participate in monthly project update meetings to review the Project’s intended regulatory plan for re-entering the Provincial Environmental Assessment process under the new BC 2018 Act.

Wildlife Director Report

Lance Nagwan Wildlife Director

After a six-month parental leave, I am back; ready to face any challenges with renewed enthusiasm. My focus over the winter of 2023 will be largely taken up working towards implementation of the recently signed Tahltan Central Government (TCG) – British Columbia Accord on Wildlife Management and reinvigorating the Collaborative Stewardship Framework (CSF) work with the 3 Nations Working Group that includes the Tahltan, Kaska, and Taku River Tlingit First Nations.

The Moose Stewardship Plan (MSP) is currently in development. It includes addressing the long-standing contentious issues of hunter density, crowding, and access, by focusing on broad area objective to achieve both short- and long-term goals. Mandated to develop a co-management plan that includes enforcement and recommending regulation changes, monitoring health, habitat, and harvesters, the MSP is ultimately working to ensure that Tahltan members can have the space to practice traditions and culture to grow our spiritual connection to the land.

The TCG Wildlife Department is consistently growing in capacity, having recently hired four Predator Technicians over the summer of 2022. The staff members began by taking the Lay Kennel Predator Removal Trapping Course. They are entirely focused and have the cumbersome task of predator removal for the Tahltan Territory. Their focus will be to alleviate stress on ungulate populations that will assist populations recover to the goal of historical limits. Utilizing the data collected over the past three years from the Tahltan Wolf Collaring Project, we can strategize and create a reduction plan that will target wolfpacks in specifc areas of removal. Over the course of the winter, our staff will focus on packs known to target specifc Thinhorn sheep populations.

Language Director Report

Pamela Labonte Language Director

This time of year is busy for everyone at the Tahltan Central Government (TCG). For some, the word busy may evoke feelings of frenetic energy (and maybe some new wrinkles), but for us in the Language Department, busy means productive and inspired.

I like to think of fall as our New Year. Like most people’s January resolutions and fresh starts, fall for us in the Language Department brings that same gentle ending and spirited beginnings full of intention with renewed energy after the beautiful months of summer. Check out what we have been busy doing.

T ĀŁ T Ā N DICTIONARY PROJECT UPDATE

The team is still currently undergoing Phase Three of the Tāłtān Dictionary Project as work continues behind the scenes. The group diligently continues to process documented language that was collected during Phases One and Two in winter and spring of last year. We have ongoing support from The Language Conservancy (TLC) during this critical stage as we navigate the systematic review process. This phase may seem tedious, but it is integral to ensuring all language entries are vetted for accuracy and quality. Rest assured; work is progressing on target. We are planning for another round of documentation for Phase Four once the group has completed this stage.

Above: The group during data processing software training in Terrace. Missing from the photo is Tanya Louie.

ZOOM

LESSONS

The Tāłtān Zoom language lessons recommenced after a brief summer hiatus. Hayle Gallup continued to facilitate each lesson along with a group of Elders who shared essential language teachings with the group. Each lesson was full of connection and learning. These lessons are so much more than just learning the language of the lesson. They are a way for Tahltans near and far to connect with each other through the language. Mēduh to those who join us each time.

If you missed any of the lessons and want to get caught up – or simply want to review each one again – Visit: http://ow.ly/iQ9b50I7hp2. All lessons are available in the Members Only Section of the TCG website.

If you are a Tahltan member and require assistance obtaining your Members Only Section password, please contact 250-771-3274 | 1-855-TAHLTAN (8245826) | receptionist@Tahltan.org

T ĀŁ T Ā N PLACENAMES AND LANDMARKS

Documentation comes in all forms when it comes to language work – and for this unique documentation initiative, we worked in conjunction with the Culture & Heritage Department.

Plans to document Tāłtān placenames and landmarks in the territory have been in the works for quite some time. After much planning and through the on-the-ground support of the Tahltan and Iskut Bands, we were able to make it a reality, albeit through a staggered approach. So far, we have been able to engage with Tahltan Nation community members, language keepers, and knowledge holders in two of the three communities in the territory to continue work on Tāłtān placenames and landmarks. We started in Telegraph Creek and Dease Lake but, unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances that come with seasonal illness, Iskut dates have had to be postponed several times. At time of submission, we have tentative dates booked for the end of November to work with everyone in Iskut and look forward to sharing the good work from those engagement sessions when we can. The time spent on this project so far has been rewarding and heartwarming as we build on the foundational work already completed while expanding on the knowledge base by working with those who know the territory best.

Right: Tāłtān placenames and landmarks working sessions in Telegraph Creek and Dease Lake.

TCG MENTOR APPRENTICE PROGRAM ( MAP )

We have launched! The TCG Mentor Apprenticeship Program (MAP) offcially launched this November with an onboarding orientation day for all participants (mentors and apprentices).

This program intends to create an intentional and meaningful space for developing Tāłtān speakers. The program’s primary outcome is to develop fuent speakers by providing a unique opportunity for language learners to develop advanced profciencies through time spent with speakers. It also allows for mentors to pass language and traditional cultural teachings through the generations. The MAP application for apprentices was available online from June through mid-September, and successful applicants were contacted shortly thereafter while we prepared for everyone’s onboarding in November.

