This is the CTV documentary about my cousin Rhonda Larrabee's struggle to resurrect Canada's smallest First Nations band the Qayqayt.
Once upon a time the band flourished on the banks of the Fraser River. Then White settlers moved into their territories and renamed it New Westminster. The Qayqayt were put on a Reserve, but that was taken away from them too.
Rhonda's mother fled her homeland territories due to racism and shame. She came to Vancouver's Chinatown, where she met Rhonda's father. Rhonda grew up into her teenage years thinking she was Chinese. Then she discovered she was First Nations.
Now Rhonda Larrabee is resurrecting the Qayqayt Nation.
This show originally aired on January 26
Tribes & Treaties
Updated: Tue Feb. 05 2008 18:04:25
ctvbc.ca
One Women Tribe:
Rhonda Larrabee discovered the startling truth about her family
origins. She was not of Chinese and French descent as she was told
while growing up in Vancouver's Chinatown. Rhonda's mother was First
Nations. Then an even bigger shock – Rhonda discovered that she is the
last surviving member of the Qayqayt Tribe (New Westminster Band). She
is now striving to preserve the cultural legacy that her mother felt
forced to reject.
see the pod cast:
http://www.ctvbc.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20080127/bc_firststory_women_tribe_080127/20080127/?hub=BritishColumbiaHome
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I would like to contact your cousin, Rhonda Larabee – Chief of the Qayqayt, to ask her permission to offer a summer program for children to learn about First Nations traditions through musical theater. We will use John Steptoe’s The Story of Jumping Mouse and Shirley Sterling’s tale of learning to make a fish weir from her Mother, as published in the BC First Nations Studies textbook. The course will be held at Urban Academy, 101 3rd Street, New Westminster, BC July 8- 12, 2013 for children ages 8-12.
Could you please forward this request to her? It is customary to request permission from the local Chief.
Susan Seneshen