John Murphy: Super-Volunteer Honoured by Award

John Murphy, MP Dick Harris and Charlyne Smilinski

John Murphy of Vanderhoof will receive the Community Achievement Award at a ceremony in Victoria on April 20th, to be presented by Premier Christy Clark. Murphy has been an active community volunteer for as long as Vanderhoof residents can remember. He was a volunteer firefighter for 15 years, a community and recreation fundraiser, and a main organizer for building a much needed 33-unit seniors’ residence. John continues to make a difference in Vanderhoof by contributing his knowledge and skills to a project to build an activity centre for seniors.

See more at the Volunteer Vanderhoof blog.

Rosewood’s Diary

More Nadleh Whut’en Dancer Photos

Nadleh Whut’en Dancers

The Nadleh Whut’en Dancers gave a presentation for students at NVSS. They will be performing at the Olympics!

   

Plants and Medicines of the Carrier Nation

Based on the traditional knowledge of Sophie Thomas, Saik'uz Elder and Healer

This book describes the medicinal use of 22 plants. Each plant is identified by its Carrier name, English common name, and scientific name and is illustrated by one or more colour photographs. Aspects of the collection and preparation are described and illustrated.

Elder Sophie Thomas

“If we look after our earth, it will look after us.
If we destroy it, we’ll destroy ourselves.”

-Sophie Thomas, Traditional Healer of the Carrier Nation

Sophie Thomas of Vanderhoof accepts her Queen Elizabeth Jubilee medal. Thomas received her medal for her work as an advocate and educator of local aboriginal culture.

Sophie is a member of the Saik’uz First Nation, located at Stoney Creek near Vanderhoof, British Columbia, Canada. Saik’uz is part of a larger Carrier Nation, comprising a number of First Nation communities in the north central part of BC. The Carrier people were given the name “Carrier” since they were known to carry the ashes of family members who had passed away.

Sophie Thomas has conducted many, many workshops in Western North American to reintroduce First Nations to traditional healing knowledge.

She is a person of knowledge; those that are currently doing their utmost to revive the traditional medicines look to her for answers. She is one of only a few individuals who retain the traditional First Nations knowledge of edible and medicinal plant use.

For more information, check the Sophie Thomas website.

The Olympic Torch is Coming to Vanderhoof!

The Olympic torch is coming to Vanderhoof: Day 93, January 30, 2010!

Stoney Creek Woman

The Story of Mary John by Bridget Moran

The captivating story of Mary John (who passed away in 2004), a pioneering Carrier Native whose life on the Stoney Creek reserve in central BC is a capsule history of First Nations life from a unique woman’s perspective. A mother of 12, Mary endured much tragedy and heartbreak—the pangs of racism, poverty, and the deaths of six children—but lived her life with extraordinary grace and courage. Years after her death, she continues to be a positive role model for Aboriginals across Canada. In 1997, she received the Order of Canada. This edition of Stoney Creek Woman, one of Arsenal’s all-time bestsellers, includes a new preface by author Bridget Moran, and new photographs.

Click here for more information.

The Mary John Collection

As a homemaker, educator, language teacher, social reformer and advocate for the Carrier people and their culture, Mary John believed that education was the key to rising above the barriers that face aboriginal people today. She worked tirelessly to promote understanding between aboriginal and non-aboriginal communities.

The book collection consists of 800 books on First Nations related topics. It is a “reader-friendly” collection with titles that capture the interest of a broad range or readers from the recreational reader to the researcher. Topics include: Native art, crafts, culture, medicinal plants, healing, spirituality, biographies, early journals, women’s and social issues, hunting, trapping, food and wild game recipes and living off the land, as well as books for children and young readers.

Honouring Mary John

Receiving the Order of Canada from Governor-General Roméo LeBlanc

(1913-2004) The late Mary John, Sr. was one of the founders of the Yinka Dene Language Institute and held the position of Permanent Honorary Chair. Born in Lheidli (Prince George), she was raised in Saik’uz. At the age of nine, she went to school in Fort Saint James, from which she moved to Lejac Residential School the next year when it was created. She left school when she was 14 and married Lazare John when she was 16. She was known as “senior” to distinguish her from her daughter-in-law, Mary John, Jr. The story of her life is told in the book Stoney Creek Woman.

Congratulations Noeleen McQuary!

Noeleen McQuary
Carrier Nadleh Whut’en
Vanderhoof, BC

Noeleen McQuary, who resides on the shore of Fraser Lake, is a master basket maker working with birch bark and spruce roots. Noeleen learned this ancient art form of the Interior Dakelh from her mother and grandmother who instilled in her the spiritual principles related to the harvesting and making of baskets. Among Noeleen’s accomplishments is the building of an 18-foot birch bark canoe, now part of the McLeod Lake Band Cultural Centre and one currently under construction funded through the Aboriginal Arts Development Awards to teach youth the traditional art form of birch bark canoe making. Noeleen is committed to educating others, including her daughter, about her craft and its historical traditions. Noeleen has created baskets for many galleries and private collectors.

Well done, Noeleen!