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As I Remember It: Teachings (Ɂəms tɑɁɑw) from the Life of a Sliammon Elder

Introduction: Listening to Ɂəms tɑɁɑw

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5. Hospital (2)
6. The Powell River Royal Canadian Mounted Police
7. A Day in Town
8. Fish Traps (1)
9. Fish Traps (2)
10. Day School
11. Boat Ramp at the Shinglemill
12. Bows and Arrows Powell River community members commemorated British Columbia’s centennial by dressing up in costumes that reflected their imagination of how “Indians” and “pioneers” looked in the nineteenth century. This was a common practice in settler communities in Canada and the United States. Settlers “played Indian” for reasons that ranged from political protest to entertainment. The act of “playing Indian” expressed a settler sense of entitlement to the places that they or their ancestors had colonized. The costumes did not demonstrate meaningful relationship or engagement with Indigenous peoples or practices. Today, we understand these occasions to be forms of cultural appropriation.
13. Children “Playing Indian” Powell River community members commemorated British Columbia’s centennial by dressing up in costumes that reflected their imagination of how “Indians” and “pioneers” looked in the nineteenth century. This was a common practice in settler communities in Canada and the United States. Settlers “played Indian” for reasons that ranged from political protest to entertainment. The act of “playing Indian” expressed a settler sense of entitlement to the places that they or their ancestors had colonized. The costumes did not demonstrate meaningful relationship or engagement with Indigenous peoples or practices. Today, we understand these occasions to be forms of cultural appropriation.
14. Willie and Stanley
15. Patricia Theatre
16. Golfing “Indian” Powell River community members commemorated British Columbia’s centennial by dressing up in costumes that reflected their imagination of how “Indians” and “pioneers” looked in the nineteenth century. This was a common practice in settler communities in Canada and the United States. Settlers “played Indian” for reasons that ranged from political protest to entertainment. The act of “playing Indian” expressed a settler sense of entitlement to the places that they or their ancestors had colonized. The costumes did not demonstrate meaningful relationship or engagement with Indigenous peoples or practices. Today, we understand these occasions to be forms of cultural appropriation.
17. Society Lady “Indians” Powell River community members commemorated British Columbia’s centennial by dressing up in costumes that reflected their imagination of how “Indians” and “pioneers” looked in the nineteenth century. This was a common practice in settler communities in Canada and the United States. Settlers “played Indian” for reasons that ranged from political protest to entertainment. The act of “playing Indian” expressed a settler sense of entitlement to the places that they or their ancestors had colonized. The costumes did not demonstrate meaningful relationship or engagement with Indigenous peoples or practices. Today, we understand these occasions to be forms of cultural appropriation.
18. Patricia Theatre, Interior
19. Rodmay Hotel
20. tiyskʷɑt (1)
21. Sing Lee Building
22. The Dam
23. Rodmay
24. Walnut Lodge
25. Hospital (1)
26. Lodge Interior
27. Hospital (3)
28. Settlers’ Camp
29. The Mill
30. Cafeteria
31. Dam Construction
32. Powell River Motor Traders
34. Designated Area
35. We Were Already Here
36. The Chinese Restaurant
37. Preparing Fish and Community Drive-Through
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23. Christmas Blankets
24. Elders and Cedar Roots
26. Cutting Fish
28. Elsie at Deep Bay
29. Wedding Day
30. Elsie and Glen (2)
31. Assessing the Catch
32. Elsie and Glen (1)
33. Elsie and Stella
34. Christmas (1)
35. Mother’s Day, 1980
36. Elders and Friends
37. At the Elders Lodge Elsie Paul with ɬaʔamɩn Elders when she was running the Elders’ program. Front row, from left: Elsie Paul, Henry Bob, Katherine Blaney, Mary Harry, Rose Louie (behind Mary), Joe Paul Sr. (behind Rose), Willie Bob, Calvin Harry. Back row, from left: Louise Bob, Marie Hackett (behind), Nora Wilson, Annie Dominick, Dave Dominick, Agnes McGee, Rose Peddie, Peta Francis (Okee Dokee), Johnny George, Charlie Charlie, Peggy Harry.
