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Knowledge Holders

Hunting, Healing & Human-Land Relationships

Knowledge holders

Mildred Martin ~ Dakelh Elder

Arthur Manuel Dick ~ Mamalilikala & Namgis Elder

SherryLynne Jondreau ~ Anishinaabe Elder

Bill Bertschy ~ Sliammon Elder

Daisy Georgina Laing ~ Uchucklesaht Elder

Ronald Desjarlais - O'Chiese Elder

Yvonne Pierreroy - Dakelh Elder

Clarence George - Carrier Elder

with special guests

George Aslin & Rodrick Solonas

in the Drum Circle video

These Knowledge Holders have been referred to as Elders not necessarily because of their age but because of the amount of knowledge and wisdom they carry. I have received teachings that it is not age that defines an Elder but the wisdom a person carries and the manner in which that wisdom is shared

Mildred Martin

After residential school, Mildred returned to her family on the Nak'azdli Reserve near Fort Saint James, BC. Once home, Mildred began hunting, trapping, fishing and harvesting wild plants with her family and continues to carry the teachings forward. In her ninties, Mildred is also one of the last truly fluent speakers of her traditional language and has worked tirelessly to ensure that her Carrier dialect remains alive for many more years to come

Ttakwagila
Arthur Manuel Dick

Ttakwagila, Arthur Manuel Dick, is a Mamalilikala Hereditary Chief of Village Island near Alert Bay, BC. The Mamalilikala are a division of the Kwakwaka' wakw First Nations. He is also a registered member and an elected band Councillor for the Namgis First Nation. Art grew up on Village Island, before moving to Alert Bay as a teenager, and is now one of the youngest traditional speakers of Kwak'wala language in the area

Woman Who Stands Strong
Sherrylynne Jondreau

SherryLynne Jondreau, also known as Woman who Stands Strong, is an Anishinaabe Knowledge Holder. After years of healing the wounds inflicted by colonial practices, SherryLynne became a leader of the same Indigenous ceremonies that helped her to heal. Today she carries these ceremonies forward to continue to help her people

Oukcha Hotsusk Myo Myo
Bill Bertschy

Bill Bertschy, also known as Oukcha Hotsusk Myo Myo, is from the Sliammon Band of the Coast Salish First Nations of BC. He is both a carver and master drum maker who has made almost 1500 drums to date. Bill is a Longhouse Dancer, a Sundancer, Ghost Dancer and is a leader of many ceremonies

Awoomatock
Daisy Gina Laing

Awoomatock, Daisy Gina Laing, is a Residential School Survivor whose artwork, created as a child while in the residential school system, has toured Canadian museums and some pieces remain on display at the Canadian Museum of History. As a result of her artwork, Gina has dined with both Prime Ministers Harper & Trudeau. She has six children, sixteen grandchildren, and six great grandchildren

Old Man Rock
Ronald Desjarlais

Ron is a half Cree and half Ojibwe Elder from the O'Chiese First Nation. Ron never attended school or learned to read or write the English language. As a result, much of the teachings passed down through his family have remained intact. As such, Cree and Ojibwe are Ron's first two languages. Ron grew up embedded in his culture and carries forward the ceremonies and teachings passed down through his family. Ron is also a leader of many ceremonies including Sundance, Chicken Dance, Round Dance, Inipi and Chanupa ceremonies

Yvonne Pierreroy

Yvonne is a Carrier Dakelh Knowledge Holder from the Lusilyoo Clan and is daughter to Knowledge Holder Mildred Martin. Yvonne co-teaches several experiential courses at the University of Northern British Columbia including a Moose-hide tanning course and a Moccasin making course. Yvonne also works with the Carrier Linguistic Society and, as such, has assisted in the making of many Nak'azdli Dakelh publications

Tatanka Luta
Clarence George

Clarence George, also known as Tatanka Luta or He who was Raised by the Old Ones, is Carrier First Nations living in Nak’azdli near Fort St James BC, Canada. He is also a Sundancer and leader of ceremony. Clarence started hunting at around ten years old and continues to pass on his teachings to youth searching to connect with the land

Drum Circle

With Ron Desjarlais, Bill Bertschy, Clarence George, George Aslin & Rodrick Solonas

Knowledge Holders