| Pulling Together: Totem Pole Raising at Talyu in 2009 |
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"Since time immemorial, we, the Nuxalk, maintain our rights and title to our entire traditional territory and continue to strive to maintain our traditional systems of governance." "We acknowledge our own system of upholding and looking to our Hereditary Chiefs for guidance and leadership. Every family group, which descended to various regions within Nuxalk Ancestral Territory, has a traditional Hereditary Chief." "Hereditary Chiefs are bestowed the responsibility of overseeing the continued utilization of Nuxalk Traditional Laws that have been passed down through hundreds of generations" Nuxalk Band Council |
| On Choosing Nuximlaye |
As told by Doreen Clellamin in 1996 As a young girl, I remember when our leading Elders – Chief Sam Pootlass, Albert King, and my grandparents (Katie and Jim Pollard) – were sitting around a circle in the living room of my parents, in the home of Nathan and Jenny Clellamin. I can remember the pain they had on the great loss of our Hereditary Chief at that time – Chief Alec Pootlass. They knew that it would be a very difficult and thankless job at that time. The work meant that the family of that person would have a very difficult time. Then Uncle Sam spoke up and brought up the name of his grandson, Lawrence Pootlass. He felt that he could do the work and would have the support from the family and also felt strongly that Lawrence's wife, Amelia, would be a great help to him. I have always stood by my cousin Lawrence Pootlass. I was given much encouragement from my two aunts – Mabel Hall and Elsie Jacobs – to continue supporting him. I will continue to honor my great uncles Sam and Albert and my grandparents by supporting Nuximlayc (Lawrence Pootlass) as our Hereditary Chief. Right: Chief Nuximlayc at the Nuxalk – Squamish Potlatch 2010 |
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| Some of Our Hereditary Chiefs – 2010 |
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Chief's name: English name: Territory: Ancestral village: Rank: Crest: Descendant of: |
NUXIMLAYC Lawrence Pootlass Nuxalk Q’umk’uts’, Sts’kiilh Head Chief Eagle Chief Alec Pootlass, Chief Sam Pootlass, Big Chief Adam King |
NANUS Mike Talio Nusxiq'mc (Green Bay) Nusxiq' Chief Raven Chief Charlie Nappie, High Chief Stanly Nappie (Old Man Nebbie) *Holds his mothers fathers chieftainship |
SNUXYALTWA, YULM Deric Snow Taliyuumc (S. Bentinck) Nuikw’ Chief Loon, Whale, Thunder Chief Snuxyaltwa, Louie Snow, Carver of the Chiefs |
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| Chief's name: English name: Territory: Ancestral village: Rank: Crest: Descendant of: |
SATS'ALANLH Peter Schooner Nuxalk Tsmuulh Chief Blackfish Chief Captain Steam Schooner *Sximana Rhonda Schooner stands in for her father |
LICIMUTUSAYC Taylor King Kwalhnamc (Kwatna) Kwatna Chief Chief Silas King *Stand in for Brother Bradley King |
SLICXWLIQW' Charles Nelson Kwalhnamc (Kwatna) Kwatna High Chief Grizzly Bear High Rank Elder Dan Nelson *Chief Lhalyam has held five potlatches |
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| Chief's name: English name: Territory: Ancestral village: Rank: Crest: Descendant of: |
NUSYUTAMAYC Billy Andy Sr. Nuxalk Slmt Chief Sun Chief Robert Andy Sr. *Billy Andy Sr. handed his chieftainchip to his son Billy Jr. and he now sits as an Elder Chief |
QWATSINAS Edward Moody Upper Nuxalk Nutl’lhiixw Chief Raven Descendant of: High Rank Woman Felicity Walkus *Holds the Walkus family chieftainship with cousin Horace Walkus and half brother Anfinn Siwallace |
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| Chief's name: English name: Territory: Ancestral village: Rank: Crest: Descendant of: |
XIMXIMLAYC Robert "Skip" Saunders Sutslhmc (Kimsquit) Nutl’l (Dean River) Chief Eagle Chief Joe Saunders |
TL'ALAMN David "Kwatsi" Clellamin Upper Nuxalk Stuic Chief Wolf Head Chief Anuxim Alexander Clellamin |
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Chief's name: English name: Territory: Ancestral village: Rank: Crest: Descendant of: |
LHULHULHNIMUT Lawrence "Obie" Mack Nuxalk Nusq’lst Chief Grizzly Bear Chief Willie Mack |
SIXILAAXAYC Noel Pootlass Nuxalk Q’umk’uts’ and Sts’kiilh Chief Eagle Head Chief Laurence Pootlass and Chief Sam Pootlass |
LHUU7YA Art Hans Jr. Taliyuumc (South Bentinck) Talyu Chief Grizzly Bear Chief Art Hans Sr., Chief Willie Hans, Chief Tallio Hans |