On September 18, Chief Roger William of the Xeni Gwet’in First Nation, vice-chair of the Tsilhqot’in National Government, gave two talks at the UBC First Nations Longhouse.
For more than twenty years, Chief William and his community took legal action to protect Tsilhqot’in traditional lands from development initiatives, including the New Prosperity Mine project, that they considered unresponsive to community concerns.
This summer, the Supreme Court of Canada delivered a landmark decision favourable to the Tsilhqot’in and which is widely regarded as having significantly altered the landscape for land use and Aboriginal title in British Columbia.
Chief William has served in a leadership role for his community for more than 25 years. He was the Plaintiff in the landmark Tsilhqot’in Title case, which resulted in the Supreme Court of Canada’s first declaration of Aboriginal title.
Growing up speaking the Tsilhqot’in language and learning the songs and stories of his nation, Chief William is also a skilled drummer as well as a horseman whose rodeo and mountain-race wins are legendary in Tsilhqot’in territory.
In his talks, Chief William spoke about his community’s long legal battle. He also shared Tsilhqot’in legends, songs, and history.
Video Recordings
First Session (42 minutes)
Second Session (87 minutes)
Related
Xeni Gwet’in First Nation
Tsihqot’in National Government
Tsilhqot’in Nation v. British Columbia
‘Taseko New Prosperity Mine at Fish Lake rejected again’
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