Social and Political Information

The Xeni Gwet'in 1st Nations Gov't community members started in the healing process since 1991 through Traditional Parenting Workshops.? The Xeni Gwet'in asked Tl'esqox (Toosey) Tsilhqot'in Joan Gentles - Education Director of the Three Nations Education Council of School District #27 to start the Traditional Workshop in the community.? Joan's knowledge and skills was passed down to the Social Workers and staff, so that they could hold the Traditional Parental Workshop themselves for the community.? The community of Xeni Gwet'in is very thankful to Joan for going out of her way to help the people of Xeni as she is a very busy person.? These are some of the Tsilhqot'in ways that are taught in the workshop.

At the beginning it was hard for the Xeni Gwet'in community.? The Lehal game (stick game), because of the Residential School the Tsilhqot'ins believe we are allowed to play the game only at funerals.? To play the Lehal game for fun, the elders said it would cause another death.? The Tsilhqot'in ways through the younger generations, it has been lost, so we had to do something to keep our ways alive.? The Lehal game was a way to gain the Tsilhqot'ins ways back.? This was the first step for our community to adapt to changes that is fast coming our way.? In order for our younger generations to gain knowledge and skills of the Tsilhqot'in, we had to get elders involved in the whole process.

The Tsilhqot'in ways started coming back fast in the community of Xeni.? All the youth had to know about what was ahead.? The understanding of the baby basket, the drum, Tsilhqot'in songs and dances.? When the young ladies get their moon (menstruation) they have to know what they must not do and what they can do.

For example:? They cannot skin deer or moose, as they will cause bad luck to the hunter and ruin their gun.? The meat will be bloodshot and the hunter will not be able to kill a deer or moose again.? If this happens, the hunter has to get up before the sunrise and an elder has to clean him with the smoke of a juniper branch.? Also the young ladies that have their moon they cannot fish or pick berries, otherwise they will ruin the fishing areas and following year the berries will not grow back.

The baby basket is just like a mother's womb, the newborn will feel safe and secure and loved in the basket.? The baby basket has to be used to discipline the baby at an early age.? When a young lady is pregnant she has to watch what she eats, so that the baby will not get too big.? Pregnant lady also has to watch what they see, otherwise the baby will turn out like a grizzly, beaver, etc... depends on what they see.? There are ways to fix that, by burning the hide/hair of the animal and using the smoke on the baby before the sun rises.

Youth and young parents are taught to dry fish, salmon, meat, and various berries.?? Also they are taught to make baby baskets, bowls from bark, and how to make Indian Medicines.

For three years Chief Roger and former Social Worker Barb Derrick (Xeni Gwet'in) have facilitated the Traditional Parental Workshops.? With the help of elders the workshops has been very successful.? Our community's Tsilhqot'in ways is being passed down to the younger generation and in turn they will pass it to the next generation.? Today and pass few years ?Eniyud Health Services CHR Illa Setah has been running the Traditional Parental Workshops.? ?Eniyud Health Services NNADAP Catherine Haller has been running the sweat lodge since Barb Derrick has left.

The Tsilhqot'in Medicine people are coming back very strong.? Through the age of eleven and up are gaining their traditional medicine and vision of our ancestors.? Through time we will have very strong medicine people to heal our people that are in need of help.

The Xeni Gwet'in hold an annual Pow-Wow every June since 1994 where mixed nations meet and dance and sing together to bring our ways back before it is lost through our younger generations or through alcohol & drugs.? As Xeni is located and far from the nearest town we do not have much problem with Drug & Alcohol as our other Tsilhqot'in communities.? Brittany Triangle Gathering in 1992 Xeni Gwet'in held a roadblock to protect our traditional territories from being logged out.? Xeni Gwet'in fish, hunt, trap in the large area.? Xeni Gwet'in hold an annual Tsilhqot'in Gathering at Henry's Crossing.? At this gathering there is various traditional activities held and also competition in fishing, foot races and etc...

Political Information

The Xeni Gwet'in 1st Nations Gov't made a Declaration on August 23, 1989 to protect our land and resources.? The Declaration states that there will be no commercial logging and mining in Xeni Gwet'in traditional territory without the involvement of the community.? The Xeni Gwet'in can still hunt, fish, and trap in the area.? The tourist can only hike and view the country of Ts'il?os.