38. Having a Laugh
39. Working Out
41. Retirement
42. Bride and Groom
43. Joining Council
44. Baby Glen
45. mɑksɛmɑ’s Cabin in toχʷnɑč (Okeover)
46. Graduation (1)
47. Preparing an Offering
48. First Home
49. Prince William
50. Party at Elsie Paul’s House
51. Elders' Gathering
52. Elsie at Steveston in the Late 1940s
53. Friends (1)
54. The Ladies
55. The Children at Home
56. Visiting with Annie and Norman Gallagher
57. Sliammon Village Waterfront
58. Language Work Linguist Honoré Watanabe stands behind ɬaʔamɩn Elders at the Elders Lodge. Elsie was caretaker and lived at the Elders Lodge for many years. From left: Marion Harry, Mary George, and Elsie Paul. Honoré worked extensively with these three women over more than two decades, living with Elsie during his time in Sliammon. Marion was Elsie’s “little sister” at residential school and worked with Honoré to transcribe and translate the selections in Sliammon language included in this publication.
59. Elsie at Home
60. A Day in Town
61. Collaborators
62. Elsie and Teresa at the Cannery
63. Elsie, Agnes, and Children
64. Elsie and Cathy (2)
65. Elsie and Cathy (1)
66. Boat to Westview When this photo was taken, it was quicker to get to town by boat than by foot, since people didn’t have cars yet. Peggy Harry is at the back of the group (with barrettes in her hair); Molly Timothy is on the right (with headband); Elsie Paul is in the centre (with flowers in her hair); Stella Timothy is centre right, beside Elsie; further right, holding a baby, is Agnes McGee, and in front of her is Sosen Galligos. Smokey John is on the left (wearing a hat), and lɑsɑ is in front of him.
67. Party Time
68. On the Town
69. Newlyweds
70. Wearing Slacks
72. Repatriation
73. Going to Church (1)
74. Settlers’ Camp (1)
75. Dedicated Work Partners
78. Siblings Elsie Paul with her siblings at her brother Barney’s house in the early ’80s. Standing, from left: Teddy Francis (Elsie’s brother), Leo Francis (Elsie’s brother), Lillian Francis (Elsie’s niece, Barney Francis’s daughter), Elsie Paul, Doreen Hopkins (Elsie’s sister), Charlene Francis (Elsie’s niece), Jason Francis (Elsie’s nephew), Greg Francis (inch, Elsie’s nephew). Seated, from left: Aunt Agnes McGee, Rita Francis (Elsie’s sister), Nancy Phillips (Elsie’s sister), Vangie Francis (Elsie’s niece), Elizabeth Blaney (Elsie’s sister), Lily Timothy (Elsie’s mother).
79. A Visit with Auntie Katherine
81. Christmas with the Girls
82. Traditional Prayer Songs
83. Baby Marlane
88. Honorary Doctorate
89. Helping Ma
90. Going to Church (2)
91. Childhood Friends
92. Paul Family
94. Elsie Paul with King of the Sea
96. Important Medicine
98. Author Group (7)
99. The Shield
100. Friends (2)
101. Beautiful Baskets
103. Author Group (5)
104. Rowing with mɑksɛmɑ
105. Author Group (4)
106. Pals
107. Author Group (8)
108. Life History of This Project
109. Author Group (6)
111. Territory
112. Becoming Strong
113. Give It to Them
114. Sharing the Book (5)
115. Sharing the Book (2)
116. tʼᶿɛwqʼ (pronunciation)
117. Living with the Land
118. Cleansing
119. Sharing the Book (3)
121. Community Activities
122. Contact Happened
123. Designated Area
124. Sharing the Book (4)
125. Old-Timers and Hard Work
126. You Thank It
128. Gifted People
129. Watch Your Children
131. He Got His Spirit Back
132. Grieving
133. Recovery
134. tɑʔɑw
135. The Young Girl and Eleven Puppies (English)
136. Author Group (3)
137. Lonely and Homesick
138. Her Name Was Jane
139. New Year’s Dance
140. The Young Girl and Eleven Puppies (Sliammon)
141. Author Group (2)
142. The Chinese Restaurant
144. My Dog Patsy
145. Times of Transition
146. Homebrew
147. Problems Handed down from History
148. Thank the Creator
149. When It’s Your Time
150. We Were Already Here
151. Part of Our Survival
152. Root Digging
153. Police Patrol (2)
154. Collecting Branches
155. Police Patrol (1)
156. Author Group (1)
161. Paul Family Photo
162. New Baby
163. Showcasing This Book
164. Naming Ceremony
165. Preparing Fish and Community Drive-Through
166. The Police Were Standing by the Bed
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8. Children “Playing Indian” Powell River community members commemorated British Columbia’s centennial by dressing up in costumes that reflected their imagination of how “Indians” and “pioneers” looked in the nineteenth century. This was a common practice in settler communities in Canada and the United States. Settlers “played Indian” for reasons that ranged from political protest to entertainment. The act of “playing Indian” expressed a settler sense of entitlement to the places that they or their ancestors had colonized. The costumes did not demonstrate meaningful relationship or engagement with Indigenous peoples or practices. Today, we understand these occasions to be forms of cultural appropriation.
