Chief Bill Cranmer: Building the Future

February-March 2000

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.

by Alan Wilson

Namgis Chief Bill Cranmer joined us at the dock in Alert Bay to talk about the present and future of his community.

Surrounded by inactive fishing boats, we talked about the prospects of fishermen diversifying into the tourism industry. Bill explained that a number of fishermen are already starting to take people to the ancient village sites on the nearby islands and he sees a lot of potential for cultural ecotourism to grow.

When asked how he views the many kayakers who enter this territory, he said: "We welcome paddlers, but we like to be given notice when they're coming, and what they're doing. In most cases we try to be accommodating, giving them all the information we can."

"The community has no problem with paddlers so long as they don't damage the area or its historic sites."

Bill explained that his tribal council has good relations with some commercial kayak outfits and is usually generous with permitting use of their traditional territory.

Kwakwaka'wakw revival

The state of the Kwakwaka'wakw cultural revival is obviously central to Bill. He's proud of the U'mista Centre and the repatriation of the potlatch artifacts which were confiscated after the 1921 potlatch given by his father, Dan Cranmer.

His sister, Gloria Cranmer-Webster was the prime mover in the development of U'mista. With a degree in Anthropology from the University of British Columbia, she has done much since, working with linguists to develop the orthography of the language as well as an alphabet and is now working on a talking dictionary.

The U'mista Centre has programs for teaching school children traditional dance and song and language but funds are needed to maintain their culture.

"We have a specific claim underway against the Federal Government of Canada for compensation for the potlatch confiscations. I hope any proceeds may be applied to our language program to keep the language alive."

Bill sits on the province-wide First People's Cultural Foundation which is working to save indigenous languages around the coast.

He compares the challenges faced by his people with the efforts of the Nisga'a people further north. "While the Nisga'a feel they've saved their language, they've been working on it for a long time and it's part of the entire Kindergarten to Grade 12 program. They also took active measures such as requiring fluency among those sitting on the tribal council. These steps may be required if the Kwakwaka'wakw language is to survive."

The national Assembly of First Nations is seeking protective legislation for languages and is developing a fund for this, Bill told us. But he worries there may only be two decades left to save his language and says immersion programs may be required.

Bill is involved in a great many community projects such as trying to keep the BC Packers fish plant building on the Alert Bay waterfront and to improve the town's infrastructure, such as building a new breakwater.

Bill is confident that Alert Bay will survive and prosper. He noted the 'Namgis First Nation is actively engaged in the Treaty process. His people are part of an alliance of 21 Vancouver Island First Nations seeking agreements on rights to lands and resources.

When a fair settlement is reached, the cultural richness of Bill's people should ensure a good future for Alert Bay.