Tsimshian Historic Cultural Event 2007

http://www.freewebs.com/tsimshianeventinfo2007/
 
 Tsimshian Historic Cultural Event taking on more Traditional Significance
 
 The traditional home of the Tsimshian people is in what is now central and northern British Columbia. Native oral history, artifacts, historical photos, and the archaeological excavation are woven together to tell the story of the Tsimshian people who have occupied Canada's north Pacific Coast for over 5,000 years. (http://www.civilization.ca/aborig/tsimsian/intro02e.html)
 
 A Tsimshian tribal historic event is happening starting in the month of September 2006 to month of August 2007. It started out by Eli Milton as a Name Giving Feast for an individual who will be named a Chief for Metlakatla, Alaska.
 
 A Tsimshian Name Giving Feast has never happen in the history of the Tsimshian people of Metlakatla, Alaska. It has brought attention to the Tsimshian Hereditary Chiefs of the entire Tsimshian Nation. They will be in attendance at this Tsimshian Name Giving Feast to be held August 2-3, 2007 in Metlakatla, Alaska. At this Feast the 18 Tsimshian Canoes will be given to the Hereditary Chiefs of the Tsimshian Nation. Because of this historic Tsimshian Cultural Event the 18 Tsimshian Canoes will be carved and built in two locations. Permission already has been implemented to the Tulilap Tribal Council to utilize a building within Marysville, Washington just north of Seattle, Washington. Canoe building starts there because the Tsimshian Artists and Carvers are at their summer’s work of salmon fishing.
 
 It takes time to do 18 Tsimshian Canoes and the Tsimshian Artists and Carvers are awaiting start up time and readily available to do these 17 Tsimshian Canoes. It may take for a year’s work and effort to complete these 18 Tsimshian Canoes either double or triple shifts to have them completed for the Tsimshian Historic Cultural Event 2007. It was the hope that there would be one Tsimshian Canoe in the “Paddle to Muckleshoot” but the project got delayed and new timelines had to be established.

The “Paddle to Muckleshoot” happens at end of July 2006.
 
 What has happen to date since this Tsimshian Canoe Project got started to commemorate the 120th Anniversary of the Tsimshian move from British Columbia to Metlakatla, Alaska. Eli Milton has been working on this Tsimshian Canoe Project for now three years to get it going.
 
 Other events occurred from the Terrance Booth, Sr. family of Metlakatla, Alaska decided to add two twin Commemorative Totem Poles one to be placed in Metlakatla, BC and the other to be placed in Metlakatla, Alaska. Following Tsimshian Protocol with Hereditary Chief Clarence Nelson will be approached to announce and gain permission to place and raise the Commemorative Totem Pole in Metlakatla, BC. A formal letter was submitted to Mayor Victor Wellington of Metlakatla, Alaska to place the twin pole there in Metlakatla, Alaska. The two twin totem poles will be gifted and used to honor this Tsimshian Historic Cultural Event and the crossing to Metlakatla, Alaska from Metlakatla, British Columbia. This calls for a Tsimshian Traditional Feast to take place both in Metlakatla, British Columbia and Metlakatla, Alaska. To honor those who participated with this move and to permanently have remembrance for some it was with great difficulty and for others a blessing. This in of itself brought more cultural significance to the Tsimshian Historic Cultural Event 2007. Tsimshian Protocol has to be implemented to follow the Traditional Ways of the Tsimshian not to upset, cause any unbalance of the life of the people to give formal announcement and permission to proceed.
 
 Another significant occurrence has happen a Tsimshian Hereditary Chief has decided to escort the 17 Tsimshian Canoes over to Metlakatla, Alaska. His purpose is to re-unite with his family who moved over from BC to Alaska. He has traced many Tsimshian Names prior to their locating to Metlakatla, BC from the Tsimshian Domain to Metlakatla, Alaska.

He will bring his documentation of his findings to Metlakatla, Alaska. He himself and his family will construct 4 Tsimshian Canoes. This in of it needs to be shared with the entire Tsimshian Nation.
 
 Of Cultural importance is another event is the Haida Nation is returning a Tsimshian Song to the Tsimshian of Metlakatla, Alaska. This Tsimshian Song was given to the Haida 100 years ago. They will be escorting the Tsimshian Canoes to Metlakatla, Alaska to bring the song to Tsimshian of Metlakatla, Alaska.
 
 With these added Cultural features it brings more cultural meaning and tribal importance to the Tsimshian Historic Event 2007 by having living Tsimshian History taking place and having an re-enactment of their move marking 120th Anniversary of this move is worth documenting and recorded to share with the entire Tsimshian Nation. Tsimshian Protocol is being implemented to adhere to the Traditions, keep balance within the communities and not to cause any disturbances to disrupt the life of their communities.
 
 The Tsimshian Artists and Carvers have been put into place. Master Artist Jack Hudson has offered to do the Tsimshian Canoe Paddles. Weaver Mary Teri Kennedy (Tsimshian/Haida) has offered to do red cedar bark Canoe mats. Artist and Carvers are from Washington State, British Columbia and Alaska.
 
 The Core Working Group for the Tsimshian Canoes are: Eli Milton (Tsimshian sub-Chief) Executive Director; Richard Kolin, Master Boat Builder; Eric Harman, Delbert Hayward, Pat Mahon - Master Boat Builders.
 