The MAP orientation was held in Tatl’ah (Dease Lake) on November 4th and was a full day of connection and getting everyone comfortable in the program in a good way. All participants received MAP starter kits with program essentials as they learned more about the program details and structure and set intentions and goals. The day began with a sharing circle, allowing participants to share why

they wanted to be in the program as we started as a collective. We shared a few laughs (and maybe a few healing tears) before ending the day with a wonderful meal. All in all, it was a positive and productive way to start this next journey together. If you are interested in learning more about the TCG MAP, contact Pamela Labonte, Language Director at languagedirector@Tahltan.org

Tatl’ah Language Programming Coordinator Updates

“we are speaking our language house” in English. We are planning to expand the classroom’s outreach to adults/parents in the community next as well as offer other community language initiatives over time – stay tuned! Our centre also serves as a meeting space and offce space for our language team. We are so happy to fnally have a space to work from and gather with community.

Hayle Gallup Tatl’ah Language Programming Coordinator

The fall months have been full – but full in a positive way. Full of reconnecting, planning, and learning. Our Zoom lessons are back and will be offered monthly. Additionally, the Language Working Group is back from the summer break and ready to tackle language projects and initiatives.

The arrival of September also brought a new school year and new staff to Tatl’ah. Our team continues to support the school with language programming during on-the-land feldtrips. This year, we have supported the school on two feldtrips: the cranberry harvest as well as the blueberry harvest. Last year, I had trouble keeping up with the requests to visit classrooms for language teaching because our program was so popular. So, this year I have help with the addition of Sonia Dennis as a language teacher to help support the community language programming. She spent the beginning of fall prepping our language centre classroom and has now offcially begun to welcome students in for learning.

The language centre was given a Tāłtān name Dahdẕāge Hōdeside Kime from the Elders in the Language Working Group. The name translates to

I am excited to announce that we have officially hired a Language Nest Manager, Kathy Cottrell. We have been spending the fall months getting Kathy onboarded with TCG and planning for her first year in the position. The Language Nest Manager will be the individual who is responsible for managing the day-today operations of the language nest. This September, Kathy and I travelled to Vancouver to partake in Language Nest Training which was being offered by the First Peoples’ Cultural Council (FPCC). We le feeling inspired and ready to tackle the re-opening of the nest together.

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was a big day for our team. The working group and I had come up with the phrase Tẕedẕe edōne edanādih (We Respect all the Children). From start to fnish, this initiative was a team effort within the TCG family with much support from the Communications & External Relations Department in the roll out, communications, and delivery phases. Telegraph Creek Elder, Kitty Brown, even helped us organize T-shirt bundles for each community in territory. If you are a TCG member and are looking for one of these shirts, please contact us or our Communications & External Relations Department.

Dhakāle

Top: Distributing Orange Shirts in Dease Lake.

This fall, I also travelled to Victoria, B.C. to learn more from the WSÁNEĆ people about immersion settings in schools. I spent a week at the ȽÁU, WELṈEW Tribal School observing classrooms and learning from language teachers and administration. Children in this school were reading and writing in their language. Essentially, they were doing school just as we would do in English, but in their language. Students in grades two and three were journaling in their language. Students in grade seven were writing full stories in their language and students in grades eight and nine were translating recipes into their language as an assignment.

From my meetings I learned about lexicon groups and was taught how to conduct them and keep track of lists. Lexicon groups are where speakers get together and brainstorm which words can be used in each school subject. In the group, they create new words or re-purpose old words to be used in all classroom subjects. The resource that inspired me the most was their levelled reading program which uses high frequency words. When I was teaching in an English classroom, we called them sight words and we used reading programs similar theirs to teach children how to read. What is incredible about the human brain is that if you learn literacy and numeracy skills in another language, those skills can easily be transferable to any language. It is my dream to see a school like ȽÁU, WELṈEW in our communities.

Hopefully, within my lifetime we can see something like this come to life in our territory. The WSÁNEĆ people have inspired me and have re-lit a fre inside of me for language learning.

Working with our community of Tatl’ah in this capacity has been such a blessing. I look forward to what next season holds for our team.

Dhakāle Hayle Gallup

Left: ȽÁU, WELṈEW Tribal School in Victoria, BC.

Employment & Business Director Report

We also want to ensure that our membership knows to reach out to Lily Sembsmoen, OnTrack Specialist, by email at otspecialist@tahltan.org or by phone at 867-334-8340. Lily is available to assist you through the registration process. She will also be available to help write and update your resumes. Again, anything pertaining to OnTrack she is there to assist, whether it is getting registered on OnTrack, resume writing, business registration, or being added to the OnTrack Facebook group, please reach out to her for assistance. Lily visited the Bruce Jack Mine to assist with apprenticeship discussions as well as to ensure Tahltans are registered on OnTrack. This was her frst site visit and more will be coming up in the new year, including Red Chris Mine.

Ann Ball Employment & Business Director

The OnTrack platform is essential for preferential hire of Tahltans in the coming years, so please encourage all Tahltans and associates to register at ontrack. tahltan.org. It takes a few business days for approval, and as stated, requires membership with the Tahltan Central Government (TCG) prior to this approval. Please note, you do not have to be a status member to be part of TCG membership as it is based on your Tahltan Ancestry. TCG membership registration can be found on our Tahltan.org website.

