Chief's Page
There are a number of qualities that people look for in quality leadership. Some believe that they need to have good mental, spiritual, and emotional characteristics. It is also believed that they have an active involvement in their community.
Chief Louis
Chief Louis born in 1828 was Kamloops Indian Band chief from 1855 until his death in 1915. Petit Louis or Hli Kleh Kan, was a dominant figure in the development of the Kamloops region and the construction of St. Joseph's Church. He was recognized as one of the best chiefs in the Interior. On several occasions he went to Ottawa in an attempt to negotiate for more land for his people and traveled to England to plead the case for the Band to Queen Victoria. His leadership did much to improve the oppressed condition of his people during the critical period of white settlement.
George Manuel
George Manuel was born February 17, 1921, into the Secwepemc Nation. In his early years he farmed, logged and worked in a saw mill to support his family. He became a civil rights activist during the 1950's. In 1970 he embarked on the task of building the newly formed National Indian Brotherhood into the national political vehicle for First Nations people of Canada. By 1975 he continued his plight for unity amongst indigenous people of the world by founding the international World Council of Indigenous People. He truly believed that Indigenous Peoples could gain back what they once possessed - an adequate land base and rights to self-determination within those territories. His vision was the Aboriginal Rights Position Paper, which was the organizational structure and process to work together, to gain independence and become self-sufficient.
His many awards and recognitions include three nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize, the Order of Canada 1986, an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Law from the University of British Columbia 1983, and his most prestigious recognition -being honored by his people as their Chief for life.
In 1977 he left the National Indian Brotherhood (now the Assembly of First Nations) to head the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs which became known as the "people's movement." In a short time, under the leadership of George Manuel the UBCIC took on the fisheries officers through "fish-ins" and the non-native social welfare system through its Indian Child Caravan. Then, during the Constitutional debate of 1980, George Manuel led the Constitution Express of 1,000 Indians from across Canada to Ottawa to protest Constitutional plans to extinguish Aboriginal rights. Since then many have given Manuel credit for the amendments to the Constitutional package that provided the opening for the constitutional discussions with the First Nations during the 1980's, which the leadership of the Assembly of First Nations (NIB) was able to use to extract from the federal and provincial governments recognition that First Nations had the inherent right to govern themselves.
George Manuel passed away on November 15, 1989. George Manuel will continue to live through all the people who came to know him and love him; he will continue to live through his history of Indigenous Peoples, in Canada and the World (The Fourth World).Chief William
Williams Lake was named from the first hereditary Chief William. He was one of the four Chiefs named William of the Williams Lake Indian Band.
The first Chief William died of smallpox in 1862 and was buried in the Glendale/Comer area in Williams Lake near the original Indian encampment. The remains of his grave could still be seen in the 1950's but it has since disappeared. This presumably was the Chief William who averted war between the white people and the natives in 1859.
The second Chief William, who reigned almost continuously from 1862 to 1896, was quite dignified and well liked by his people. He did fall out of favour for a time in 1884 and was replaced by his trusted friend and councilor Tomabusket. This chief died in 1888 and William again took over the reign of power.
His son Baptiste, who was termed "nice, smart, real good for the people," succeeded him. When Baptiste died in 1917, his brother Adrian William, also known as "Tillian," replaced Chief William. He was a very strict chief and highly respected. He wouldn't allow gambling or alcohol on the reserve.
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