I choose to start this blog post by telling you that I have not lived on either of the reserves of my people and therefore did not receive the benefit or disadvantage that living in community has to offer. As a child I was made to feel unwelcome because of my pedigree. I stayed away as a young adult because of that. The things I have learned of my family and my people has been done at a distance from Campbell River. This is not necessarily a bad thing. What I have picked in the process of continual learning and life experiences is that native people's across Canada were not and, still are not, treated in a similar way. I have the benefit of looking from the outside in.
I have been asking myself the title question of this post for many years. The question: "Has Laichkwiltach Nation history been revised?" I believe the changes that have been made to my family's last name are an example of revising history. My greatgrandfather's name was changed to the extent that I don't know what the exact spelling of his last name was. Changes to my family's last name will ripple through time. This create's a genealogist's nightmare! Fortunately for my family someone knew where to find documents and ask the right questions. Having an accurate family history and family tree in place makes a big difference. My family members have been very fortunate in that regard. Information that would have been lost has been recorded so that generations that follow will know from whom they have descended. Very valuable stuff for a lot of reasons. Land claims being one of them.
Members of my family will tell you, "Yes!" The Laichkwiltach Nation's history has been revised time and again. When I was a child I was told my family was Kwiakutl. (Don't worry. I couldn't pronounce it either.) Through the process of research and family knowledge it was determined that this was not correct. There are others in my family that are more knowledgeable on this issue than I. My point here is that the Laichkwiltach Nation could well have disappeared in name without anyone being the wiser without the knowledge of my family's roots and the nation to which we belong. The stroke of an Indian Agent's pen could well have remain unchallenged and well, thankfully, that is not the case.
Why would someone want to change the name and value of another person? Why would the history of a people be altered? The answer to both questions is the same: To take what the original occupants have and minimize potential claim to what was taken. This kind of exploitation has been going on for so long that it sadly is considered the norm. I have come. I see what I want. I will build upon what I have taken. It's mine without agreement or negotiation with the original owner. What about the people whose land it was before you showed up?
As strange as that may sound this is part of my family's story.