OnTrack is our preferential hire platform and has been a success when utilized by our TCG membership. Job postings are added regularly, and members have been applying to be part of the platform. It offers great opportunities, including the ability to apply for supervisory roles directly within companies. When you, as one of our members, apply for a position through OnTrack, it allows our department to advocate for you as we have knowledge of your application. We would like to continue to have our Tahltan members share this process with other Tahltans who may not be aware of the platform as it will assist them in obtaining employment.

In late September, both the Lands Director, Connor Pritty, and I did our frst site visit of the Bruce Jack Mine and a site visit of the Kerr-Sulphurets-Mitchell (KSM) property, during which we were accompanied by Tahltan Nation Development Corporation (TNDC) CEO, Paul Gruner. KSM has both an Impact Beneft Agreement and an environmental assessment in place and have been doing signifcant work on access roads into their project. It is important to have site visits in order to grasp the scope of work that will be coming to ensure that opportunities are maximized.

Above: Checking in on Cassiar Jade camp, whose operations are currently on hold. The camp was basically in maintenance mode with a few workers there but no active jade mining going on. Pictured: Tony Ritter, co-owner of Cassiar Jade.

The business policy is progressing, with an upcoming public meeting on November 8, 2022; we are now working with a third-party accounting frm (MNP) to ensure that the ideas for the policy can be implemented in a fair and inclusive manner. We must ensure that we are not just adding barriers for our Tahltan businesses, but rather giving them opportunities. This policy is very important for our Nation, and we want to ensure that the process is fair and transparent, so we have researched different options throughout the policy’s creation. The draft policy will be placed in the Members Only Section of Tahltan.org for review and feedback from Tahltan membership.

The 2022 exploration season is coming to an end for many of our industry partners, and most will be out of their sites by mid-October. The season started off strong and then cut back for many exploration companies due to the markets. I participated in site tours that occurred in August in thirteen exploration camps. Over the course of two very long days, I was joined by Conner Pritty and Shawn Ducharme, from our Lands Department, Alex Buri, our Tourism Director, and Heather Hawkins, Vice President. We can never visit all of the sites, but we try to strategically maneuver around the majority of Tahltan Territory to ensure exploration companies know that they are in our territory and are expected to acknowledge and work with us in all aspects of their projects.

We will be sending out our TCG statistics forms by November to all exploration companies to gather information on how many Tahltans were hired on each site. With this come statistics on how many Tahltan businesses were hired, and of course, their statistics on Tahltan hires. This will be coming combined with a form sent by our Communications & External Relations Department so we can amalgamate our information and avoid duplicating work.

The United Steelworkers Union applied for mediation in mid-summer 2022 with no strike vote taken with the Red Chris Mine; Red Chris has declined the mediator’s draft agreement, but it is important to make sure our Tahltan membership knows that this is going forward. TCG is taking a frm stance to protect our Impact Benefts Agreement with the Red Chris Mine. The Union will include “employees at and from the Red Chris Mine, except offce, administrative, and technical employees.”

Please feel free to reach out to me anytime regarding both employment and business. Help your fellow Tahltans by having them register for OnTrack for access to preferential hire, at ontrack.tahltan.org. You can contact me by email at employmentdirector@tahltan.org, or phone me at 778-772-6355 for anything with which I can assist.

Left: Site visit to the exploration camp for Copper Fox Metals.

Membership & Genealogy Director Report

Shannon Frank Membership & Genealogy Director

For additional information please contact: Shannon Frank

Director of Membership & Genealogy informationdirector@tahltan org

Roxanne Ball

Membership Clerk roxanne ball@tahltan org

Fellow Tahltans. A call out to update.

Is it easy to do? Yes, it is very easy to do and you can do it anytime by going to our website: www.tahltan.org

What do I need to do exactly? Simple.

1 Go to the TCG website.

2 At the top of the home page (upper right) click on Tahltan Membership.

3 Scroll down to the Contact Update Form section and click on Contact Update Form.

4. Fill out and click Submit

How often should I update my information?

We need you to update your contact information regularly so we can keep you informed. We distribute updates not only regarding elections, but also with critical information for you and your family, such as Impact Beneft Agreement (IBA) votes, employment and training opportunities, scholarships, education, and much more.

Are there any other reasons to update my information?

Yes! And this is especially true for: Teenagers and Young Adults – When registering children, parents use their own email addresses and phone numbers. As those children grow older and begin to think about future education and training opportunities, they need to update their email, phone number, and address to stay current and to receive information.

Married Recently/Name Change – If you have decided to change your legal name you must update your information and report your name change.

Babies and Children – If you have a new baby, or if you have children that may or may not be registered, please complete and submit a new membership form on their behalf. This ensures their registration and their eligibility for TCG programming.

Moved/Moving – If you have moved it is very important to update your information.

Passings – It is important for our vital statics to be accurate. Please register the passing of any Tahltan members with us to guarantee our information is correct.

Transparency is very important to us. Therefore, please register and update your information regularly to stay current on all things affecting Tahltans.

