Our Hereditary Chiefs

"First of all; we acknowledge and recognize Tatau,
the Creator through Manakays, the Great Spirit
for all that is provided for us since the
beginning of time and still is today"

Above: Nuxalk Hereditary Chiefs in 1995 at ISTA. Left to right; Kw'yutsmalayc (Cecil Moody), Qwatsinas (Edward Moody), Nuximlayc (Lawrence Pootlass), Spiritual Leader and Elder Simon Schooner, Slicxwliqw' (Charles Nelson), Liciw7mutusayc (Taylor King), Snuxyaltwa (Deric Snow). Right: Clearcut at ISTA, 1997. Nuxalk Hereditary Chiefs were jailed for trying to stop Interfor from destroying ISTA.

"On Choosing Nuximlayc"

As Told by Doreen Clellamin in 1996

As a young girl, I remember when our leading Elders, Chief Sam Pootlass, Albert King, and my grandparents, Katie and Jim Pollard, were sitting around a circle in the living room of my parents, in the home of Nathan and Jenny Clellamin.

I remember the pain they had on the great loss of our Hereditary Chief at that time – Chief Alec Pootlass. They knew that it would be a very difficult and thankless job at that time. The work meant that the family of that person would have a very difficult time. Then Uncle Sam spoke up and brought up the name of his grandson, Lawrence Pootlass. He felt that he could do the work and would have the support from the family and also felt strongly that Lawrence's wife, Amelia, would be a great help to him. I have always stood by my cousin Lawrence Pootlass. I was given much encouragement from my two aunts – Mabel Hall and Elsie Jacobs – to continue supporting him. I will continue to honor my great uncles Sam and Albert and my grand parents by supporting Nuximlayc (Lawrence Pootlass) as our Hereditary Chief.

Right: Chief Nuximlayc, 2009

Since time immemorial, we, the Nuxalk, maintain our rights and title to our entire traditional territory and continue to strive to maintain our traditional systems of governance.

We acknowledge our own system of upholding and looking to our Hereditary Chiefs for guidance and leadership.

Every family group, which descended to various regions within Nuxalk Ancestral Territory, has a traditional Hereditary Chief.

Hereditary Chiefs are bestowed the responsibility of overseeing the continued utilization of Nuxalk Traditional Laws that have been passed down through hundreds of generations.


Some of Our Hereditary Chiefs – 2012

Alamtsi
Billy Andy Jr. Territory: Nuxalk. (Upper Bella Coola Valley). Ancestral Village: Slmt. Family Crest: Sun. Descendant of: Chief Billy Andy Sr.

Anuspuxals
Jeffrey Snow. Territory: Taliyuumc (S. Bentinck). Ancestral Village: Talleomy Valley. Family Crest: Sun & Raven. Descendant of: Adopted by Chief Charles Snow, descendant of Chief Suuncwmay – Dick Snow, Snuxyaltwa – Louie Snow.

Lhulhulhnimut
Lawrence "Obie" Mack. Territory: Nuxalk. Ancestral Village: Nusq'lst. Family Crest: Grizzly Bear. Descendant of: Chief Willie Mack.

Lhuu7ya
Art Hans Jr. Territory: Taliyuumc (South Bentinck). Ancestral Village: Talyu. Family Crest: Grizzly Bear. Descendant of: Chief Art Hans Sr., Chief Willie Hans, Chief Tallio Hans.

Licmutusayc
Taylor King. Territory: Kwalhnamc (Kwatna). Ancestral Village: Kwatna. Descendant of: Chief Silas King. Standing in for Brother Bradley King.

Nanus
Mike Talio. Territory: Nusxiq'mc (Green Bay). Ancestral Village: Nusxiq'. Family Crest: Raven. Descendant of: Chief Charlie Nappie, High Chief Stanly Nappie (Old Man Nebbie). Holds his mothers' fathers' chieftainship.

Nuqwlqwliyu
Cecil Moody. Territory: Snutli Creek (Nuxalk Mt).
Ancestral Village: Kimsquit. Family Crest: Raven & Wolf.
Descendant of: Charles Klakamuulth.

Nusyutamayc
Billy Andy Sr. Territory: Nuxalk. Ancestral Village: Slmt. Family Crest: Sun.
Descendant of: Chief Robert Andy Sr. Billy Andy Sr. handed his chieftainship to his son Billy Jr.

Lhmtimut
Samuel Nelson.
Territory: Kwalhnamc (Kwatna). Ancestral Village: Kwatna.
Family Crest:
Descendant of: Chief George Nelson.
 

Nuximlayc
Lawrence Pootlass. Territory: Nuxalk. Ancestral Village: Q'umk'uts', Sts'kiilh. Family Crest: Eagle. Descendant of: Chief Alec Pootlass, Chief Sam Pootlass, Big Chief Adam King.

Sats'alanlh
Peter Schooner. Territory: Nuxalk (Lower Bella Coola Valley). Ancestral Village: Tsmuulh. Family Crest: Eagle & Blackfish. Descendant of: Chief Captain Steam Schooner.

Sixilaaxayc
Noel Pootlass. Territory: Nuxalk. Ancestral Villages: Q'umk'uts' and Sts'kiilh. Family Crest: Eagle. Descendant of: Head Chief Laurence Pootlass and Chief Sam Pootlass.

Slicxwliqw'
Charles Nelson. Territory: Kwalhnamc (Kwatna). Ancestral Village: Kwatna. Family Crest: Grizzly Bear. Descendant of: High Rank Elder Dan Nelson. Chief Lhalyam has held five potlatches.

Snuxyaltwa
Deric Snow. Territory: Taliyuumc (S. Bentinck). Ancestral Village: Talleomy Valley.
Family Crest: Loon, Whale, Thunder. Descendant of: Chief Snuxyaltwa, Louie Snow, Carver of the Chiefs.

Talyu–Hans
Aaron Hans. Territory: Taliyuumc (South Bentinck). Ancestral Village: Nuikw'. Family Crest: Grizzly Bear. Descendant of: Chief Willie Hans, Chief Tallio–Hans.

Tl'alamn
David "Kwatsi" Clellamin.Territory: Upper Nuxalk. Ancestral Village: Stuic. Family Crest: Wolf. Descendant of: Head Chief Anuxim Alexander Clellamin.

Yulatimut
Peter Siwallace. Territory: Sutslhmc (Kimsquit).
Ancestral Village: Satskw' (Kimsquit River). Family Crest: Eagle. Descendant of: Chief Andy Siwallace, High Rank Woman Margaret Siwallace, Chief King Gorge, Chief Peter Nelson.

Ximximlayc
Robert "Skip" Saunders. Territory: Sutslhmc (Kimsquit). Ancestral Village: Nutl'l (Dean River). Family Crest: Eagle. Descendant of: Chief Joe Saunders.

Snxiluulha
Wally Webber.
Territory: 
Ancestral Village:
Family Crest:
Descendant of:

Q'umulha (Sximana Rhonda Schooner Sandoval) – who stands for her father
Sats'alanlh (Peter Schooner) – and Nuqwlqwliyu (Cecil Moody), 1 September 2011.

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