Bobbi Jo Greenland-Morgan, president of the GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Tribal Council, said GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n are known as caribou people.
SA国际影视传媒淐aribou migrate. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 a big main herd, some scatter, some slow down,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檇 like us to be that main herd, because you know what happens to those that scatter or slow downSA国际影视传媒� you end up in a deep freeze.SA国际影视传媒�
She was speaking at the Inuvik celebration for the 25th anniversary of the GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement on April 22 at the Midnight Sun Complex. Similar events took place in all the GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n communities last week.
The event brought dignitaries, people involved in the original land claim agreement and modern leaders together.
SA国际影视传媒淚 want us to really stay united,SA国际影视传媒� said Greenland-Morgan. SA国际影视传媒淪ometimes... we scatter, (but) I want us to not leave (anyone) behind or not turn the other way. I want the main herd being the main leaders to help us get back together.SA国际影视传媒�
Jordan Peterson, vice-president of the GTC, said sometimes people don't acknowledge the issues they face, but the GTC leadership want to deal with those issues head on.
He wants to ensure all GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n people have a voice.
Peterson delved into the question of identity with a reference to a cultural training course he attended with Sarah and Freddie Jerome three years ago.
SA国际影视传媒�(Sarah Jerome) threw a question at me that I probably ask myself at least once a week,SA国际影视传媒� said Peterson. SA国际影视传媒淎nd it was, what does it mean to be proud to be GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n?SA国际影视传媒�
At 19, Peterson left Inuvik to work in the oil and gas industry in Alberta, where he found there were a lot of stereotypes about aboriginal people.
SA国际影视传媒淚 wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 very honoured or felt privileged to be a GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n man or GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n person because of those stereotypes,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
SA国际影视传媒淲hen she asked me that question it flipped the conversation on me and allowed me to start asking myself what that really means, and not only to ask myself, but to try to surround myself with as many elders and knowledge holders about what that question means to them.SA国际影视传媒�
He explained that the teachings he received growing up might have been different from other GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n, for example, in terms of how best to skin a caribou and in other practical matters, but the question of self-identity is universal.
SA国际影视传媒淭hat question has changed my life,SA国际影视传媒� said Peterson, emphasizing the importance of people understanding their identity.
Alfred Moses, Inuvik-Boot Lake MLA, said it took a lot of leadership and sacrifice to achieve the 1992 land claim agreement.
SA国际影视传媒淭he sacrifice our leaders have made to get us to this day and beyond into the future could not have been done without the support of everybody here,SA国际影视传媒� and all GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n, he said.
Willard Hagen, former president of GTC and instrumental in the land claim agreement, thanked the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation for its assistance to the GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n people.
SA国际影视传媒淲e probably would have never been as successful and had a claim that quickly if we didnSA国际影视传媒檛 have the full support of our Inuvialuit neighbours,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭he Beaufort Delta was really one people with us pushing it forward.SA国际影视传媒�
