Stikine's Nathan Cullen pays tribute to Earl Muldon in First day back for BC Legislature

Nathan Cullen spoke of the life and times of Earl Muldon
in the BC Legislature on Wednesday

Stikine MLA Nathan Cullen took advantage of the first day of business for the new Session of the BC Legislature to pay tribute to the life of  Earl Mudon  the Kispiox resident who carried the hereditary name of Delgamuukw.

The MLA Providing for both tribute and short synopsis of the life and times of the highly respected Indigenous leader and Canadian history maker who passed away at the start of this year.

In his comments, Mr. Cullen took note of his attachment to the land in the Gitxsan territory and his remarkable history in the Northwest.

It is my distinct honour and privilege today to rise to pay tribute to a truly great man. Earl Muldon, who long held the hereditary name of Delgamuukw, passed away on January 3 at the age of 85, at his home in Hazelton in Gitxsan territory. 

As I sat with my boys on a cold northern highway to watch the funeral procession go by, I struggled to explain to them the importance that this man held for so many people. 

Earl was a legendary artist, leader and Indigenous rights activist, inspiring some of the greatest changes to Canadian and international law with respect to Indigenous rights and title. He was a generous and magnificent storyteller and keeper of Gitxsan tradition. 

I had the incredible privilege of sitting and listening to many of those stories at feasts and at his home. 

He was humble, charitable and courageous. He was born in Kispiox in 1936, and worked as a logger with his father, but eventually turned to a life as an artist and became a world-renowned carver. Many of his works you can see around our province and around the world. 

The high name of Delgamuukw, Wilp Delgamuukw was bestowed on Earl on April 12 in 1990, following in the footsteps of the late Albert Tait and his brother Kenny. 

When he stood with Gisday'wa, the late Alfred Joseph of the Wet'suwet'en Nation in the landmark case of Delgamuukw versus the Queen, he won not only a historic victory for the Gitxsan and all Indigenous people, but I,  and many would argue, for all people of this province and country. 

Earl is survived by his remarkable wife of 63 years, Shirley, his children, Cheryl, Brian, Charlie and Teri, and his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

Earl Muldon was loved and admired by many, and many, many more that he never knew or met. 

On behalf of the Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, our government and this entire Legislature, I would like to extend our deepest condolences to his family, his nation and appreciation for an incredible life well-lived.

You can view his presentation to the Chamber from the BC Legislature Video here. 

His comments begin at the 2:04 PM mark of the session.

The Opening statements from Wednesday made for the launch of the new session for the BC Legislature that following the Speech from the Throne from Tuesday, which charted the NDP government's plans for the start of 2022.

Among the themes that were highlighted by Lieutenant Governor Janet Austin were continued work on rebuilding the province in the next stage of the government's pandemic response, more work on reconciliation, attention to Child Care and jobs, as well as preparing British Columbians for future employment.

The background to the Speech from the Throne can be reviewed here, the video of the presentation can be found below:

More notes of the work of MLA's at the Legislature can be explored through our archive.