Andy Paull facts for kids
Andy Paull (also known as Andrew Paull, Xwechtáal, Xwupúkinem, and Quitchtaal) was an important leader, activist, coach, and legal helper for the Squamish people. He was born on February 6, 1892, and passed away on July 28, 1959.
Early Life and Learning
Andy Paull was born into a well-known family. His parents were Dan and Theresa Paull. He had a very special bond with his grandmother, who gave him the name Xwechtáal. This name means "the Serpent Slayer" and was passed down from a famous ancestor.
His grandfather, known as "Hundred Dollar Charlie," held the last big traditional gathering called a potlatch on Burrard Inlet. The Canadian government later made these gatherings against the law in 1885.
Andy grew up in the village of Stawamus, near Squamish, British Columbia. Later, his family moved to the village of Eslha7an in North Vancouver, British Columbia. There, he started attending St. Paul's Indian Residential School in 1899. This was a school for Indigenous children, often far from their homes.
After six years at the residential school, Andy spent two years learning from local Sḵwxwú7mesh chiefs. He valued both his school education and his traditional Sḵwxwú7mesh learning. He believed it was very important for elders to share the history and traditions of their people with the younger generations. He saw this traditional knowledge as being just as important as the education non-Indigenous people received.
In 1907, Andy started working at a law office. He spent four years learning about law. He never became a professional lawyer because he would have had to give up his Indian status to join the bar association. Instead, he worked as a longshoreman (someone who loads and unloads ships) and as a secretary for Chief Harry of Eslha7an.
Fighting for Rights
Andy Paull became a strong voice for his people and for Indigenous peoples across Canada. He worked to organize groups and fight for their rights.
In 1927, he spoke to a special government committee in Ottawa as a leader of the Allied Tribes of British Columbia. This group worked on issues like land claims. However, the Canadian government soon made it illegal for Indigenous peoples to raise money for land claims, and the Allied Tribes of BC had to stop their work.
Andy continued to organize groups at home, including bands, sports teams, and labor groups. In 1942, he became the business manager for the Native Brotherhood of British Columbia. Later, in 1945, he started his own group called the North American Indian Brotherhood.
He spoke out against Indigenous people giving up their Indian status to become Canadian citizens (a process called "enfranchisement"). He said that doing so would mean "selling your birthright" just for the chance to vote every four years.
Andy Paull fought for many important issues, including:
- Aboriginal rights and title: This means the rights Indigenous peoples have to their traditional lands and resources.
- Education: Making sure Indigenous children had good schools.
- Potlatching: Working to bring back traditional ceremonies like the potlatch, which had been banned.
- Political organizing: Helping Indigenous communities work together to make their voices heard.
