Fallen Feather Productions

In The Fallen Feather, we mention in passing one of Canada’s least known Indian wars.

The Chilcotin War of 1864.

This conflict had such far-reaching political consequences that I feel the need to write a few words.

Near Butte Inlet along the Halmalthaka River lies the sovereign territory of the Chilcotin Nation.

The British Columbia Supreme Court has reinforced a previous Supreme Court of Canada ruling that affirms Aboriginal entitlement to their traditional lands.

In Xeni Gwet’in the Court found that that the Tsilhqot’in Nation had established their Title to 200,000 hectares of land that is now confined within the province of British Columbia.

The recent Supreme Court rulings are a culmination of 150 years of protest and conflict. And began with the discovery of Gold and the introduction of disease.

The small pox epidemic had devastated the First Nations of British Columbia, and some tribes had lost up to 80% of their population to the disease.

In 1864 Alfred Waddington an entrepreneur from Victoria was building a road that would exploit the newly discovered Caribou minefield in British Columbia.

He used First Nations men in manual labour, but failed to pay them for their service. There is also evidence that his road crew forced Native women into prostitution, bartering food for sex.

Suffering from the devastations of the small pox epidemic, broken promises, and this humiliation, Chilcotin warriors retaliated and, in an act of war, killed dozens of surveyors as they trespassed.

Waddington, with the support of the Colonial Government assembled a posse of volunteers. Gunboats sailed up Butte Inlet and a hundred mounted men and British Marines combed the territory in search of these Chilcotin warriors.

To prevent a blood bath, Chief Klatsassin (Tsilhqot’in War Chief) and his men surrendered with the clear understanding that they would be treated as prisoners of war.

Again – promises made by setters that were quickly broken.

Contrary to British law, the men were tried as common criminals.

This error in law was noted by Judge Matthew Baillie Begbie who thought it was distasteful to hang these men. However, in his own words:

The blood of 21 whites calls for retribution.

And so they were hung.

The message was simple. The government would not tolerate challenges to who owned the land.

The Chilcotin conflict influenced Joseph Trutch BC Chief Land Surveyor and Future Governor.

Trutch expressed directly to the Macdonald government his militant views of Land claims during confederation talks between Ottawa and British Columbia. This war and other Canadian Indian Wars fundamentally influenced the direction of race relations in Canada. Culminating in the creation of Indian Residential Schools, and “The Final Solution” to the Indian Problem.
(Duncan Campbell Scott 1910 Departmental Superintendent DIA)

This policy of divide and conquer and the imposition of postal stamp sized Indian reserves is a direct result of the Chilcotin War of 64. From that crystallizing moment to this very day, Governments have continued to ignore this historical fact. Its time to pay the piper.

Randy Bezeau
randy@fallenfeatherproductions.com
31 January 2008

The Indigenous peoples of North and South America have long ago foreseen the interconnectedness between all living things. Beings, plants, animals and elements of our planet. When we harm one we consequently harm them all, like a ripple effect. The prophesy of the Eagle and the Condor, has been a significant legend passed on from Elder over the centuries. With the shift that we as humans have taken against the health of our planet we are beginning to go back to the indigenous lessons, captioned through legends and stories, in hopes of revitalizing our global community. Organic farming, environmental technologies, and preservation of our sacred medicinal plants are among the things we are beginning to recognize as critical to all survival on this planet. Everyone in the world is responsible for what happens in the world, please visit http://www.timeofthesixthsun.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1 and learn about the teachings of the legend of the Eagle and the Condor.

Jannica Hoskins

jannica@fallenfeatherproductions.com

23 January 2008

The Aboriginal people in Canada and the USA have been fighting for their right to land stewardship and identity since European contact. The war over lands and resources results in devastation and strain on our mother earth. In many cases, First Nation Bands and even entire First Nations have been declared extinct in order to acquire these lands and resources. The nearest ongoing example to us is the fight for recognition of the Sinixt First Nation and Arrow Lakes Band. The Arrow Lakes Band ceased to exist as a band for the purpose of the Indian Act… It does not, however, mean that the Sinixt ceased to exist as a tribal group.” — Minister of Indian Affairs
Ron Irwin,
August 9, 1995 We have a cultural law that says you must, when you are done with this body, go back to the earth. When people go and dig up our ancestors and put them on shelves, in boxes, in macramé wall-hangings, or use them for other types of decoration, it makes my ancestors break their cultural law. They can’t go back. And it is our responsibility, because we are the descendants of those people. They are our ancestors. It is our responsibility to bring our ancestors home and rebury them and protect their resting places.” Marilyn James
Appointed Sinixt SpokespersonRevelstoke is the traditional territory of the Sinixt, Ktunaxa, Secwepemc and Okanagan First Nation aboriginal people. Each of these four First Nation aboriginal groups is unique from one another. Still to this day, the Government of Canada instructs their departments to not erect any signage recognizing this area as the traditional territory of the Sinixt First Nation despite the ongoing requests of historians, educators, and surviving Sinixt people. Healing comes with recognition, please visit the Sinixt First Nation website http://sinixt.kics.bc.ca/. Jannica Hoskins

jannica@fallenfeatherproductions.com

22 January 2008

Visit Squilax Little Shuswap Indian Band this summer for a unique blend of funk, fusion and psychadelic rock.

Mystic Bowie filmed by Fallen Feather Productions at the Tribal Funk Festival.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OC1CeqrN-M

The Fallen Feather dance is a special ceremony performed by a veteran or Medicine Man at First Nations Powwows. The eagle feather is revered in North American aboriginal culture, and when a feather falls to the ground it is taken as if one of the members had fallen.

All dancing must stop.  And the ceremony to pick up the feather is performed.

It is a time of refection. Why did the feather fall? What is its message? And as its lifted back up to its rightful place, all those witnessing are also lifted back up.

The Fallen Feather documentary attempts to bring the viewers into this ceremony, by making all of us witness to the personal tragedy suffered by First Nations and their children in Canada. We are all challenged to reexamine our shared history. And in the process, heal ourselves.

Randy Bezeau