In 2016, the annual Elders Gathering was held on the T’exelcemc traditional territory in Williams Lake. A live stream was recorded of the event. This gathering is especially important to me, as the speakers are Elders and leaders from my local community.
At [3:15:20] Chief Joe Alphonse speaks. He talks about his ancestral connections to the Chilcotin War in 1864, and about the monumental win of the Tŝilhqot’in Nation in gaining the first declaration of Aboriginal title in Canada. “It was not just a Chilcotin win, it was a win for all First Nation” [3:17:00].
I invited Chief Joe to my Career & Life class a couple of years ago. One of the most impactful pieces of wisdom he shared was the importance of being a warrior. Today’s weapons are different (education, words, and legislation), but the goal remains the same: to stand up for a better future.
I wish I had downloaded the second day’s video when it aired, as it was quickly taken down. I think the reason(s) why is an important point to discuss. YouTube said it was for “copyright infringement”. It was unclear if the algorithm flagged it, or if it was reported by an individual.
- Was it because local Indigenous musicians shared their love of Elvis by singing his songs in their language?
- Was it because some of the sacred dances’ origins are points of contention?
- Was it because of protocols, or because someone disagreed with sacred wisdom being shared on a public platform?
To make matters worse, the file I had saved my favourite quotations on seems to have been lost in the ether. This just goes to show that while digital technology can be a boon (ex: allowing anyone to witness the Elders Gathering during/after it took place), our reliance on it can be dangerous, and lead to even greater losses of Indigenous Knowledge.
Note to self: backup MET notes as PDFs and print them, rather than leave them on the obscure mind-mapping program I have been using.
– Laura Ulrich