Harriet Nahanee also known as Tseybayotl (December 7, 1935 – February 24, 2007) was an Indigenous rights

Indigenous rights

Indigenous rights are those rights that exist in recognition of the specific condition of the indigenous peoples. This includes not only the most basic human rights of physical survival and integrity, but also the preservation of their land, language, religion and other elements of cultural...

 activist, residential school

Canadian residential school system

-History:Founded in the 19th century, the Canadian Indian residential school system was intended to assimilate the children of the Aboriginal peoples in Canada into European-Canadian society...

 alumnus, and environmental activist. She was born in British Columbia

British Columbia

British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...

, Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

. She comes from the Pacheedaht

Pacheedaht First Nation

The Pacheedaht First Nation is a First Nation based on the west coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. Although the Pacheedaht people are Nuu-chah-nulth-aht by culture and language, they are not a member of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council and define themselves differently.Our...

 who are part of the Nuu-chah-nulth, Indigenous peoples from the Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...

. As a child, Nahanee attended both Ahousaht Residential School and Alberni Residential School, and would later testify about the horrible treatment she received there. She married into the Sḵwxwú7mesh (Squamish).

Harriet was sentenced to two weeks in a provincial jail in January 2007 for criminal contempt of court for her part in the Sea-to-Sky Highway expansion protest at Eagleridge Bluffs.
She was then hospitalized with pneumonia a week after her release from the jail, at which time doctors discovered she had lung cancer. She died of pneumonia and complications at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver on February 24, one month after her original sentencing.

Nahanee had been weak from the flu and asthma in January, and it was widely suspected that Nahanee's condition worsened during her incarceration at the Surrey Pre-Trial Centre. An independent public inquiry into her passing was called for in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia

Legislative Assembly of British Columbia

The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia is one of two components of the Parliament of British Columbia, the provincial parliament ....

 on March 5. Solicitor-General John Les

John Les

John Les is a Canadian politician and member of the Legislative Assembly for British Columbia.He is currently the Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier...

 said the provincial government expressed regret for the passing but denied any government responsibility and refused opposition requests for an inquiry.

Quotes

See also

• Notable Aboriginal people of Canada
  Notable Aboriginal people of Canada
  Over the course of centuries, many Aboriginal Canadians have played a critical role in shaping the history of Canada. From art and music, to law and government, to sports and war; Aboriginal customs and culture have had a strong influences on defining Canadian culture...
  
  
• Sḵwx̱wú7mesh
• Nuu-chah-nulth
• Residential School
  Residential school
  Residential school may refer to:* Canadian Indian residential school system* a term used to describe boarding schools*A residential treatment center for people with addictions or severe mental illnesses...
  
  

External links

• In the Spirit of Warrior Harriet Nahanee Weblog – Weblog created on updates following Harriet's previous work, and the case following her death.