Tourism Director Report

OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH

As part of our goal to help get younger Tahltans out on the land and learn essential outdoor skills, there will be a number of opportunities for Tahltan Youth to join various river, hiking, or outftter trips this summer and fall. If you know anyone who might be interested in joining one of these trips and learning basic skills in a safe environment, please let me know at tourismdirector@tahltan.org

I hope this finds you well and settled in for the winter — or perhaps off to somewhere warm. For the Tourism Department, the last two months have been focused on wrapping up scouting trips, creating the structure for future tourism investments, and establishing our strategic goals for tourism for the next three years.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Continuing to get feedback and guidance from the communities and members is critical for ensuring our tourism strategy succeeds in the long term. We are tentatively planning another round of community meetings in the frst week of January and hope you can make it. (Announcements will be coming out closer to the dates.) We will be looking for your guidance on where, how, and at what pace tourism should be developed and what kind of management policies should be in place.

SCOUTING TRIPS

As mentioned, this past fall was a great opportunity to wrap up fnal scouting trips to high-potential tourism regions. I was also grateful to join along for two days of industry site visits by helicopter that provided a broad oversight of the territory and the access and product potential for various areas.

In mid-September, I travelled to the Yukon — Whitehorse, Teslin, Carcross, and Atlin — to meet with tourism leaders in First Nations, Yukon Government, and the private sector to learn about their tourism

Alex Buri Tourism Director

development efforts and potential connections and contrasts between our two regions. Understanding how Tahltan Territory fts in and differentiates itself from the regions around us will be a key part of developing our particular brand of experience. A few key learnings that came out of that visit were Yukon’s decision to focus on higher-end experiences and the role that cultural centers have played for local communities.

TOURISM INVESTMENTS

We also are in the process of setting up new corporate entities and organizations to ensure we have the structure in place for future tourism investments. These entities will be fully owned and managed by the Tahltan Central Government (TCG) but will be able to operate for proft and will remove liability from TCG. This opens up the door for more opportunities around economic development going forward. As mentioned in previous updates, we are now working through a few investment opportunities that are in front of the TCG Board of Directors. We are close to fnalizing the due diligence process to ensure

these are sound investments for the Nation and look forward to sharing more updates soon.

Finally, in preparation for operating our frst tourism experiences next year, we have been slowly building up our inventory of equipment and transport vehicles. We purchased our frst twelve passenger shuttle van as well as two snowmobiles that we can use for winter tourism and scouting trips.

TOURISM SIGNAGE

In collaboration with other TCG departments, we have begun outlining a plan for working with the Bands and communities to assess and improve signage throughout Tahltan Territory. This covers everything from street signs and highway pull-outs to backcountry interpretive signage at important cultural sites. This is especially important for improving our tourism management given that signage both directs and deters visitors from certain areas and tells the stories we would like visitors to learn about. It is still early days, but I am excited to see the impact that improved signage will have going forward.

THIS IS OUR LAND. WE ARE THE LAND

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The Tahltan Stewardship Initiative (TSI) will support our Nation in asserting self-determination and fulfilling our inherent stewardship responsibilities for Tahltan Territory. The TSI will help us to build our engagement, governance, and stewardship plans.

This vital work is needed to ensure we take care of our territory now and for future generations.

The Tahltan Stewardship Initiative (TSI) is our opportunity for transformative change based on the recognition of Tahltan Title and Rights.

Now, we have a say in decisions that matter for our people in accordance with our values and knowledge. We decide how to protect our culture, care for our lands, water, air, fsh, and wildlife. We decide how to sustainably manage our territory.

TSI means Tahltans working together to transform how things are done. Through TSI, the rules are changing, and we are shaping the process.

Vision Statement

The vision of the Tahltan Stewardship Initiative is for the Tahltan Nation to fulfll its inherent stewardship responsibilities for all lands, water, air, wildlife, fsh, and natural resources within Tahltan Territory. We will accomplish this vision through the work being done on our projects including the Tahltan Stewardship Plan (TSP) and direction from Tahltan membership. The TSP is being developed for Tahltan Territory and will be based on Tahltan knowledge and worldview on how to properly care for our land.

If you do not have a lot of time to commit but would like to contribute – you can. There are many ways for you to stay informed and be a part of this important work. Visit: tsi.tahltan.org at any time to learn about each of our projects, connect with our project team, complete project surveys and mapping exercises, watch previous engagement sessions, and more – whenever it works for you!

EFFORTS & INITIATIVES

2005

The Collaborative Stewardship Framework with the 3 Nations and the Province of British Columbia

Lands Department formed within the Tahltan Central Government

2017

60 TAHLTAN STEWARDSHIP INITIATIVE ( TSI )

TSI Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs)

Kyle Risby TSI Youth Representative

Dẕenēs hoti’e Tahltans, I hope that the fall is treating you well. Our Nation has a wonderful opportunity to show the world how Tahltans steward the land and protect it for future generations. The Tahltan Central Government (TCG) and the Government of Canada have agreed to create new Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs). All of Tahltan Territory is protected by Tahltan law according to our Nation’s government. An IPCA will have a special management process requiring it to be respected and honoured by all Tahltans and non-Tahltans.

