Nits’ilʔin (Chief) Joe Alphonse of the community of Tl’etinqox and Tribal Chair of the Tŝilhqot’in National Government (TNG), near Williams Lake, will receive B.C.’s highest honour.
Alphonse is one of 16 people who will be appointed to the Order of British Columbia, which was established in 1989 to recognize individuals who have served with the greatest distinction or have excelled in any field of endeavour that has benefited the people of the province.
On June 26, 2014, after over 25 years of litigation fought by the Tŝilhqot’in people and the testimony of Tŝilhqot’in Elders, the Supreme Court of Canada declared Aboriginal title for the first time in Canadian history, in the Tŝilhqot’in homeland.
This marked a new era of recognition and respect for Indigenous rights and self-determination as the Supreme Court confirmed Tŝilhqot’in peoples had Aboriginal Title to 1900 square kilometres of their traditional territory.
Nits’ilʔin Alphonse would be the first to credit this victory to the sacrifice and bravery of the Tŝilhqot’in Elders that testified at trial, and to the many Nits’ilʔin and leaders that fought this litigation over the decades.
However, the Nation says it is fitting that Nits’ilʔin Alphonse receive the highest honour in British Columbia because of his tireless critical role in advancing the rights and recognition of Indigenous peoples.
Throughout Nits’ilʔin Alphonse’s tenure as Tribal Chair, he has also worked to keep the Tŝilhqot’in Nation strong and unified.
Despite the various challenges and struggles that emerged from government or industry, such as the Tŝilhqot’in Nation ‘s victory to protect sacred lands and waters at Teẑtan Biny (Fish Lake) from destruction by open-pit mining, “he has remained dedicated and a driving force behind much of the progress within, not only the Tŝilhqot’in Nation, but also with Indigenous rights provincially, nationally and internationally” says Nits’ilʔin Otis Guichon, TNG Vice-Chair.
“He is a good person to have at the negotiation table. He is a warrior for our people and passionate about preserving and protecting our traditional way of life and culture.”
Following the historic Tŝilhqot’in decision, Nits’ilʔin Alphonse drove efforts to secure exoneration from British Columbia and Canada for the Tŝilhqot’in War Chiefs who were wrongly executed in 1864.
During the Chilcotin War of 1864 and 1865, six Tŝilhqot’in War Chiefs were tried and hanged while negotiating peace talks with the colonial government. In 2014 the provincial government exonerated the six War Chiefs of any wrongdoing.
Then in 2018, the federal government followed with an exoneration delivered both in the House of Commons and again while visiting the Declared Title Area.
Tŝilhqot’in First Nation and Nits’ilʔin Alphonse took part in a powerful healing ceremony with the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tŝilhqot’in title lands.
The Tŝilhqot’in Nation says Nits’ilʔin Alphonse has inspired and empowered Indigenous peoples around the world, and celebrates and thanks him for his many contributions.
This year, 257 British Columbians were nominated and since its inception, 475 British Columbians have been appointed to the Order of B.C.
Members have been appointed from all regions of the province and in numbers generally proportionate to a region's population.
"Each one of this year's Order of British Columbia recipients has made tremendous contributions to their communities," said Premier John Horgan.
"I want to extend my congratulations and honour them for their leadership and dedication as community leaders. Trailblazers in medicine, that carried us through an incredibly difficult pandemic with expertise, grace and of course, kindness. Inspiring philanthropists, determined protectors of the environment and powerful Indigenous leaders. We are all truly grateful for your leadership."
The Province has received more than 6,200 public nominations for the Order of B.C. over the past 32 years and recipients of the Order of B.C. are selected by an independent advisory council.
The Order of B.C. investiture ceremony for 2020 and 2021 recipients and invited guests is tentatively scheduled to be held at Government House in Victoria in December 2021.
Tŝilhqot’in Nation is comprised of six communities, ʔEsdilagh, Tl’esqox, Tl’etinqox, Tŝideldel, Xeni Gwet’in, Yuneŝit’in. Together, they make up over 3,000 citizens.
