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<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=000050121-11042005>Northwest Backroads is a television show featuring
places in the NW region of the US.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=000050121-11042005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=000050121-11042005>Benjamin Barrett</SPAN></FONT></DIV><BR>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left>
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====================== <BR>First Nations - honoring their
past <BR> <BR>03:01 PM PDT on Thursday, April 7,
2005 <BR> <BR>Northwest Backroads <BR><A
href="http://www.king5.com/sharedcontent/northwest/nwbackroads/stories/NW_BR163eaglenook_firstnations.1a6de21ff.html"
target=_blank>http://www.king5.com/sharedcontent/northwest/nwbackroads/stories/NW_BR163eaglenook_firstnations.1a6de21ff.html</A> <BR> <BR>Long
before lodges and helicopters existed, the tribes of the First Nations were
creating amazing communities and celebrating their own culture. Now, they
preserve their history by honoring their past. <BR> <BR>“Our people
have been here since the dawn of time,” said Ryan Nicolson. “If everybody
followed our old ways, we’d live a lot better lives.” <BR> <BR>They
are the First Nations people of the coastal regions of British Columbia. They
call themselves First Nations because they are the original inhabitants of this
land before any explorers or settlers arrived. <BR> <BR>As their land
and, therefore, their way of life has been increasingly overrun by non-native
people, the 16 tribes of the Kwakwaka’wakw first nations have watched their
culture disappear. <BR> <BR>"When I was young I didn't know who I
was,” he said. “Our people are grieving since we've lost our
culture." <BR> <BR>Out of the smoke from the fires that carry the
spirits of their ancestors, the young generations of the First Nations are
igniting a revolution to rebuild their communities, their economy, and most of
all their identity. <BR> <BR>At the center of all these things is the
big house. <BR> <BR>Within the big house, the First Nations people
have their most important gathering – the potlatch. <BR> <BR>It’s
where all the stories of the community are passed along and the people come
together as one. <BR> <BR>“When you come in our big house, you are
treated the same or more so because you are a witness,” said Randy Bell. “You'll
see all these natural things brought to life in our dances and song… It’s
telling the story of who we are and you are witnessing a
ceremony." <BR> <BR>A ceremony and a way of life that has been passed
down for thousands of years by word of mouth. So keeping their language alive is
key to saving all the old stories and the old ways. <BR> <BR>“The big
task we have is the language. Amongst our people we have 250 fluent speakers and
that will be cut in half unless we do something,” he
continued. <BR> <BR>What they are doing is luring the young members of
the tribe back home from the big cities – young men like Ryan
Nicolson. <BR> <BR>"Being here it gives me more identity,” he said.
“I've been able to learn how to smoke fish, use Indian medicines and learn the
language." <BR> <BR>Randy Bell also decided to leave the city life
behind and get back to his roots. He is proof that one person can make a huge
difference. <BR> <BR>His project is a joint effort between the First
Nations and non-tribal groups to enlighten all people of the world to the story
of the Kwakwaka’wakw people. Randy wants to give all visitors a first-hand
experience of a life and a culture that, at its core, hasn't changed for
centuries. <BR> <BR>"This is our way or life,” said Randy. “We still
live the way that was passed own to us." <BR> <BR>If Ryan and Randy
are successful, then we will all travel together to see an incredible
civilization revitalized and make sure that the story of the First Nations of
British Columbia is not just a thing of the past, but also a hope for the
future. <BR> <BR>For more information, call Randy Bell at
1-250-974-5091 or visit their Web site at <A href="http://www.umista.org/"
target=_blank>http://www.umista.org/</A> <BR> <BR>The First Nations
elders hope their children will learn and respect the old ways and that visitors
too will leave with a new-found respect for their culture. </DIV><!-- end of AOLMsgPart_0_6345d1ef-2635-4e7c-b19d-96a1ca65c06c --></BODY></HTML>