Acwsalcta – Place of Learning |
 Today the Nuxalk Educational Authority sees that the Nuxalk language is taught at Acwsalcta School and that Nuxalk place names are relearned. New generations of Nuxalk children are taught to appreciate traditional foods, such as a freshly caught giant crab (right). The Rediscovery Camp educates younger Nuxalkmc by visiting ancient ancestral sites. "Despite the government tactics to erase a Nuxalk identity, we remain dedicated to protecting our ways of life, our language, and our ties to our families and Ancestral Territory, as did our grandparents before us" Nuxalk Band Council. |
Acwsalcta translates as Place of Learning. The new Acwsalcta School opened in 1987. In 2002 a totem pole was raised by the Nuxalkmc for the first time in 35 years. In 2007 another totem pole raised followed by a Potlatch. Right: the 40 ft totem pole was carved from a 600 year old cedar tree by Alvin Mack and his son Lyle. The Acwsalcta School ended the oppressive colonial system of education: "With the settlement of what is now known as BC, residential schools and public schools were established to re educate aboriginal children in colonial language, history and culture. The manadatory attendance of Nuxalk children at these schools undermined traditional systems of education and worked to strip Nuxalk children of our own identity."  |
| Nuxalk Women at Talyu on 19 August 2010 |
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| Nationhood and the Nuxalk Nation – 1997 |
| The following information explains what makes a nation, how a nation is sovereign, and how our Ancestors and Elders have always protected our land and our resources for the future of our children. What makes a Nation? A nation of people have their own: Religion, Language, Land Base and Laws. The Nuxalk People have been given all these gifts from our Creator. The Creator provided to our people everything that we have today, and it is our responsibility to take care of the land and the resources our land provides for us for the future of our children and those children yet unborn. Our songs and dances are a gift from Manakays. He gave all the people in the world these gifts, the Mexican, the Spanish, the Norwegian, to name others. How we look after them is important. Other people have lost their dances and songs. Our songs and dances come from the land, they tell who we are. When we dance, we dance for Him.
Qunqwtstsut, the Cleansing/Washing Ceremony. In the December Solstice Manakays and the Angels have a meeting in Heaven, they decide who will die, they decide how many children will be born, they decide how many fish will go up the river basically they decide how we will prosper. Each of us is born with a Cmnwas (Guardian Spirit). Sometimes when we are in a serious life threatening accident the only reason we survive is because of the strong Cmnwas.It prevents us from dying but it can also leave us. There are ways we can take care of this Cmnwas, smoking out, then holding a feast to acknowledge to God that we remember our ways. At this feast we acknowledge the people who assisted us in whatever way they may have helped by distributing gifts (redistribution of wealth). When we hold this feast what we are doing is making the Creator smile therefore the decision made by God and the Angels can be reversed. The Nuxalk Language is part of the Coast Salish dialect. We all know the history of how we almost lost our Language through the Residential School system. Today our Language is being taught at Acwsalcta School and in the public school. All three major universities recognize the Nuxalk Language as a requirement for second language entry.
Each Chief had a right hand man who helped keep the law. The right hand man would do the undesirable work of the Chief. The laws were very strict. There were laws to protect the river. River guardians were put in place to protect the river. There are many laws that we as Nuxalkmc had, and we must go to our Elders to learn what our traditional laws are. It means . . . . Nuxalk Nation is a nation. It means that we are a nation of people just like Africa is a nation. Japan is a nation. All these countries have their own land base, their own religion, their own language, and their own laws. It also means that we have our own sovereignty. What is sovereignty? Our "SOVEREIGNTY" is our traditional ways! It is our fishing, hunting, ceremonies, laws, stories, songs, potlatches,and dances. Our "SOVEREIGNTY" is a sacred gift handed down to us by Tatau, our Creator. It is something that was never given to us by any government or business. Our "SOVEREIGNTY" is when we hunt, where we hunt, when we fish and wherewe fish! Our "SOVEREIGNTY" is our plant foods and medicines! Our "SOVEREIGNTY" is our traditional way of life. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN |
Our Elders and our Chiefs continue to protect our land and our resources today. The Nuxalk Nation has never signed any agreements or treaties with the Government of Canada or the Government of BC. This is what our elders mean when they tell us to be careful because the government is working hard to take away all our rights, and they want us to sign agreements with them. Why? We are still protected by international law, the Royal Proclamation of 1763 (the Indian Act and the Constitution of 1982). Way! |
