Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson facts for kids
Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson is a Canadian First Nations lawyer, artist, activist, and author. She is a member of the Raven Clan from the Haida Nation. Her Haida name is Gid7ahl-Gudsllaay Lalaxaaygans. As a lawyer, Terri-Lynn specializes in Indigenous and environmental law. She has represented the Haida Nation in court since 1996. She helped protect the old-growth forests of Haida Gwaii in a famous case called the TFL39 Case. This case changed how the government talks with and supports Aboriginal Rights.
Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson is also very important for keeping Haida culture alive. She uses music and books to help bring back the language and culture of Haida Gwaii. She has released three music albums: "Lalaxaaygans: Beautiful Sound" (2008), "New Journeys" (2011), and "Grizzly Bear Town" (2017). She has also written two books based on old Haida stories about magical beings: "Magical Beings of Haida Gwaii" and "Out of Concealment".
Contents
About Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson
Early Life and Education
Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson was born and grew up in Haida Gwaii. Her great-grandmother, Susan Williams, gave her the name "Lalaxaaygans," which means "Beautiful Sound" in Haida. Susan Williams was a "song custodian," meaning she was a keeper of traditional songs.
Terri-Lynn started singing in public when she was just 6 years old. By age 13, she was singing in the Haida language. In 1978, she helped start a children's dance group called "Skidegate Haida Dancers."
She went to the University of British Columbia (UBC) and earned a degree in computer science in 1990. While studying law, she spent a summer in 1993 working at the Haida Gwaii Museum. There, she studied and organized southern songs of the Haida Nation. The next year, she received another important Haida name, "Gid7ahl-Gudsllaay," which her great-grandmother Susan Williams also held.
Terri-Lynn finished her law degree at UBC in 1995. She became a lawyer in British Columbia in 1996. That same year, she started EAGLE, a charity that gives free legal help to protect land. In 1996, she married Robert Davidson, a well-known Haida artist.
Protecting Land and Rights
Legal Work for the Haida Nation
Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson has been a lawyer for the Haida Nation since 1995. She works to protect their rights in all levels of court. One of her most important cases was the TFL39 Case. This case was about protecting forests and is now a leading example of how governments must consult with Indigenous groups about their rights when developing resources. She has also helped the Haida Nation win special agreements with British Columbia and Canada regarding their land rights.
Terri-Lynn was a key part of the Haida Nation's legal team that fought against the Enbridge Pipeline project. Her work helped stop the project.
Protecting Haida Waters
From 2014 to 2015, Terri-Lynn represented the Haida Nation in a case against the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. She challenged their decision to open a commercial herring fishery in Haida Gwaii waters. The court agreed with her case and stopped the commercial fishing. This was a big win for using Indigenous rights to protect the environment. Commercial fisheries have not been allowed in Haida waters since then.
Terri-Lynn has written many articles about Indigenous law and gives talks around the world. Besides founding EAGLE, she has been an advisor for the Vancouver Foundation's Environment Program. She has also been a juror for the Ecotrust Canada Buffet Award for Indigenous Leadership. She has served on the boards of Ecotrust Canada and the Earthlife Canada Foundation.
In May 2012, Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson was featured on the cover of The Advocate, a journal for lawyers in Vancouver. Being on the cover is a big achievement for a lawyer in British Columbia. She is one of only three Indigenous lawyers to have been on the cover.
In 2014, Terri-Lynn won the Peoples Choice Andrew Thompson award. This award recognized her important work in environmental and Indigenous law.
Keeping Haida Culture Alive
Music and Dance
Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson started singing in Haida when she was 13. She continues to work on preserving and creating Haida songs and dances. In 1996, she joined the Rainbow Creek Dancers. This Haida dance group performs traditional songs and dances in Haida Gwaii and around the world. Since 2000, she has been a member of the Haida Gwaii Singers society. This group teaches people about the rich musical traditions of the Haida.
In 2009, the Haida Gwaii Singers society released "Songs of Haida Gwaii Archival Anthology." This was a 7-CD set with recordings from as far back as the early 1900s. Terri-Lynn volunteered as the Executive Producer, researcher, writer, and fundraiser for this project. It was a huge effort to digitize all the Haida Gwaii songs they could find. This project saved over 450 Haida songs. For her work on this project, Terri-Lynn won a "Keeper of Traditions" award at the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards.
Solo Albums
Terri-Lynn released her first solo album, "Lalaxaaygans: Beautiful Sound," in 2008. This album was part of a collection of new recordings of old Haida songs performed by members of the Haida Gwaii Singers society. The album won her the "Best Female Traditional/Cultural Roots" award at the 2009 Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards.
In 2011, Terri-Lynn released her second solo album, "New Journeys." This album included instruments like guitars, piano, cello, and percussion. This was a new mix of cultures in Haida music, which is usually sung without instruments. While the songs were mostly modern, they were sung in Haida. Many songs followed traditional Haida song structures, often using only three notes. The album was very popular and won Terri-Lynn several awards, including another Canadian Aboriginal Music Award and a Western Canadian Music Awards nomination.
Her third album, "Grizzly Bear Town," came out in 2017. This record featured music and singing from Bill Henderson and Claire Lawrence of the band Chilliwack. It continued Terri-Lynn's idea of mixing the Haida language with modern lyrics and music. The album's name, "Grizzly Bear Town," is another name for Skedans. This is the village where her great-grandmother, Susan Williams, was born.
Books and Oracle Deck
In 2017, Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson wrote "Out of Concealment." This book features unique photo collages that celebrate the female supernatural beings from Haida oral traditions.
In 2019, Terri-Lynn and her stepdaughter, Sara Florence Davidson, published a children's book called "Magical Beings of Haida Gwaii." This book introduces ten magical beings from ancient Haida stories. It uses pictures to teach children important lessons about living in balance with nature.
Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson also created the Haida Box of Knowledge. This is an Oracle Deck with 34 cards. Each card features a female supernatural being from Haida Gwaii. The cards also show art by Robert Davidson. They share the wisdom and knowledge linked to each of these female figures from traditional Haida stories.
