February 25, 2007

Prayer

FROM SKWXWU7MESH-ULH TERRITORY: On Feb. 24th, Harriet Nahanee of the Pacheedaht, of the Nuu-chah-nulth, passed away from pneumonia (complicated by previously undiagnosed lung cancer) in St. Paul's Hospital. She was 71. On January 24, 2007, despite her frail health, Harriet was sentenced to 14 days in the Surrey Pretrial Centre, a men's prison and a notorious hell hole for women. It is believed she developed pneumonia during her incarceration and was admitted to St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver a week after her release.

Harriet Nahanee was Nuu-chah-nutlh, but married into and became a Skwxwu7mesh. I praise her for her strength, and the inspiration she gave to many Indigenous people for her stand and struggle through Residential School and, the protection of our rights and land. I send my condolences to her family, and offer prayers.
u siyam

Below is a release for the elder
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 25, 2007

EAGLERIDGE PROTESTER (Harriet Nahanee) DIES
Some time after 7 pm on Saturday February 24, 2007,
Native Elder and Eagleridge Protester Harriet
Nahanee died from pneumonia (complicated by
previously undiagnosed lung cancer) in St. Paul's
Hospital. She was 71. On January 24, 2007, despite
her frail health, Harriet was sentenced to 14 days
in the Surrey Pretrial Centre, a men's prison and a
notorious hell hole for women. It is believed she
developed pneumonia during her incarceration and was
admitted to St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver a week
after her release.

In a letter to Justice Brenda Brown prior to the
sentencing of Ms. Nahanee, Betty Krawcyzk urged
compassion: "I am very worried about Mrs. Harriet
Nahanee. Mrs. Nahanee is not well. She has asthma
and is suffering the after effects of a recent bout
of flu that has left her very weak".(1)

On February 23, 2007, The Indigenous Action
Movement held a rally and prayer vigil for Harriet
(photo's are available compliments of IsabelleLink Groc
at: http://members.shaw.ca/idoumenc/harriet/ ).
Approximately 80-100 people gathered at the Supreme
Court Building for a ceremonial walk to and around
St. Paul’s Hospital. A prayer vigil was held
outside Harriets’ hospital room, with drumming and
the Women’s Warrior Song to give Harriet support and
strength. A large signed picture of the Larsen Creek
Wetlands at Eagleridge Bluffs (as they were) was
taken up to Harriet following the ceremony along
with flowers and cards. Further information about
Harriet Nahanee’s struggle at Eagleridge Bluffs can
be found on at:
First Nations Website
http://www.firstnations.de/development.htm

On colonization:
We're in an awful state. I'm not talking about just where I live--I'm talking about all across the country. We live in dictatorships run by federal government band-elected Band Chiefs, [and] Councillors. We survived for 50,000 years under a chief who looked after all his people, or her people, depending on where you lived. Everything was considered: environment, the people, everything. They had a beautiful system and it was a good life until Europeans came. Their idea was to civilize us and make us Christians, actually it was a process to take us away from the land. They took children at five years of age away from their families, housed them in huge Residential Schools--impersonal places--they taught us a little ABC, just a little of that, but they trained us for servitude, this was to serve the white people. They took our culture, our culture is our spine. We survived for 50,000 years with our methods. Our ancestors were conservationists.

On de-colonization:
What I would like to see is people with [traditional] knowledge to teach the small, little people how to grow up with pride. This generation is lost. My generation is lost--they're assimilated. They don't think like an Indian. What I'd like to see is our five-year-olds being taught their language, their songs, their games, their spirituality, their Indian, eh, their Indian-ness. I'd like to ask all the people out there to reclaim their culture--practice it, teach the children, and let's reclaim our backbone, our culture and put some pride in our children.

- Harriet Nahanee
by Rivers on Sunday, February 25, 2007 |
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