A Letter to Lar, Ardythe, and Merle

Nov 13, 2008
Lar, Ardythe, Merle,
Thank you so much for your candid advice towards shaping a Gitxsan response to the Indian Residential School experience. Wherever this leads, I anticipate that it will be of benefit to former students, survivors, children of survivors, parents of survivors, grandparents, and grandchildren. It is correct for the Gitxsan, especially the leaders and opinion-makers, to be alarmed of the fallout. The many chapters of Gitxsan history have largely been untold for Gitxsan consumption, let alone the publics of Canada. The Gitxsan IRS experience chapter will be poignant and, hopefully, finally trigger an awakening of their invaluable essence and identity as Gitxsan. Will they then covet who they are and be alarmed at the rate Gitxsan currency is debased? Will they then make room for the Gitxsan agenda in their busy scrambled lives in modern mainstream commercialized Canada? Ho’o. The challenge: How do we maximize this small window of opportunity of up to 5 years begging to be opened for a breath of fresh air. I tire of the stale air surrounding the Gitxsan. Your precise and mature insights are testament that the Gitxsan have the wherewithal to give expression to omni-present daxgyat never before fathomed. I honour and appreciate your forthrightness in the discussion and designing a much-awaited Gitxsan response to the IRS experience. After David Blacksmith is offered tobacco for doctoring, he says “I’ve got to try my best!” We are trying our best even when Gitxsan proper prefers to remain silent. Just maybe all this is for that one moment of reflection that will trigger awareness of Gitxsan elegance, worthy of nurturing into perpetuity. What is the alternative? As the late Albert Tait said when chatting about the impotency of old men, “That is the bad of all the bad!” So too it will be the bad of all the bad if we cannot regenerate coveted gwalx ye’inst. The Gitxsan, especially Gitxsan proper, are compelled to do more. Or else, in 2038, the treasure box will be obliterated. The Creator pushed the mute button on the Gitxsan. Silence. The Gitxsan, now a relic and artefact for museums.
Respectfully,
Kali Skalan

Image: My version of Gitxsan Evolution beginning 30 milenia past.