Elder – Dan Edzerza

ELDER

Dan Edzerza

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 outfitter 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 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 five years in this position before working a year for himself and in 1984, got his first job as a mechanic in an underground mine.

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 field 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 fish camp which he has attended every single year since 1973. His favourite part of fish 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 first and Tahltan traditions have been a cornerstone of his being.