In 2019, the TCG applied for funding through the federal government to create three new IPCAs in Tahltan Territory. As of now, there are three identifed areas: Sheslay, Tahltan Lake, and Klappan. Our goal is to work with Canada and British Columbia to establish protected areas that are signifcant to Tahltans. An IPCA is one of many ways that we can ensure future generations can continue to harvest from Tahltan Territory. Our ancestors defended and stewarded the territory at the cost of their own blood. Our obligation to their sacrifce is to continue to uphold Tahltan laws and cultural values that are rooted in our identity and our Tahltan way of life, which are connected to the land.

Our Tahltan way of life and values will be used to develop regulations and laws to guide the stewardship of Tahltan Territory. An IPCA is a special area that will have more restricted stewardship so our relatives can continue to live into the future. IPCAs in Tahltan

Territory will be connected through the Tahltan Stewardship Initiative (TSI).

Our Tahltan name was taken from the frst settlement at the mouth of the Tahltan River before the Great Flood. Tahltan’s historical relation to the water, salmon was captured in 1911 by G.T. Emmons, who noted that that our ancestors referred to the Tahltan River as Tutcher anne, meaning ‘where the fsh (salmon) jump up the little water’, or, ‘when the fsh leave the water for the land,’ referring to the stranding of the salmon as they work their way over the shallows in the smaller river. Our relationship with fsh, animals, water, and land is captured in our Tahltan stories, spirituality, life view, agency, and relations. Our ancestors and our future generations will be considered in our IPCA planning process through your voice and presence.

Our IPCAs will be a foundational pillar in the Tahltan Stewardship Plan that will see industry and governments respect Tahltan rights and title. We are taking an important step in asserting our rights and title, and more importantly, we are taking steps to unite our people and Leadership in decision-making. Tahltans will see themselves in our IPCAs and decision-making and will be proud.

Our goal is to create a Stewardship Plan that all Tahltans will respect and help enforce. To do this we must have hard conversations and we will disagree with one another, but through this diffcult process we will become closer through deliberated common ground rooted in love and oneness.

Our TSI will host engagement sessions which will provide opportunities for Tahltan citizens to contribute to values and principles that will develop our planning process for Tahltan IPCAs. Through our collective minds, respectful discussions, and accountability, we can use Tahltan stories and our modern stewardship to facilitate our sessions.

This past summer, we heard stories from our Elders Council that demonstrated a beautiful spiritual relationship connected to the land through our hearts. When we connect our minds and our hearts together, we will build a plan that protects Tahltan Territory until the last sunrise.

Tahltan Lake, for example, is an important spawning area for salmon. There are global fsheries concerns and Tahltans have a spiritual relationship with our fsh and salmon. Our Tahltan stories provide us a window into our ancestors’ deep relationship with salmon and Tahltan lake.

In stories like Earth Mother, and Salmon and Water, we can see Tahltan life view that views water as a mother’s milk, and water that is a salmon spawning source is held as a precious and life-giving entity. Protecting Tahltan Lake honours our relationship with salmon so future generations can continue to harvest and learn Tahltan culture and history.

To honour our ancestors and to protect Tahltan history, Sheslay is an area that we want to protect for culture and heritage and as an environment that allows our big game animals, plants, trees, and life to fourish. Protecting Sheslay acknowledges the seasonal migration of Tahltans and our culture and heritage. Our Elders have been on fights with our Culture & Heritage Department that have demonstrated our special relationship to Sheslay. Our goal is to continue listening to Tahltan stories so our team can protect important cultural areas that hold spirituality and resources for our relatives.

The Tenh Dẕetle Conservancy is an example of partnerships and acknowledgement of Tahltan stewardship between government and industry. Mount Edziza is sacred to our people and connecting Tenh Dẕetle Conservancy to our wildlife stewardship goals ensures caribou and wildlife are protected for future generations.

Klabona Keepers have risen up to protect Klappan Mountain and our TSI team recognizes the Klappan region as a foundational model for a Tahltan IPCA. We will work with Tahltans to understand the spiritual and stewardship needs and apply these to the development of a management area and designation of an IPCA. By listening to our community to build a better understanding of the powerful connection between the sacred headwaters and the land, we will aim to articulate this relationship in our complex modern world in a special management framework that honours and protects Tahltan wildlife, fsheries, and culture and heritage.

By listening to our community, we create synergy in our relationships with each other and the land that will build a better Tahltan Stewardship Plan. We must fnd our foundation within our hearts and the land guided by our citizens and relations through deliberation.

This map represents the general boundaries of Tahltan territory based on the information available and reviewed as of the date of its creation. It does not represent a definitive or final statement of the areas to which Tahltan Aboriginal title and rights apply.

Tahltan Nation continues to do research and assemble further information and data, and adjustments to the boundaries reflected in this map may be made in the future where appropriate and supported by evidence.

Personal Profiles

Dan Edzerza

horseshoes and putting them on the horses, setting up camp, and more. The days were long and the pay low, but he loved being on the land and working with his family.

At twelve years old, Dan moved from Atlin to Whitehorse where he lived with his sister Thelma. He lived on their farm and attended school until seventeen when he began working throughout BC while guiding in the fall. He held a variety of jobs around BC and met his wife in Telegraph Creek in 1971 before moving to the Yukon to work at the Faro mine. In 1976, Dan stopped guiding in the fall, moved to Good Hope Lake, where he helped run Jock Rattray’s gas station and was introduced to mechanics. After a year and a half, he joined Cat Finning at the Cassiar mine as a service truck operator. He spent fve years in this position before working a year for himself and in 1984, got his frst job as a mechanic in an underground mine.

Wrangling horses as a Youth and working his way through the mines across the Americas, Dan Edzerza embodies tough Tahltan work ethic. Even throughout years of providing for his family, he has always practiced his culture by hunting and never missing a single year of fish camp since 1973.

Dan Edzerza is a Tahltan Elder from the Etzenlee family and the Wolf Clan. His Tahltan parents are George and Grace Edzerza. He has three children, four grandkids, and currently lives in Prince George, BC.

Born in Lower Post and raised in Atlin, BC, Dan grew up with his large family where daily chores and hard work were part of their DNA. His father was a big game guide outftter who owned sixty head of horses and at the age of seven, Dan began riding and working for his father’s business as a wrangler. Starting at four in the morning, he would do all the chores including collecting and saddling the horses for clients, making

Since 1984, Dan has worked in mines throughout the Americas. He has worked in Canadian mines including Cantung in the Northwest Territories, Muddy Lake outside of Telegraph Creek, Cusack near Jade City, Silvertip Mine, and Huldra Silver in south-central BC. He has also worked from Montana all the way down to Mexico. Through the years he has become one of the most knowledgeable drill mechanics in his feld and despite never receiving a red seal, he has always been employed as his experience and work ethic speak for themselves.

Dan learned Tahltan traditions from a young age and has always been connected to his culture. When hunting, he always thanks the Creator for each kill and utilizes every part of the animal. He says that Tahltan Territory is God’s country, and it was given to Tahltans to protect. He passes along these traditions to the next generation at his fsh camp which he has attended every single year since 1973. His favourite part of fsh camp is being able to see his family and spend time on the land with them. Dan has lived a hard-working life where family have always come frst and Tahltan traditions have been a cornerstone of his being.

Rudy Day

With enough Grizzly bear encounter and hunting stories to fill a novel, Rudy Day has spent his life following his passion for being a big game guide outfitter. He has spent every year out on the land since he can remember and has professionally guided for countless clients from around the globe.

Rudy Day is a Tahltan man who is part of the Eth’eni family and the Crow Clan. His Tahltan parents are Fletcher and Doreen Day. His Tahltan grandparents are Hyland and Louise Dennis and Amy and Ira Day. Rudy has three kids, ten grandchildren and currently lives in Telegraph Creek, BC.

Rudy was born in Fort Nelson, BC in 1959 before moving to Cassiar, BC. He always wanted to work for his dad’s guide outftting business and would help wrangle horses but had to wait until he was fourteen before his father taught him the business and the

ways of the land. At fourteen, Rudy and his entire family packed up their belongings and moved to the Sheslay area to live off the land and trap for the winter. Living in tents while the kids were home schooled, the family trapped animals all winter including lynx, wolverines, and martens. They also hunted moose and created raw skin toboggans to transport the animals to the family. Rudy would continue to trap for another two seasons before guiding full time.

Tahltan knowledge is transferred through experiential learning and Rudy learned to guide from his father and other relatives by spending ample time on the land. He tracked animals including sheep, goat, moose, caribou, and Grizzly bears. He was taught to read the contours of the land to see where animals would be, how to stay safe during bad weather by not pushing it too far, and how animals would be in different regions during the year. Spending up to two full months living on the land during hunting season, Rudy guided for clients from around the world and in 1995 he took over the family business.

Without missing a season, Rudy has guided every year since he started and has years of experience in the Tahltan wilderness. He says the hardest animal to hunt is the Grizzly since they have a keen sense of smell and hearing. They are extremely dangerous to hunt but the lessons he was taught by Elders, like never approach a wounded bear straight on, instead circle around it, have helped him survive many encounters. During one trip Rudy was out with a client hunting for seven days where a Grizzly would visit the camp every night and eat their daily kills. At night, Rudy heard the bear sniffng around camp and ripping their kills from the tree until day six when they waited in the darkness for the bear and fnally shot it. This is just one of Rudy’s many Grizzly bear stories.

Simply spending time on the land is Rudy’s favourite part of guiding and he says once it is in your blood it never comes out. He claims that each year will be his last, but the land calls him back every season. He is passionate about passing on his knowledge to the Youth just as his Elders and family did for him to keep the cultural tradition strong. He says you will not learn about it unless you get on the land and experience it yourself.

Jace Tevely

If you have ever wanted confrmation that persistence pays off, look no further. Sixteen-year-old Jace Tevely is living proof after having put in a tremendous amount of effort over this past summer and being highly rewarded as a result.

Part of both the Tahltan and Taku River Tlingit First Nations, Jace gets his Tahltan ancestry from his dad’s mother, Beverly Tevely, and his mom, Tara Quock. He is a member of the Wolf Clan. His biological mother now lives in Carcross, Yukon, and Jace lives (or at least he did until recently) in Smithers with his dad, his stepmom, and three of his six siblings.

