Seymour, Desautel and Burris honored for their efforts in the Sinixt's long journey toward recognition in British Columbia
Nelson, B.C. – In front of a crowd of nearly 400 people, many of which being of Sinixt heritage, tribal members Virgil Seymour, Rick Desautel and Melanie Burris were honored for their work toward the tribe’s recognition in Canada.
In 2017, with the backing of the Colville Confederated Tribes, which the Lake Indians (Sinixt) help compose, the tribe received recognition after more than 60 years of being declared extinct. The case is currently being appealed by the Canadian government, but all three played a significant role in the effort.
Because Seymour and Burris passed away in 2016 and 2018, respectively, and Desautel was too ill to make the event, the families of all three accepted Pendleton blankets and gift bags on their behalf here at the Capitol Theatre.
Shelly Boyd, the Colville Tribes’ Arrow Lakes Aboriginal Facilitator, organized the event. Chairman Michael Marchand was among three speakers invited, including Natural Resources director Cody Desautel and tribal attorney Mark Underhill.
There were many people involved,” in the Sinixt regaining its recognition, Marchand said, “but Rick (Desautel), he’s like the spearpoint, he’s the one who did it.”
Desautel was charged in Canada for hunting without a license and hunting big game while not being a resident of British Columbia in 2010. The citation, which the tribe intentionally sought, gave them an opportunity to sue the provincial government for recognition of being living people, giving them the right to hunt in their ancestral land.
The ongoing fight includes this month’s asking of the Canadian federal government to consult the Colville Tribes prior to the transfer of land to the Westbank First Nation to establish a 4.6-acre reserve in Faquier, British Columbia — an area in the Sinixt's aboriginal territory.
Joel Boyd, an Inchelium Colville Business Councilman, awarded Melanie's present family, Debbie and D.R. Michel and their grandchildren.
"Melanie Burris, she was a tall woman, but her spirit was always a giant," Boyd read from a plaque. "She was regarded as one of the Sinixt's contemporary spiritual leaders. Mrs. Burris provided spiritual guidance for Sinixt members who came to defend the Vallican," during the 1989 Sinixt blockade.
"I've been a part of this family for 35 years this year," D.R. Michel said, before his wife was wrapped with a blanket. "She always treated me like I was one of hers. Gave me heck when I needed it like I was one of hers. It's a real honor to be here."
Susie Allen awarded the family of Virgil Seymour, who passed away in 2016.
"I'm very honored to do this for the family, for the Sinixt people tonight," Allen said. "I was very excited when he took the job as the Arrow Lakes facilitator."
She read a plaque on the award: "We may have got pushed out of Canada, we may have got pushed out of Kelly Hill, we may have got pushed out of lower Inchelium, but we're still by the river. We will stay by the river. Inchelium is right next to the river, learning, connecting, understanding, education, outreach are going to be the keys to connecting us back to the places."
Stevey Seymour, Virgil's daughter, spoke on behalf of the family.
"I was really blessed to work with my dad and we would come up here together," she said. "It was a big part of time we spent together. When my dad was on his last few weeks, he called me to let me know about his cancer.
"And the very next thing after he said I have cancer and I have to go to the hospital today, he said you have to go up to Revelstoke for me and you have to keep doing this job. You have to keep doing this for me, I have plans for the future. That's how important this job was, it was his life. Taking care of his people was what he was meant to do and he felt it in his bones every day. Even on his death bed, his worry was with us."
Rick Desautel was too ill to make the event, so his wife Linda accepted the award on his behalf. The blanket was presented by Nespelem District councilman Rodney Cawston. Desautel received a round of applause when it was stated she packed the elk out back in 2010.
Cawston talked about his aunt Jeanette Timentwa, who told him when he steps foot in the land, it will know your footsteps. He said many elders prayed for the day when the Sinixt would come home.
"I want to thank Rick in this way, because he was, in part, an answer to their prayers," he said. "Today I can't wait for our people to come back home, and Rick made this possible along with his wife Linda. And our people will come back home. I look forward to a time where we can celebrate those ceremonies again. These resources are important to us. Rick's name is going to go down in our history for a long, long time, but I think we need to remember Linda ... she did pack that elk out (applause)."
Cawston then read a statement regarding the Desautel decision, which is being appealed.
"Although the crown continues to appeal the decision, we are reminded the truth is the most powerful, and we will continue to follow that path, regardless of how far the journey may take."
Linda apologized for her husband not attending. "We got as far as Colville and we had to turn around and bring him home," she said. "He was getting pretty sick."
"We started this in 1989 during the blockade when our children were babies," she added. "We held our children's hands and stood in front of dozers. There's no way in hell you're gonna make us leave. We have been gone for a while but we are back. And the out-poor we received from the community was incredible."
She compared the experiences to #NoDAPL, the 2016-17 peaceful protest in North Dakota which opposed the Dakota Access Pipeline.. During the Colville Tribe's hosting of the Northwest Indian Youth Conference last year in Winthrop, the Desautels presented their journey in activism to tribal youth from multiple tribes.
"I told them, 'What we did for our people, we set a precedent. The next time anyone tells you you can't do anything, tell them I know two people that did something really big. Stand up and do it. Don't sit on your keister or feel sorry for yourself. Stand up and go. We're home now because of that. This is our place.'"
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