By Nicole North

On October 19th, Laurel Weldon, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) at SFU and Panayiotis Pappas, Chair of the Department of Linguistics, travelled to Old Masset in Haida Gwaii to attend a dinner event in honour of Jasḵwaan Bedard. Bedard was hired this past summer in a tenure track position with the department's Indigenous Languages Program (INLP). In collaboration with leadership from local communities, the INLP offers language courses and post-secondary education.

A member of the G̠aw Tlagée Old Massett community and a longtime instructor of the X̱aad Kíl language, Bedard is currently completing her PhD thesis “X̱aad Kíhlga Tl’a Guusuugiigang: A Haida Research Framework Applied to X̱aad Kil Immersion” (the first part means “The Haida language will be spoken for all time”). Bedard will continue living and working in the community, building Haida language revitalization efforts. Jasḵwaan’s hiring is significant for INLP’s mission of expansion to grow the teaching team and to have faculty situated on-site within Indigenous communities.

Following Haida protocol, the Raven Clan, to which INLP professor Gulḵiihlgad Marianne Ignace belongs through adoption into the Yahgu ‘Láanaas Raven Clan, hosted the dinner in honour of Bedard, who is from the Haida Tsiits Git'anee Eagle Clan.

Bedard enjoyed the celebratory occasion immensely: “The dinner was held jointly by X̱aad Kíl Née (the Haida Language Office) and SFU representatives INLP Director Dr. Gulḵihlgad Marianne Ignace, FASS Dean Dr. Laurel Weldon, and Linguistics Chair Dr. Panayiotis (Panos) Pappas. The event took place at the Tluu X̱aadaa Naay, Canoe People’s House in G̱aw Tlagée, Old Massett.” 

“There were about forty people in attendance, including members of the X̱aad Kíl Née office staff and Advisory Council, community members, and my children, family, students, and friends,” says Bedard. “Chef Kíl Tláats'gaa Brodie Swanson created delicious sushi-fusion dishes highlighting authentic Haida Gwaii seafood. Hereditary Chief Sdiihldaa Frank Collison of my own Tsiits Git'anee Eagle Clan was present, as well as representatives from my paternal Yahgu 'laanaas Raven Clan family, which is also the clan of my late mentor, Primrose Adams. Chief Skil Kwiitl'aas Judy Williams of the Stl'ang 'Laanaas Ravens also attended.” 

“After a lovely dinner, speeches and presentations were made. It was an honour to be acknowledged for my new role as INLP faculty. Kun Gwaanaad Sherri Burton was also celebrated for her recent successful INLP MA program completion,” Bedard explains.

“It was an honour to be recognized by my community, clan, and family in such a way. The evening warmed my heart and was truly a sense of accomplishment as all of my hard work to be in this position was recognized by my community. I appreciate how Haida protocol was followed in such a beautiful manner, with the Yahgu 'Laanaas Ravens playing an organizing role and the speeches and gifts of acknowledgment given out to those who came and witnessed the evening,” recounts Bedard.

“SFU was represented so well, with the partnership between INLP and our language office strengthened by the event. I would like to especially thank X̱aad Kíl Née and their dedicated staff for making the evening so wonderful.”

Weldon and Pappas agree with Bedard that the strengthening of this partnership between the INLP and X̱aad Kíl Née is of great value and importance. In addition to gaining a better understanding of the Haida revitalization program and its needs, Weldon and Pappas expressed SFU’s sincere interest in supporting the INLP program in Masset and in many other areas across BC and the Yukon.

In cooperation with local communities and language authorities, INLP offers courses in close to twenty Indigenous languages. Credentials offered by the INLP include a certificate, a diploma, and a minor for undergraduate students, as well as a graduate certificate and a Master’s of Indigenous Literatures and Languages.

Photography by Nadja Smith-Hanson.