Words of our Fathers

Words of our Fathers
by
Terrance H. Booth, Sr. Tsimshian Tribe Alaska
This writer once gave a key note address at one of the Annual meetings of the Tsimshian Nation of British Columbia. Writer's' father, the late Ira C. Booth, Tsimshian Historian heard about the speech and gave this single statement as the opening line of the speech: “To really look at tribal Economic Development, is to look at ourselves as a Tribe.” He then when into a story that the Tsimshian Nation was right in the middle of commerce on the expansion of British Columbia. That one of the Tsimshian Hereditary Chiefs had nine monopolies and dictated what was to happen in their area. This Chief negotiated the work salary of the Tsimshian workers for the salmon canneries of British Columbia area along the Skenna and Nass Rivers.
He then told of the trade route of the Tsimshian people which extended all the way up to the ice edge of the Arctic Circle to South America. Mr. Booth did a partial study of the Tsimshian Trade route and in Southeast Alaska two Tlingit villages have Tsimshian songs and when they perform these songs they tell the audience how the songs were received. In Angoon, Alaska there are three songs and Mr. Booth visiting there inquiring about Tsimshian Trade Route and one of the Tlingit Elders came out with a Tsimshian Designed Box and opened it and said to the audience; said, “Yes, the Tsimshian did come and trade and barter with us.” And showed the audience Tsimshian Regalia. In Yakutat, Alaska there are three Tsimshian Songs still sang today by the Mt. St. Elias Dancer and they tell the audience where the songs come from and how they were received. The dance leader of Mt. St. Elias Dancers said in the not to long ago Tsimshian came to barter and trade with us and when they came they would have a contest with one another. One year the Yakutat Tlingit were mimicking different animals of their area and that year the Tsimshian lost the contest. Since they lost one Tsimshian stayed behind and taught the three songs to the Yakutat Tlingit people. The Makah Nation of Washington State know the Tsimshian and their village was one of the places the Tsimshian stopped to rest and trade and barter with the Makah Nation. There is a need of remembrance of our past and incorporate it in today's Tsimshian Nation. For Tsimshian Nation was in the very center of Commerce of their domain and were the workers for the canneries, where moving goods from one place to the other for those that were coming north or on their way to the Alaska gold rush. Their stories are remembered and known by those who remember that Chief who had nine monopolies and today the seventh generation of that Chief carrying same name Chief Legaic his stories need to be re-told.
Today the Tsimshian Nation has available resources to market to the world. It has its lumber and timber, seafood industries and excellent areas for tribal tourism. As suggested by the late Ira C. Booth, “To really look at tribal Economic Development, is to look at ourselves as a Tribe.” To see what can happen for us much can happen if we work together and listen to the words of our fathers.