Native Brotherhood of British Columbia
Encyclopedia
The Native Brotherhood of British Columbia is a province-wide First Nations rights organization founded in the Tsimshian
community of Port Simpson (a.k.a. Lax Kw'alaams
), British Columbia
, in 1931. The Tsimshian ethnologist and chief William Beynon
and Chief William Jeffrey
were among its four founding members. It was modeled in spirit and structure on the Alaska Native Brotherhood.
Since its absorption of the Pacific Coast Native Fishermen's Organization and its primarily Kwakwaka'wakw
membership in 1942, it became oriented more towards fishing rights.
In 1945, Andy Paull
and chapters centered in Coast Salish communities in B.C. split off to form the North American Indian Brotherhood.
Tsimshian
The Tsimshian are an indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Tsimshian translates to Inside the Skeena River. Their communities are in British Columbia and Alaska, around Terrace and Prince Rupert and the southernmost corner of Alaska on Annette Island. There are approximately 10,000...
community of Port Simpson (a.k.a. Lax Kw'alaams
Lax Kw'alaams
Lax-Kw'alaams , usually called Port Simpson, is an Indigenous village community in British Columbia, Canada, not far from the city of Prince Rupert. It is the home of the "Nine Tribes" of the lower Skeena River, which are nine of the fourteen tribes of the Tsimshian nation...
), 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...
, in 1931. The Tsimshian ethnologist and chief William Beynon
William Beynon
William Beynon was a hereditary chief from the Tsimshian nation and an oral historian who served as ethnographer, translator, and linguistic consultant to many anthropologists....
and Chief William Jeffrey
Chief William Jeffrey
Chief William Jeffrey was a hereditary Tsimshian Chief, First Nations activist and carver born near Lax Kw'alaams, British Columbia, Canada, in 1899. He attended residential school from 1914 to 1917...
were among its four founding members. It was modeled in spirit and structure on the Alaska Native Brotherhood.
Since its absorption of the Pacific Coast Native Fishermen's Organization and its primarily Kwakwaka'wakw
Kwakwaka'wakw
The Kwakwaka'wakw are an Indigenous group of First Nations peoples, numbering about 5,500, who live in British Columbia on northern Vancouver Island and the adjoining mainland and islands.Kwakwaka'wakw translates as "Those who speak Kwak'wala", describing the collective nations within the area that...
membership in 1942, it became oriented more towards fishing rights.
In 1945, Andy Paull
Andy Paull
Andy Paull, was a Sḵwxwú7mesh leader, activist, coach, and lawyer.-Early life and family:...
and chapters centered in Coast Salish communities in B.C. split off to form the North American Indian Brotherhood.