His Tahltan heritage is something Jace is proud of, and he had the opportunity to enjoy it and learn more about his culture when he visited the territory. He travelled to Telegraph Creek with Ann Ball where he spent time with her and her family at fsh camp. He got to meet some of his relatives and, like many before him, was captivated by the natural beauty of the land.

Since September, Jace has been billeting with another family in West Vancouver where he plays on North Shore Warriors hockey team, part of the Prep division of the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL). An incredible opportunity for the young

athlete, the CSSHL includes private schooling for their players in addition to hockey, along with a number of other perks, including access to physiotherapists.

Jace was asked to join the team this past summer after trying out for a Junior B team in Castlegar. An NHL scout was in attendance and was so impressed after watching him play, that he offered Jace the opportunity to join the Warriors. It may sound as if he just walked onto the team, but the reality was very different.

The tryout in Castlegar was at least the tenth he had been to that summer, and he had not made a single team yet. What had changed? Everything. Although he had not been successful, Jace noticed himself developing as a player every single time he got on the ice, and he knew he loved the sport and wanted to play. So, he decided to step up his game.

Jace has always been in good physical shape. A naturally active child who preferred sports and the outdoors to TV and video games, he started

playing hockey around the age of six on a team in Fort McMurray, Alberta. He then played on teams in Prince George and Smithers after his family moved. However, despite having played since he was young, Jace would not have described himself as one of the strongest players and admits that he would not have been picked the Warriors team at the beginning of the summer.

He started a strict exercise regime with his dad, who is also very into ftness, which included two-kilometre runs followed by four-hour workouts every day. Within three months, Jace had put on thirty pounds and changed his physique so much that people he had not seen over the summer did a double take when they saw him as he was almost unrecognizable.

By the end of the summer, he was clearly a stronger player as a result of his training and was rewarded with the chance to play in the CSSHL. Jace had a week to prepare, during which time he went back to Smithers before relocating to Vancouver where he will spend this academic year. Jace has enjoyed bonding with his new team both in class and on the ice, with daily practices, and at least one game every weekend.

What is next? Only time will tell. Jace may stick with the Warriors, or he might end up on a Junior A team after scouts see what kind of progress he has made. Beyond that, watch for Jace in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the Western Hockey League (WHL) or maybe even the NHL. Hockey is not his only passion though; one of his hobbies is mechanics, which he learned from his dad who owns his own mechanic shop. If not playing hockey, Jace would be excited to continue the family business.

Continuing to push through despite the obstacles is something Jace does well. Not making the hockey teams at the start of the summer was not the frst time he had faced challenges in the sport. He has played on after concussions and cracked ribs and has never considered quitting. His advice? Do not give up. Keep your head up, keep on driving, and be passionate.

Jace’s dad, Eric Tevely says, “Watching Jace on this journey has inspired me, and I hope it inspires other young athletes and entrepreneurs. Sports is not an easy path, nothing in life comes easy. But as Jace has shown, if you want something and you are willing to do what it takes to get it, anything is possible.”

Kendra Nash

After graduation, Kendra played soccer and worked until 2018 when her mother brought home a fyer to try out for the Calgary Rage, a team in the Western Women’s Canadian Football League (WWFL). She did not know much about the sport, but she went to the tryouts where her coach asked if she liked to run or get hit and she replied, “run.” She was thrown in as a running back, fell in love with the sport, and has been playing ever since.

Kendra Nash’s life has revolved around sports since she can remember. Always a competitor with a do not quit attitude, nothing has stopped her from pursuing her passion, including three anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears and other setbacks. She found her true sport’s calling when she tried out for the Calgary women’s Rage American football team and has never looked back.

Kendra Nash is a twenty-fve-year-old Tahltan women who is part of the Wolf Clan and Eth’eni family. She is the daughter of Tina Nash and Curtis May. Her Tahltan grandparents are Irene and John Creyke. She is one of eleven children, and she currently lives in Calgary, Alberta.

At four years old, Kendra started her sports journey by enrolling in soccer. She continued with the sport for seventeen years and competed for Calgary’s tier one team, the Calgary Villains. She travelled all over North America playing soccer in Las Vegas, San Diego, Chicago, and more. She also played volleyball, basketball, rugby, badminton, and ran track during high school while winning six awards for different sports and being named the athlete of the year in Grade twelve. To ensure she was at the top of her game, she has always worked out at the gym and improved her cardio.

In her frst season with the Rage, Kendra was named rookie of the year and in 2019, she made Team Alberta. Unfortunately, COVID-19 hit before she could compete at Provincials, so she focused on staying in shape and in 2022, the WWFL restarted in the spring where she was named the offensive player of the year and scored over twenty touchdowns. After the season, she few to Ottawa to try out for the women’s Canadian football team and successfully made the team. There were 180 players trying out, including ten running backs, and only forty-fve were selected for the roster. She travelled to Finland where she played against Great Britain, Australia, and Finland in the International Federation of American Football Women’s World Championship. She says it was an amazing experience where the talent was top tier.

Kendra has always been a competitor and loves playing team sports because of her teammates and the rush of getting the football. Her advice for others looking to lead a healthy lifestyle is to not be afraid of not having the knowledge to live healthily because there are many resources available.

Kendra continues to train hard to one day compete in the Women’s National Football Conference which is an American women’s football league. This healthy active Tahltan has overcome many challenges on her athletic journey and continues to make big impacts on the feld.

