Agnes Alfred facts for kids

Axuw (born around 1890 – died 1992), also known as Agnes Bertha Alfred, was an important storyteller and leader from the Qwiqwasutinuxw people. She was part of the larger Kwakwaka'wakw nation. Many people saw her as one of the last great storytellers who remembered a lot about her people's history.

Agnes Alfred was born on Village Island in British Columbia, Canada. She was famous for making beautiful baskets from cedar roots and bark. She also loved to share her knowledge and her people's traditions through storytelling. In 1922, the Canadian government put Agnes Alfred in jail. This was because she took part in a potlatch ceremony, which was against the law at that time. In 2004, a book about her life was published. It was called "Paddling to Where I Stand: Agnes Alfred, Qwiqwasutinuxw Noblewoman."

Early Life and Family

When Agnes Alfred was a child, she went to a missionary school for a short time. Later in her life, she was baptized as a Christian and given the name Agnes Bertha Alfred. She chose names for all of her thirteen children from the Bible.

Even though she became a Christian, Agnes Alfred worked hard to keep her Indigenous traditions alive. These traditions included potlatches and special winter dances. She also saw many changes in her life, like new technologies and different ways of making money.

Her Work as a Storyteller

Agnes Alfred was born around 1890. This was a time when storytelling was still very important for sharing history and knowledge. She was a respected woman who did not read or write English. She saw huge changes happen to her people and their way of life.

Throughout her life, she kept her important position among the Kwakwaka'wakw leaders. She also continued to improve her skills as a storyteller and a cedar basket weaver. Most of what we know about her storytelling comes from later in her life.

Agnes Alfred helped keep the Kwakwala language alive. This was the language of her people. Some of her stories were recorded later in her life. These recordings shared the Kwakwaka'wakw people's views about the sea. They included myths and beliefs about sea creatures and the ocean itself. Agnes Alfred's work shows how quickly knowledge can be lost if a language is not used every day.

Standing Up for Her Culture

Agnes Alfred was a storyteller and basket weaver. But she also worked to protect her people's right to practice the potlatch ceremony. In 1922, both Agnes and her husband, Moses Alfred, were arrested. They were arrested by the Canadian government for taking part in a potlatch, which was illegal then.

Luckily, Agnes Alfred lived to see the potlatch ceremony become legal again in 1978. She saw some of her people's ceremonial items returned to them.

Important Contributions

Paddling to Where I Stand is Agnes Alfred's most important work. The title means "Many guests are paddling towards me." This refers to people coming to her family's potlatch. In this book, Agnes Alfred shares stories and history about how Indigenous people survived during a difficult time.

The book shows the important role of First Nations women as leaders in a changing world. It shares her own life and experiences. Agnes Alfred also uses the book to help people understand traditions like arranged marriages and potlatches. She explains how important songs, stories, and chants are for sharing knowledge.

The book is written in a relaxed way, like she is telling the story herself. Sometimes, the editor, Sewid-Smith, adds notes to help explain things better. Paddling to Where I Stand is more than just a book about Kwakwaka'wakw culture. It shares Agnes Alfred's personal experience as a woman during a very important time in Canadian history.

Agnes Alfred was also a very skilled cedar basket weaver. She made useful, open baskets that were shaped like bowls with flat bottoms. These baskets were woven with green and cream colored twine. The handles on some of her baskets show signs of being used often.