Tsleil-Waututh First Nation
The Tsleil-Waututh Nation, formerly known as the Burrard Indian Band or Burrard Band, is a First Nations government in the Canadian Province of British Columbia. The Tsleil-Waututh are Coast Salish people who speak the Downriver dialect[1] of the Halkomelem language, and are closely related to but politically separate from the nearby nations of the Squamish and Hwmethkwyem (Musqueam), with whose traditional territories some claims overlap.
The Tsleil-waututh Nation is a member government of the Naut'sa mawt Tribal Council, which includes other governments on the upper Sunshine Coast, southeastern Vancouver Island and the Tsawwassen band on the other side of the Vancouver metropolis from the Tsleil-waututh. Numbering about 500 people, the Tsleil-Waututh consider themselves among the most progressive First Nations in British Columbia.
Notable members
The most famous member of the Tsleil-Waututh was Chief Dan George, an actor and native rights advocate best known for his role as Old Lodge Skins in Little Big Man , The Outlaw Josey Wales and for another role as Old Antoine in the CBC television series Cariboo Cowboy (based on books by Paul St. Pierre). His descendants still figure prominently in band government and culture. The band is also known for its war canoe racing team, Takaya (wolves). The band operates a war-canoe tour/experience known as Takaya Tours.
Documentary
In 2006, a documentary followed and was filmed by four Tsleil-Waututh youth to highlight their struggles with the education system. The documentary — titled as "Reds, Whites & the Blues" and/or, "Reading, Writing & The Rez" — is a CBC Newsworld in-house production co-produced with CBUT. The documentary can be viewed on CBC's Aboriginal Programming website at http://www.cbc.ca/aboriginal/programming.htm.
See also
- Squamish Nation
- Coast Salish peoples
- Dan George
- History of Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Longshoremen, 1863-1963