Trisha McCreery

All throughout grade school, Trisha achieved top grades and strived to learn everything she could. Her favourite subjects through high school were English and math. She loved reading papers, understanding the argument within them and communicating it concisely, like the historical documents she loves to read. She also found satisfaction in solving diffcult math problems and working through each step to come up with a clear solution. In Grade twelve, she won an award for having the highest overall grade out of the students in her year which is a massive achievement that takes consistency and dedication over years of study.

It was not all school for Trisha though as she also played guitar and sang. Her musical interests varied as she played folk, country, and rock music at different venues around Prince George, including farmers markets.

With a thirst for knowledge and a drive for excellence, Trisha McCreery has dedicated herself to becoming the best student she can be. She has always loved reading and has let this passion push her to higher levels of learning as she was recognized for having the top grade out of the students in her year in high school. This inspiring young Tahltan knows what it means to be studious and always dedicates herself to achieving academic excellence.

Trisha McCreery is a twenty-year-old Tahltan who is part of the Crow Clan and the Shoe Kawk family. Her parents are Juanita Jensen and Shane McCreery. Her Tahltan grandparents are Evelyn and Jim Jensen. She currently lives in Prince George, BC.

Reading has always been one of Trisha’s favourite pastime since she was six and would read books from the library to her father. Her interests developed to enjoy a variety of topics, but she has always loved reading about historical fction, particularly diaries about Canadian history. She says that reading about people’s thoughts and experiences in a way that is fun and easily digestible is her favorite way to learn history since it makes it more understandable.

After graduating high school, Trisha was accepted to the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) in Prince George and explored her interests in her frst year by studying calculus, English, biology, First Nation studies and philosophy. In her second year, she entered the First Nation Studies program where she was able to learn more about her culture through her education and experiences in school. She has also applied to take a travelling knowledge program on the Isle of Man where she gets to work on language revitalization.

Throughout university Trisha achieved excellent marks and was invited to join the Golden Key International Honor Society where only the top ffteen percent of academics from her program receive an invite. She still achieves her goals, despite adversity, including having had her frst two years of university online during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was a major challenge. She says that her classes are demanding and ensuring she has proper checklists and time management helps her stay organized.

Her advice for others pursuing their passion is to be easy on yourself, since learning or achieving any goal is a step-by-step process that takes time and effort. Trisha has worked hard for years to achieve academic success and continues to strive towards her educational goals.

Noah Allison

After graduation, Noah worked at a cannery and then for a logging company for a year where he decided to make healthy lifestyle changes and lost over 100 pounds; an amazing feat. He was then accepted to TriCorp’s North Coast recruitment course where he was the only person out of his cohort accepted to the Canadian Coast Guard College in Sydney, Nova Scotia. He spent six months in Sydney learning to effectively manage marine emergencies, weather patterns, marine shipping, and a lot of geography.

During college, disaster struck as Noah came down with a serious illness that required over ffteen surgeries and an eighty-eight-day hospital stay. But when he got better, he quickly fnished college and joined the Coast Guard in Prince Rupert for his on-thejob training.

Sinking ships, fres on the water and even Grizzly bear attacks, Noah Allison has dealt with it all as he monitors Canada’s west coast out of Prince Rupert’s Coast Guard Communications Department. His traditional Tsimshian name is Si liiłgm lax süülda, meaning “The Keeper of the Seas,” which is ftting for someone who has been the lifeline for hundreds of people who found themselves in life threatening situations.

Noah Allison is a twenty-fve-year-old Tahltan/ Tsimshian man born to the Thud ga family and the Tsimshian Eagle Clan. His parents are Char Etzerza and Mark Allison and his Tahltan grandparents are Carl and Dorothy Etzerza. He currently lives in Prince Rupert, BC, where he was born and raised.

Noah grew up doing a variety of activities. His grandpa was an avid badminton player and Noah picked up the sport as well, travelling throughout BC to compete. He also fshed for Coho salmon every year from August to October and has hunted birds, including geese and ducks, since he was twelve. In school, he was always interested in art and found himself painting and carving First Nation art. In Grade ten, Noah was sent to Ottawa for the National Day of Healing and Reconciliation where he toured parliament with Justin Trudeau.

Since joining the Coast Guard full time, Noah has worked as a Marine Communications and Traffc Services Offcer where he says it is a mixture of both a 911 dispatcher and an air traffc controller. He is the frst point of contact for incidents that occur on the water and even some on land. He has sent help for sinking ships, fres, heart attacks, and even someone who narrowly escaped a Grizzly bear attack on a remote island. Noah monitors the entire west coast of Canada from Alaska to Washington and screens container ships coming into the ports, updates on weather, and more. Also, he has been training new employees since 2018 and is the lead trainer at the station.

Through the ups and downs Noah has overcome challenges to be one of the most senior people at his station. In 2021, he bought his frst house where he lives with his parents, and he plans to continue travelling the world in his off time. He loves his job and says that anyone looking to follow their passion should just keep moving forward no matter what life throws at you. This inspiring young Tahltan has overcome serious illness and challenges as he follows his passion for keeping people safe and being there for when they need help the most.

FALL NEWSLETTER 2022

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