 Leadership Team: Tom Eisenberg-Business Manager; Team Leader: Fred Lauth, Boat Builder, Totem Pole Carver; Team Leader: Lloyd Cooke and Merle Guthrie – Boat builder Assistant.
 
 In Prince Rupert: Ian Morve. Artist and Carver, Henry Green, Master Artists Pat Helin and others will assist for the completion of the Canoes. Ian Morve carving two Commemorative Totem poles to mark the 120th Anniversary of Tsimshian move from British Columbia to Alaska. Others will be selected to complete the Tsimshian Canoes. Others will participate as the Tsimshian Canoe Project gets started and implemented.
 
 Documenting and recording whole cultural event by film and video, Terrance H. Booth, Jr. for since his late grandfather death no current Tsimshian Cultural History has been documented or recorded. Purpose to preserve and have this historic cultural event for next generation to see and Tsimshian people to have remembrance of it.
 
 The logs are being selected and portion of the logs are enroute to Marysville, Washington to start 5 Tsimshian Canoes. Targeting early fall to get going with the Tsimshian Canoes. On the Tulilap Tribe Reservation a building has been selected to do at least five Tsimshian Canoes there.
 
 A building in Prince Rupert, BC will be selected to complete the 17 Tsimshian Canoes. Immediate needs are for payment of these two buildings. On the Tulilap Tribe Reservation the building there will need renovation, upgrading of wiring to handle power equipment that will be used for the canoe project. Rental payments will be needed for both areas and purchase of a permanent building in Prince Rupert. For the Tsimshian Canoes woodworking equipment, a supply, labor costs for master artists, carvers, helpers and advisors, payroll for directly participating with the Tsimshian Canoe carving and construction. Transporting the Tsimshian Canoes from Marysville, Washington to Prince Rupert, BC is an expense. Once buildings are completed and ready for use the Artists and Carvers they start their work.
 
 In Prince Rupert, BC the goal is have a permanent place for the Tsimshian Artists and Carvers to do their artwork in proper setting and the ability to display their artwork and better marketing of there artwork. This Tsimshian Cultural Event is to keep Tsimshian Arts on-going with establishment of apprenticeship program or mentoring program where there be opportunities for the youth, young adults, adults, Elders to have for them a learning cultural heritage center to learn their arts, learn about themselves and keep the arts going for generations to come. Overall goal is to develop self-sufficiency for the artists and carvers and improve their quality of life.
 
 Other expenses is documenting and recording and filming of the entire event to be shared with entire Tsimshian Nation. It is recording living Tsimshian History where on part of the Tsimshian moving no Tsimshian Hereditary Chief was brought to Metlakatla, Alaska. It is a revival of Tsimshian being at sea and a re-enactment of their move to Alaska. Costs are associated with the documenting and recording and filming this Tsimshian Cultural Event 2007 for camera equipment, filming equipment, hiring of staff and following whole event from start to finish. Which means travel, living expenses, and necessary supplies to make it happen on film to preserve living history of the Tsimshian.
 
 Tsimshian gift giving is traditional and feasts or potlatch shows the significance of the occasion and its importance. Gifts distributed to witnesses at potlatches included objects of everyday use and others elaborated and decorated for ceremonial value: utensils, blankets, boxes, canoes and copper plates. One of the most valued items, which might be distributed or ceremonially burned at the feast, was oolichan grease. The oolichan is a member of the smelt family; the fish is harvested in great quantities and pressed to remove its oil, which is valued as a preservative for other foods and as a condiment. The fish is so rich in oil that, after pressing and drying, it can be threaded with a wick and burned as a candle; thus the alternative name 'candlefish'. (4. The Northwest Coast, Indian and Northern Affairs, Canada)
 
 This Tsimshian Cultural Historic Event 2007 calls for three traditional feasts:
 
 1. Chief Naming Feast in Metlakatla, Alaska
 
 A. Tsimshian Traditional Gift Giving
 
 B. Traditional Tsimshian Foods.
 
 C. Hiring of Helpers and Cooks
 
 2. Traditional Feasts for Metlakatla, BC and Metlakatla, Alaska for rising of Commemorative Totem Poles
 
 A. Traditional Giving of Gifts
 
 B. Traditional Tsimshian Foods
 
 C. Hiring of Helpers and Cooks
 
 All of above activities are following the traditional ways of the Tsimshian people for Naming of Chief, Raising of Totem Poles, The Traditional Feasts and the Gift Giving. To ensure proper Tsimshian Protocol the spokes person for the Tsimshian Hereditary Chief will brief the Metlakatla, Alaska group prior to the start of the whole cultural event takes place
 
 The Tsimshian Hereditary Chiefs have a blessing at the start of the Tsimshian Canoe project both in Marysville, Washington and Prince Rupert, British Columbia. The event coordinators bring everyone together so all is followed according to traditions of the Tsimshian.
 
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 About The Author
 
 
 Terrance H. Booth, Sr.
 
 Cultural Event Coordinator for this tribal historic event because never has Metlakatla, Alaska had a Tsimshian Chief named in its 120 year history. It brings all 16 of the Tsimshian Hereditary Chiefs to Metlakatla which is a first. Documenting and recording the whole event and recent cultural happenings have not been recorded.