William Jeffrey (Tsimshian chief) facts for kids
William Jeffrey was a respected leader and artist from the Tsimshian First Nation in Canada. He was born in 1899 and was a hereditary chief, meaning he inherited his leadership role. He worked hard to improve life for Indigenous peoples and was also a talented carver of totem poles.
Jeffrey went to a residential school from 1914 to 1917. He really wanted to become a lawyer. However, because he was a First Nations person, government rules at that time stopped him from going to college for most jobs. He could only study to become a religious leader.
Fighting for Rights
In 1930, William Jeffrey helped start a group called the Native Brotherhood of British Columbia (NBBC). This group worked to make things better for Indigenous peoples. They wanted more education for Aboriginal children. They also wanted the government to recognize their rights to hunt, fish, and use forests. The NBBC also fought to make the potlatch legal again. A potlatch is a traditional ceremony that was banned by the government for many years.
In 1940, Chief Jeffrey spoke to the Canadian government in the House of Commons. He shared an important message:
You took our land without asking us and put us on reservations. You gave us religion, and its leaders burned our totem poles. They said we worshipped them. This was not true. Our totem poles were like memorials and landmarks for us. You removed them and took our land. You gave us the Bible, which is good, but you did not follow its teachings yourselves.
A New Path
In 1953, William Jeffrey decided to change his focus. He was drawn to the message of "peace and fairness for people of all backgrounds." He left his political work to become a minister with Jehovah's Witnesses.
Bringing Back Art
In 1960, Chief Jeffrey started carving totem poles and smaller copies of them. He joined a movement to bring back Northwest Coast art. This art form, especially totem pole carving, had been banned in British Columbia for a long time. Many of his beautiful poles can still be seen today in Prince Rupert, Canada. Some are even in Adelaide, Australia.
Languages Spoken
William Jeffrey's first language was Smalgyax. This is a traditional Tsimshian language. He also spoke English and Chinook Jargon, which is a trade language that was used by many different groups in the Pacific Northwest.
See also
