COMING BACK

So, I was young at the time, the boys being 5 and 7 years of age, I
decided it was time to start learning about my mother, Ruth Percival
Wright's roots. Not having grown up in the Naas, and spending a good
portion of the development years in the Alert Bay and Vancouver
Island regions, which left me in a state of procrastination for 7 long
years. Little did I know this Journey of Discovery would take 33 years.

The aftermath of 1969 was still with us in the early seventies. It was
difficult changing your focus as North America was yet in the throes of
the Viet Nam War. There were massive North American groups who did
not agree with the participation of this War. Young People were
rebelling and a change was happening. Gigantic Music Festivals were
happening. Everyone was into the scene and love and free speech
were prevalent. Liquor, drugs, dancing and tobacco were other
favourite aspects of the day.

It was January 1978 and I was still in college taking business. The
ever present feeling would not dissipate that I needed to do something
for the boys. I had to find some sort of stability for them as I had been
putting this off for too long. Their father could teach them their Haida
side, but I had nothing concrete to teach them about their Nisga'a
side. So began the work. The decision was made, there was no going
back, the boys would know 'Yr HaiNis' .......... (You're Haida, You're
Nisga'a).

Herring season was going full board throughout the BC Coast in March
1978. Our World Came To A Complete Halt Then! The Parnell Men were
reported lost at sea ... five of them and a son-in-law. Frank, myself and
the boys came down to Prince Rupert from Terrace. Frank helped in
the search for his family, flying around in planes and helicopters until
the search was called off. One body was recovered, that of his uncle.

As young as he was, Frank rose to the challenge of being the Head of

the Parnell Clan in a single day. The families of the Parnell Men and
Son-in-law lost at sea were in shock and the days that followed were
devastating. Five Parnell women became instant widows, and there
were many young children yet to be raised. It would be many years
before the Parnells would find closure, if at all. Frank worked with a
world renowned artist to have a memorial print made for his Parnell
Family.

The Nisga'a family stepped in to ensure that Frank was alright. Many
would stop by our Terrace home every week. I began to ask family
background questions to individuals on both the Nisga'a and Haida
sides. It proceeded with my father and then with Frank's mother. I use
to enjoy listening to the stories that Frank's mother and aunties would
speak of.

Frank left Terrace in 1980 to spearhead the development of a

conglomerate titled the North Coast Tribal Council in Prince Rupert.
This was unique as it was the first in cooperation and partnership in
community development among the Nisga'a, the Haida, and the
Tsimpshian. Soon after selling our home in Terrace, I resigned from my
federal position, and the boys and I joined Frank in Prince Rupert in
1981.

We had been attending Nisga'a Feasts and Events for 4 years by 1984.
Our attendance pre-1978 was sporadic. The purchase of Nisga'a books
had helped immensely in the learning of the Nisga'a Culture and
Traditions. I began learning about the Nisga'a Land Question. There
appeared to be so much to learn and it felt overwhelming at times. I
attended Nisga'a Conventions and found ways to ask family
background questions to certain individuals. Completing a certified
Nisgaa Language Course were exciting times for most of us.
Consequently, Nisga'a facts and discussions began within the home.
And, of course Frank knew just as much Nisga'a as I did by then.

Slowly I began to believe in some of the ways, not all, as it took a lot
of learning curve to understand. I imagine it was the same for others
not raised in their homelands.

(Note to self: I dare you to finish)