On October 11,1991 - Injunction against Carrier Lumber Limited.? They cannot log in the Xeni Gwet'in Trapline unless they give Xeni Gwet'in 1st Nations Gov't three months notice of their plans.? This wil give Xeni Gwet'in time to make plans as to what action will be taken.

On May 7th, 1992 the Xeni Gwet'in 1st Nations Gov't held a roadblock at Henry's Crossing with the assistance of Tsilhqot'in Nation & communities and Carrier community Ulkatcho against the Carrier Lumber Ltd.? This was to stop the logging between Chilko and Taseko Rivers in the Brittany Triangle.

The Xeni Gwet'in 1st Nations Gov't? started working on a strategic plan in the Brittany Triangle called Brittany Lakes Forest Management Plan.? Research was done on all the trapping, fishing, hunting areas and where the Tsilhqot'in and Xeni Gwet'ins lived in our ancestors years.? This was to protect the Xeni Gwet'in traditional territory and cultural sites.? This was a start for Xeni Gwet'in to get into business and economic opportunities.

After the 1st plan was made it was brought back to the community of Xeni.? In the plan the Xeni Gwet'in 1st Nations Gov't had the rights of first refusal.? Through the General Assemblies that were held in Xeni, the community members gave direction as to which way the Xeni Gwet'in 1st Nations Gov't was heading as a whole.

Voting was done on whether they choose to log or not.? The Xeni Gwet'in chose to log.? Because of "Rights Of First Refusal" meaning we have first chance to log.? Reasons why we needed rights of? the first refusal because other logging companies were also planning to log in the area, which could cause a big problem to Xeni Gwet'in 1st Nations Government.? Clear cutting is what they do not want to see happen and the community members did not understand the Brittany Plan.? It was for selective logging, cut only dead trees.

Ministry of Forest District realized they cannot give Xeni Gwet'in rights of first refusal, so Xeni Gwet'ins voted on it again and result was a "no" vote.? If only Xeni Gwet'in 1st Nations Government logged, and we didn't like what we see we could stop logging.? But if other logging companies log in their and we didn't agree with logging then there would be confrontation.? During this time Chilcotin Forest Disctrict opened up a license in the three western cut blocks, which included Brittany Triangle.? Xeni Gwet'in 1st Nations Gov't meet all the Mills & Licensees, the best deal was Lignum Ltd.? Lignum Ltd. agreed that no logging will happen without Xeni Gwet'in members approval.? Deal was 50/50 Joint Venture with $9.00 per cubic meters in Royalties.? Joint Venture was called Natasewed Enterprise Ltd. that started in 1993.

Chilcotin Forest District hired Xeni Gwet'in 1st Nations Government to do Strategic Operating Plan in the Brittany Lakes Forest Management Plan area, Natasewed Enterprise Ltd. did the plan with elders involved.?? Timber cut went down to 1.1 million cubic meters from 1.8 million cubic meters, we wanted more time with Xeni Gwet'ins especially elders, but Chilcotin Forest District wanted Xeni Gwet'in to do the 3rd referendum on the Brittany Vote was "no" again.

now the Brittany Lake Forest Management & Strategic Operating Plan was turned down, so Xeni Gwet'in 1st Nations Gov't along with Lignum Ltd. worked with TNG Tsilhqot'in Forest Products (TFP) to put a plan in place.? Plan was to have Natasewed, TFP, and Lignum log in the Brittany, as the three companies timber added up to 1.1 million cubic meters.? Again CFD wanted to push this, so Xeni had it's 4th referendum, and it was "no" vote, but it was close.? Some Xeni Gwet'ins informed Xeni Gwet'in 1st Nations Government Council that they didn't really know what the vote was on, so had few more general assemblies and decision was to go for 5th and last referendum.? The vote was "no" again, but this time it was a decisive "no".

With that Xeni Gwet'in 1st Nations Government pulled out of Natasewed Enterprise Ltd. Joint Venture with Lignum Ltd. in 1999.