Tŝilhqot’in Nation v. BC to Gaayhllxid/Gíihlagalgang “Rising Tide” Haida Title Lands Agreement - Reflections on Aboriginal Title

Guujaaw is a Raven of the Haida Nation.  His clan is the Gakyaals Kiigawaay of Skedans, Haida Gwaii. He has been at the inner circles of Haida culture and politics all of his adult life. A trapper with his uncle in his formative years, and like most of his people, he is a hunter, fisher and food gather for living. He has been a carpenter, canoe builder, copper maker, singer and carver.

Guujaaw has a long history as a Rights, Title and Earth Advocate. He was a founding member and served as the president of Coastal First Nations and spent many years with the Council of the Haida Nation, including 13 years as President of the Haida Nation. Today he is serving as a Hereditary leader, always true to culture and keeping priority for the wellbeing of his people and the earth.

Chief Roger William has been Chief for 22 years and Councillor for six years of the Xeni Gwet’in First Nation Government. He was the lead plaintiff in the landmark 25-year court action that gained recognition of Tŝilhqot’in Title, the Tŝilhqot’in Decision. He has also served in the Cariboo Regional District Government for seven years and has served as the Tŝilhqot’in National Government Vice-Chair. In 2015 Roger William was awarded an Honourary Doctorate by the University of Northern British Columbia, for his career work and contribution to Indigenous rights & title. Chief William is a fluent Tŝilhqot’in speaker and lives in Nemiah Valley. He has been an active driver of the Dasiqox Tribal Park initiative since it was announced in 2014, and worked as a Team Coordinator from 2018 to 2023. Chief William has also been on the Cariboo Chilcotin Aboriginal Training Employment Board since 1989. See his account of the Title case in Lorraine Weir with Chief Roger William, Lha Yudit'ih We Always Find a Way - Bringing the Tŝilhqot’in Title Case Home (Talonbooks, 2023)