How I Became a Gitxsan/Gitksan Woman Singer

First of all.......I was born into a Gitksan Family! I was blessed as a child to learn the Language of my people. My grandparents always spoke their language around me; so I basically started speaking it at a young age. I thought it was great to be able to converse with my grandparents in their tongue and earn their respect! The Language I think is beautiful......for others to learn it --it may seem difficult! All in all....I'm a lucky girl to have learned and to be able to speak the Language! One day in the Summer of 1969, my grandmother was asked if she was able to sing her songs by a very famous First Nation Man. She said, "Yes". Now she was asked to teach me a song or two, so I could sing for the First Salmon Festival they had in Prince Rupert, B.C. Canada. So my grandmother taught me the songs......and the rest is History....as they Say! I've had the wonderful privilege of singing these songs for a long time now! That is how the Gitksan Woman Singer came to be! I will talk to you tomorrow when the Sun shall Rise again!!!