*** Parade beat:
H’aaa. Waa ya haaaay. Waa ya hay. Waa ya hay …
Skalan singing an honor song for Kel ***
On Aug 10, 1942 at North Pacific Cannery, Prince Rupert, BC, Kelly Edward was birthed by Irene (nee Clifford) of Wilps Dawa Muux (Gistkaast) and Eddy of Wilps Haax (Lax Seel). Alice Harris, wife of Frank Harris and sister of Wilfred Eddie Patsey, was the midwife. At the time, his siblings were first born Mae and Brenda, second born. His younger siblings were Melvin, Garry, Ronald, Larry, Lyn, and Sandy.
His maternal grandparents were Mabel Clifford (nee Brown; aka Snow) and Charles Clifford (Simogyat Gyat’m Guldo). His maternal great-grandmother is Lucy Snow of Kispiox. Paternal grandparents were Emma and Johnny Patsey (Simogyat Nagwaon of Wilps Spookx, Lax Gibuu). Kel’s maternal uncle was Charles; his maternal aunts were Alice and Kate.
I asked mom where she got the name Kelly from. She told me. They were in Prince Rupert when she was pregnant with Kelly. They heard an orchestra from Port Simpson; they had a drummer named Kelly. Mom really liked the name. When she gave birth to a son, she named him "Kelly."
Austin Matthews, husband of Kate Matthews (Wilfred Eddy Patsey’s sister) called Kelly “Amos”, probably after his maternal grandmother Mabel’s brother. “Amos” pronounced A mus, stuck; it is more a pet name than a nickname.
A mus was baptised September18, 1942 by Frank Burling, St. Peter's Anglican Church of England, Hazelton, BC.
On January 11, 1983, he was bestowed the name Txaa Gaaksxw, Wilps Dawa Muux, Gistkaast.
Around October 1952, he and 4 siblings were summarily apprehended by the Indian Agent of the day and sent to the Edmonton Indian Residential School. Although like all kids in residential school acquiesced, he rebelled and co-founded a sub-culture within the system to subtley resist the establishment. Many of the Skeena boys joined. Under his co-leadership we enjoyed a freedom away from the res’ regime. The Skeena boys were renown for their camp in what was called the ‘big bush’ across the tracks. The res sub-culture included fashioning ‘sling shots’ and sharp shooting, hunting rabbits, raiding local granaries for wheat, raiding the potato bin, establishing a network of girl friends to secure food from the kitchen and pantry, monopolizing and renting ‘skelton keys’ for the pantry. Kel was also an accomplished runner, winning at high school provincial track meets in the half mile and mile. He brought to the res the ‘straddle’, the latest method of high jumping. We all tried to be just like Kel, George, and Ham, his buddies.
One time, boys from another tribe challenge the Skeena Boys in a rabbit hunt: no contest. They were out gunned and out manoeuvred in the big bush and the ravine area with Kel’s and Mel’s leadership. There was no trophy but they deserved one. What an incredible display of coordination and sharp shooting. Although the ‘little boys’ like Ron and myself had sling shots, we were mainly the rock donkeys. During the rabbit hunt, we obediently picked nice round stones from the railway tracks, pockets full, for their sling shots. We stood by waiting to be the first to give them more stones.
Watching him play hockey inspired me to be better. He skated like he something to prove; I don’t know what; like he had a burning desire to be the best. I wanted to be like him. When I was old enough to play on the same team as him, I played like there was no tomorrow too. I was like Kel in my own way.
Kel excelled in basketball as well. He was a guard for the Jasper Place Rebels and the Junior Rebels. When I first watched him in a game, I really wanted to play like him: with passion and hard. I did. And that character was imprinted and transferable in other life arenas for me. I wanted to be like him. I felt secure and safe when I was around ‘big brother’.
When he graduated grade 12, he left the res. But, the next spring, him and Mugs of QCI visited the res. I don’t know whose car they had but we were so impressed that they journeyed all the way from BC to Edmonton to visit us. That Christmas, he was waiting for us at the New Hazelton train station when we arrived home for the holidays. I never knew what he was doing after the res. But, later I found out he went to vocational school. He became a heavy-duty mechanic. I was so impressed with him, Ham, and Mugs. I wanted to be like Kel. He was a partner in the Mountain Trucking in Prince George. But, he sold his share. Then, he was sought after by many truckers to service the transmission of their trucks.
He was a local history buff. He poured himself over accounts of history on the Hazelton area. He also had a great sense of humour but he could never tell a joke. He’d start laughing before he even reached the punch line. We got such a big kick out that that we’d start laughing as his laughing than his joke.
Kel was a runner. He put in hundreds of junk miles in preparation for 2 Vancouver Marathons. He ran his heart out both times.
He met Evelyn Prince of McLeod Lake. They married in 1970 in Prince George. They bought a house in College Heights. Harlan and Tannis are his babies. Tannis made him a ye’e when she birthed Steven and Tori. He and Eve adored their grandchildren. He and Ev and the kids holidayed abroad, visiting Hawaii, San Franciso, Las Vegas, Reno, and the like.
Kel was diagnosed with throat cancer in May 30, 2007. He passed away quietly on December 18, 2008 at a hospice.
He was my wak. He was my brother-dad. He was A mus.
I know you’re smiling from the other side. *** Gitxsan smile back *** A mus, I miss you!
*** H’aaa. Waa ya haaaay. Waa ya hay. Waa ya hay … ***
1 comment:
Wow Dad. Loved it. A wonderful post. I miss Kel too
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