Respect is a key value we strive towards at CSFS. Living and building respect is a process that requires understanding and empathy. Treating everyone respectfully is not always easy but it is crucial in creating a successful and safe environment for all.

By Rita George, Wet’suwet’en First Nation

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I learned how to live with respect as a child growing up in Broman Lake with all of my siblings. We all grew up learning how to respect everything!

We lived in a huge log house, my grandfather, Bill Nye, would always come to visit. Whenever we went to bed, we could hear him talking about how to respect our parents, the territories, and everything mother nature has provided us with everything, even the animals. My brothers were also taught to respect the animals when hunting, and not to shoot any animals that have young ones.

Respect is really important in the Bah’lats as well. We were taught how to respect and honour everyone in the feast hall, and how to conduct ourselves. We pay special respect to new visitors in the feast hall, including non-Indigenous people. They have a special spot where we seat them, because they are honoured guests and we have to treat them with high regard

I recall when I witnessed a moment of disrespect in the Bah’lats hall. The elders took the person outside of the hall to explain with empathy the rules of our sacred gathering. It was a learning moment for that individual, and for everyone in the hall as well.

Today, I still practice respect, and I pass on that value to the younger generation. Some of the younger generations sometimes find it challenging to learn our traditions and values, but it is our duty to speak to them respectfully so they can learn their history, family heritage and the clan they belong to. We also have to direct the youth how to use the Bah’lats system, and to continue that system.