Prince George, BC –  Xeni Gwet’in Chief Roger William of the Tsilhqot’in people was in Prince George yesterday to talk about the importance of last summer’s Supreme Court of Canada ruling on Tsilhqot’in people’s land title case.

Speaking at UNBC, He also discussed the role that the testimony of elders played both in the court case as well as the environmental review of the proposed Taseko/Prosperity mine at Fish Lake.

In his presentation, Chief William asked the audience to go back to 1862 which was the date that a devastating small pox epidemic wiped out 80 to 90% of the Tsilhqot’in people.  This was followed in 1864 by the Tsilhqot’in War in which the people fought to defend their territory and way of life, as well as stop the further spread of the disease.  In his opinion, the reason why the Tsilhqot’in are together as a people today was the struggle they waged in 1864 and in the following years in which some of his people thrived and others were less fortunate.

He talked about the effect of residential school and the impact it had on Tsilhqot’in children.  Aside from the sexual, physical and psychological abuse, he pointed to the impact of small children being taken away from their parents to faraway schools.  “We could only practice our culture and language for two months,” he said.  “But our culture and language is year round.”

In the 150 years that followed the small pox epidemic and the War, the Tsilhqot’in people waged a long struggle for their aboriginal title and rights and to preserve their culture, culminating in the recent victory in the Supreme Court of Canada.  Williams said elders, some of whom do not speak English, played an important role in passing on the language, culture, laws and legends of the people, as well as testifying in court.

With the recent Supreme Court ruling, Chief William notes that aboriginal title in this country cannot be denied and is a “game changer.”  According to him, “we have the opportunity for First Nations and the provincial and federal governments to move forward together” and improve the situation for everyone.

Chief William said he is conscious, however, that with such a victory comes both opportunity and responsibility regarding self-governance, respecting the environment, dealing with social problems such as lack of housing, drug and alcohol use, and a host of other issues that need to be maneuvered through.  In that regard, he said his people’s approach is to look at the whole Tsilhqot’in territory rather than just the individual parts (the territory has six communities and six chiefs).

Since the Supreme Court victory last June, William said they have been spending a lot of time on eco-system and economic planning, and learning from other First Nations and non-First Nations people on how to move ahead.  At the same time, the Tsilhqot’in experience and recent land title victory is being closely studied by other aboriginal peoples in North America and elsewhere.

Chief Williams is scheduled to receive an honorary degree at UNBC’s 2015 Convocation in Prince George on May 29 for his role in advancing the cause of the Tsilhqot’in people.