According to Shackan Indian Band Chief Percy Joe, women are the backbone of the community.
With this in mind, band members gathered at the Merritt Civic Centre on Thursday evening to honour seven women who have contributed to their community for over 20 years.
“Often when we celebrate a person’s life it’s for a sad occasion,” said Shackan Coun. Lennard Joe. “This time we said we’d like to celebrate these women while they still have life.”
The celebration began with a procession led by a group of hand drummers, then Lennard recognized the women in front of their family and friends. After a dinner in their honour, he read highlights from each of their lives and presented them with a bouquet of roses and a personalized jacket.
The seven women were Joan Seymour, Rena Sam, Mandy Jimmy, Kay Swakum, Linda (Birdie) Archachan, Ruby Adams and Barbara Joe.
Five of the women are from Shackan, while Swakum is from the Lower Nicola Indian Band, and Archachan is from Quilchena; however, Percy said both women deserved recognition for their years of contribution to the Shackan community.
“Women are leaders in our community,” said Lennard. “We cherish, honour and follow the footsteps of our Shackan women.
“In everything they’ve done, they raised families and being the son of one of these women, I’m really grateful.”
The Shackan Indian Band is located in the Nicola Valley, approximately 20 kilometres east of Spences Bridge and 40 kilometres west of Merritt on Highway 8.
Among the women recognized was a former chief, a woman who has studied and taught the traditional language and women who worked with youth.
