Haisla Tradition: Past/Present/Future--Who Are You?

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Haisla Tradition: Past/Present/Future---Who Are You?

The elected body that is Kitamaat Village Council(KVC) is responsible to do the bidding of the Haisla, The Gyukxw-lute(The People).
It is responsible for the planning and the follow-through of those plans that protect the best interests of the past, present and the future generations of Haisla People. It is in place to preserve, protect, and to develop the Social Essence and the Direction of the Haisla Community, as is deemed desirable or necessary by the Body of the Haisla Community. It is there to seek out, develop, and to provide options to these ends.
At the present time we, 'The Haisla People', find ourselves struggling through a difficult time. Within ourselves, we have deep and long ranging questions as to the nature of our present, and our future practise of our social and cultural Heritage . We have questions as to the nature and the validity of the 'Dual system' of Leadership and Values, that has brought us to this point in our history. This 'Dual System' is the Community governing system that includes both the elected body and the Traditional Chieftainship, functioning at the same time. These questions set a broad path of concern before the entire Haisla Community.
While presenting us with this broad path of concern, these questions also present us with a broad field of possibility for our future. Our Community can make progress based on this field of possibility only if we each become active and make our ideas and our wishes known. Our future will be defined by our level of participation in present events.
The strength of The Haisla Culture depends on the participation of each one of us, The Gyukxw-lute.
If our Traditional Cultural Practise is to maintain any of its meaning for us as 'The Haisla', we must now stand and make our wishes known.
We are at a point within our Traditional History where we are finding that we must closely examine the realities that presently exist for us. And that govern the present nature of, and the actual practise of our cultural traditions. Where have we been? Where are we at the present time? Where do we wish to go from here? What must we do in order to get there?
The recent, on-going drama that is presently unfolding here in our midst may be seen as a mirror of our cultural selves.
This is who we are at the present time.
What is the reflection that we wish to build into our future? Are we each willing to stand and ensure that we make the necessary changes that will ensure the developments that we want to see happen here in our Community?
What are your wishes?
Make your wishes known to your family, to your friends, to your leaders.
Stand and be heard.
Greg Robinson, December 1, 2009. New Westminster, BC.