9. Bows and Arrows Powell River community members commemorated British Columbia’s centennial by dressing up in costumes that reflected their imagination of how “Indians” and “pioneers” looked in the nineteenth century. This was a common practice in settler communities in Canada and the United States. Settlers “played Indian” for reasons that ranged from political protest to entertainment. The act of “playing Indian” expressed a settler sense of entitlement to the places that they or their ancestors had colonized. The costumes did not demonstrate meaningful relationship or engagement with Indigenous peoples or practices. Today, we understand these occasions to be forms of cultural appropriation.
10. Patricia Theatre, Interior
11. Rodmay Hotel
12. Patricia Theatre
13. Golfing “Indian” Powell River community members commemorated British Columbia’s centennial by dressing up in costumes that reflected their imagination of how “Indians” and “pioneers” looked in the nineteenth century. This was a common practice in settler communities in Canada and the United States. Settlers “played Indian” for reasons that ranged from political protest to entertainment. The act of “playing Indian” expressed a settler sense of entitlement to the places that they or their ancestors had colonized. The costumes did not demonstrate meaningful relationship or engagement with Indigenous peoples or practices. Today, we understand these occasions to be forms of cultural appropriation.
14. Society Lady “Indians” Powell River community members commemorated British Columbia’s centennial by dressing up in costumes that reflected their imagination of how “Indians” and “pioneers” looked in the nineteenth century. This was a common practice in settler communities in Canada and the United States. Settlers “played Indian” for reasons that ranged from political protest to entertainment. The act of “playing Indian” expressed a settler sense of entitlement to the places that they or their ancestors had colonized. The costumes did not demonstrate meaningful relationship or engagement with Indigenous peoples or practices. Today, we understand these occasions to be forms of cultural appropriation.
17. Cafeteria
18. Beautiful Baskets
19. Territory
23. Contact Happened
24. Designated Area
25. We Were Already Here
26. Lonely and Homesick
30. Police Patrol (2)
31. Police Patrol (1)
34. The Police Were Standing by the Bed
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6. Baby Baskets Baby baskets made by Molly Timothy (Granny Molly) in the early 1950s. The basket on the left was made for Jeannie, born to Elsie Paul in 1954, and has since been used for all of Elsie’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. The blue design is made with natural and dyed cherry bark. The basket on the right was made for a daughter of Elsie’s Aunt Agnes, and the design is woven with dyed reed.
7. Fine Craftsmanship
8. Basket for Baby Jeannie
9. Granny Molly’s Baby Baskets Side by Side Baby baskets made by Molly Timothy (Granny Molly) in the early 1950s. The basket on the left was made for Jeannie, born to Elsie Paul in 1954, and has since been used for all of Elsie’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. The blue design is made with natural and dyed cherry bark. The basket on the right was made for a daughter of Elsie’s Aunt Agnes, and the design is woven with dyed reed.
10. Basket for Aunt Agnes’s Daughter
11. Berry Pickers' Cabin
12. Three Generations
13. lɑsɑ and Granny Molly
14. Portrait of Molly and lɑsɑ
15. Boat to Westview When this photo was taken, it was quicker to get to town by boat than by foot, since people didn’t have cars yet. Peggy Harry is at the back of the group (with barrettes in her hair); Molly Timothy is on the right (with headband); Elsie Paul is in the centre (with flowers in her hair); Stella Timothy is centre right, beside Elsie; further right, holding a baby, is Agnes McGee, and in front of her is Sosen Galligos. Smokey John is on the left (wearing a hat), and lɑsɑ is in front of him.
17. Granny with the Kids
18. Molly and Annie
21. Kora's Strawberry Farm
23. Going to Town
24. Sundays
25. Important Medicine
26. Beautiful Baskets
27. Living with the Land
29. Part of Our Survival
30. The Chinese Restaurant
31. Thank the Creator
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4. Building the King of the Sea
5. Chief tɑmɑ and the Timothy Children
6. Sharing Knowledge
7. Clams Elsie Paul’s cousin David George (1948–53) with butter clams dug from in front of the reserve. At the time, shellfish were clean and plentiful, but clams are no longer safe to harvest from this site. The very large cross in the background is in the cemetery. hʌwhegus (advisers in the community), including Chief Tom Timothy and Bill Mitchell, were buried near the cross. The cross blew down at some point and was not replaced.
8. tɑmɑ
9. Paddle Carving
10. Chief Tom’s Family
12. Our People Governed Themselves
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Introduction