Home most beautiful part of God's country

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With Christmas fast approaching, our thoughts start straying towards home, family and friends. Homesickness sets in for those who have been away from home for a long period of time. To most people, home is in the most beautiful part of God's country. And so it is with me.

Born and raised in an Aboriginal community with a culture and tradition that is complex and unique (but very much alive) in northwestern B.C., my home is Hagwilget.

Hagwilget village, "he home of the quiet people," is situated at the center of Gitksan and Wet'suwet'en territory. Nestled at the base of the beautiful peak of Stekyawden (also known as Rocker DE Boule) mountain, it is home to about 300 Aboriginal people.

A silver suspension bridge spans the Hagwilget canyon, where 92 metres below, the Bulkley river rushes through to join the Skeena river at Gitanmaax. Within an 80-kilometre radius of he confluence are the villages of Kitwancool, Gitwangak, Kitseguecla, Kispiox, Glenvowell, and Moricetown - and the largest number of totem poles in Canada.

Gitanmaax is about eight kilometres "down the road" from Hagwilget and surrounds the village of Hazelton. The Office of the Gitksan and Wet'suwet'en Hereditary Chiefs (OCH) is located in Hazelton.

There are approximately 7,500 Gitksan and Wet'suwet'en people in the Skeena and Bulkley River area. Hazelton is in northwestern B.C., about 1,255 kilometres (780) from Vancouver.

The two most important components of the Gitksan and Wet'suwet'en society are the Houses and Clans. A person is born into a particular House and Clan because of matrilineal descent. The four Gitksan Clans are Lax Gibuu (wolf), Lax Skiik (Eagle), Gigaast (Fireweed) and Lax Seel/Ganeda (Frog). There are five Wet'suwet'en Clans: Gidemden (Wolf, Gilseryu (Frog), Laksilyu (small Frog), Laksamisyu (Fireweed) and the Tsayu (Beaver).

There are a number of related Houses within each Clan. These groups are called Houses because, in the past their members lived under one roof. Because of large increased or serious decreases in population over the course of time, some Houses have split off from, or joined other Houses. The Gitksan have 76 Houses within four Clans and he Wet'suwet'en have 13 Houses within five Clans.

The Gitksan and Wet'suwet'en hereditary Chiefs and their House members practise self-government in he same way their ancestors did, by using the laws of the Feast hall as the center of all social, spiritual, economic and political decision-making.

Feasts are hosted by and paid for by the House and Clans. Feasts are held for different events such as funerals. The deceased is brought back home regardless of where death took place, with the House shouldering the expense. Feasts are also held for transfer of names at childhood, puberty or death - our names are passed from generation to generation and only by blood relationship. Headstone raising are occasions for feasts, with all expenses covered for the preparation and carving of a totem pole which holds the history of the House and Clan.

Another solemn occasion is the shame feast. This is held to redeem oneself after suffering or causing embarrassment. Prior to contact there were marriage and divorce feasts but this is not common now.

Finally, there are economic and political decision-making feasts. For example, the land claims court case is an on-going concern for our membership. We are saying to the courts that the Gitksan and Wet'suwet'en hereditary Chiefs and their House members claim they and their ancestors have occupied and possessed these lands from time immemorial. This issue is known to the courts as the Delgamuuk case.

A major feast is held when a chief's name is transferred following the death of the previous holder of the name. The new chief has to be related by blood. The chief takes on the responsibilities of the House and members. He/she becomes the caretaker of the territories which belong to the House and its members. The chief's name is usually given fo life but it can be stripped from current holder if the chief does not take he responsibilities of the House and members seriously. In some cases, when this happens, the wing chiefs usually carry on the bulk of the responsibilities.

A Feast is held and hosted by a particular House, but, all the Houses in Clan contribute to the Feast. The guests are seated according to the House and Clan and are witnesses to whatever event is taking place. This is just part of a process of validating actions taken within a House and Clan.

It doesn't matter how far away from home you you wander, a Gitksan and Wet'suwet'en person still has to be responsible to his/her House and Clan.

My name is Yagalahl from the House of Spookw of the Lax Gibuu Clan. the time you read this, I will be on my way home for Christmas.