January 16th 2016 was a “grey on grey day with shades of dark green." A mix of low-hanging clouds and rain. In other words, a perfect January day in the Pacific Northwest.
First Nations people from across Canada and the United States were gathering in the building next to the Belkin Gallery on the University of British Columbia campus in Vancouver. They were preparing for the Procession to inaugurate the official opening of the Belkin Gallery's exhibit "Lalakenis/All Directions: A Journey of Truth and Unity."
What is Lalakenis/All Directions celebrating?
Lalakenis celebrates the 3,000 mile path traveled by Chief Beau Dick, Chief Giindajin Haawasti Guujaaw of the Haida Nation and 21 others to Ottawa. Beau started out with his two daughters, Linnea and Geraldine and a dozen other companions on their odyssey in February 2013 from Quatsino on the northwest side of Vancouver Island.
Like a rock dropped into a pond, the ripples from their journey have spread far and risen high. In Victoria on the steps of the Legislature, they presented coppers brought from their communities and made a Copper Cutting Ceremony. They were taking the unprecedented step of reintroducing the symbolic breaking of coppers to the modern political world.
What is Lalakenis/All Directions celebrating?
Lalakenis celebrates the 3,000 mile path traveled by Chief Beau Dick, Chief Giindajin Haawasti Guujaaw of the Haida Nation and 21 others to Ottawa. Beau started out with his two daughters, Linnea and Geraldine and a dozen other companions on their odyssey in February 2013 from Quatsino on the northwest side of Vancouver Island.
Like a rock dropped into a pond, the ripples from their journey have spread far and risen high. In Victoria on the steps of the Legislature, they presented coppers brought from their communities and made a Copper Cutting Ceremony. They were taking the unprecedented step of reintroducing the symbolic breaking of coppers to the modern political world.
In the ancient and modern indigenous cosmology of the Pacific Northwest coast people, a copper is a currency of status, respect and responsibility. In the past, families who had been wronged used the breaking of a copper to shame one another, to challenge them to make it right, to make them whole. In 1999, around the re-opening of the Big House in Alert Bay, the breaking of coppers had been set aside because it had caused fearful bruising in the community. Other ways needed to be found to rectify old wrongs.
Following a year of silence from Prime Minister Harper's government, Beau and fellow activists decided in 2014 they had to take their coppers to Ottawa. Their retinue grew as they traveled across Canada the summer of 2014, accruing strength until their triumphant arrival in Ottawa.
The earth-shaking copper-breaking ceremony on the steps of the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa finally began curing the government's deafness to indigenous treaty rights. Like a rock dropped into a pond, the ripples from their decision have spread far and risen high.
The earth-shaking copper-breaking ceremony on the steps of the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa finally began curing the government's deafness to indigenous treaty rights. Like a rock dropped into a pond, the ripples from their decision have spread far and risen high.
January 16, 2016
In solemn linear order, the Procession signaled the opening of the Lalakenis/All Directions exhibit. Dozens of indigenous people carrying masks and coppers walked down the mall in the light rain. Walking around the flag pole, each person in the Procession turned a circle at each of the cardinal points and entered the Belkin Gallery to songs, rattles and the snapping *CLAP* of the raven mask.
In solemn linear order, the Procession signaled the opening of the Lalakenis/All Directions exhibit. Dozens of indigenous people carrying masks and coppers walked down the mall in the light rain. Walking around the flag pole, each person in the Procession turned a circle at each of the cardinal points and entered the Belkin Gallery to songs, rattles and the snapping *CLAP* of the raven mask.
Maxine Matilpi, (right) a button blanket artist and keeper of Kwakwaka’wakw traditions, carefully inspects and dresses anyone who will be wearing regalia in the Procession. It has been her role to insure that all the rules are followed as to who and when regalia and masks can be displayed, songs sung and dances performed.
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Greg Fitch enters the Belkin Gallery with a Raven mask,
snapping its beak at those watching.
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As each entered the exhibition hall they lay their treasures down on a big banner spread on the floor.
The words of the banner were the same words said by Canadian Prime Minister Steven Harper in June 2008. He apologized to the indigenous community for the harm done to untold thousands of children in the hated Residential Schools.
Chief Beau Dick and Guujaaw in front of a video still from Ottawa
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Linnea Dick, Geraldine Dick and Chief Beau Dick
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Guujaaw of the Haida Nation, whose copper Taaw was broken in Ottawa, joined Chief Beau Dick, his daughters, Linnae and Geraldine, the matriarchs, chiefs, elders and journey participants at the front of the room.
On the wall, the continuous video loop of the the ceremony on the steps of Parliament provided a fitting backdrop.
We heard many prayers and speeches. Songs were song. Drums were played. An eagle flute piercingly sounded around the room.
We heard many prayers and speeches. Songs were song. Drums were played. An eagle flute piercingly sounded around the room.
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Chief Beau Dick described all the hands touching the coppers as they traveled across the country, leaving some of each person's DNA on the copper. Greg Fitch picked up a copper and began walking around, raising the copper toward the audience.
We, too, pressed our fingertips onto these sacred broken coppers.
Others picked up a copper and followed Greg so more people could touch the coppers.
Tears flowed.
Songs were song.
Rattles called in spirits and a wave of strength passed around the room with the coppers.
The memory of that moment will generate future actions as the ripples travel still further out and into the future.
We, too, pressed our fingertips onto these sacred broken coppers.
Others picked up a copper and followed Greg so more people could touch the coppers.
Tears flowed.
Songs were song.
Rattles called in spirits and a wave of strength passed around the room with the coppers.
The memory of that moment will generate future actions as the ripples travel still further out and into the future.