Former Sechelt Indian Band Chief Stan Dixon has authored a book outlining the road to self-governance and his hopes for the future of the Sechelt First Nation.
In K'watamus Speaks, the charismatic Dixon reflects on his upbringing and how it drove him to bypass the bureaucratic gridlock of the land claims process and achieve self-governance.
Dixon writes about his grandfather Captain Joe's words to him and brother Ted: "His loving ways for our future care and his emotional feelings told us to be careful as we grew to adulthood. He ordered Ted and I to get out of the Indian Act if possible.
"I remember and his words are always close to my thoughts regarding today's politics. He and his buddies died worrying for the Shíshálh culture and heritage and the future of the people."
Dixon's book sets the stage for future editions and creates a context for how self-governance evolved.
"It's a generality of how we are and how things should be," he said. "It's for people to get to understand me, not to clarify it [self-governance] like a dictionary. The questions that stem from [reading the book] should stem more reading of the Indian Act."
Dixon has led a colourful and full life and has always been a natural leader. He believes in integration and cited his time on his high school basketball team as one example.
"I was captain of the team not just captain for the Indians on the team," he said.
Dixon challenges everyone, native and non-native, to consider what integration means versus assimilation or segregation. He said politicians must consider the whole Coast and all citizens when making decisions, not just what is best for their immediate community.
"With integration we are treated a bit different, a distinct people," he said. "But integration is working together. It's a politician's job to make things happen whether it's here or Port Mellon "
Dixon travelled to Ottawa and negotiated for Bill C-93, self-governance, with some of Canada's biggest political names during the 1980s. And while he is proud to be Shíshálh, he is also proud to be Canadian and thinks both aspects are part of his identity.
He writes: "Proclamation of (the Band's) Constitution has never been as a process of unilaterally declaring what the Band can and will be able to do but rather, negotiating that with the other governmental bodies involved within the framework of the enabling legislation. Hence, to acknowledge its position within Canadian federation, the Sechelt Band looks to ministerial participation in the Constitutional approval."
K'watamus Speaks is a collection of historical events, anecdotes, personal history and dreams for the Sechelt First Nation. Dixon said he is optimistic and hopeful.
"I feel like it's going to work," he said. "I'm going to keep working toward it. The Indian Act has to go."
Dixon is selling his book on Saturdays at the Sechelt Farmer's and Artisan's Market and on Sundays in Gibsons at the Farmer's Market.
