Joseph Gosnell
Encyclopedia
Joseph Arthur Gosnell, Sr., (born June 21, 1936) is a distinguished leader of the Nisga'a
people of northern British Columbia
, Canada
.
The son of Eli and Mary Gosnell, he was born at Arrandale Cannery and grew up in the village of New Aiyansh where he still lives. He received his formal education at St. Michael's Residential School
in Port Alberni, British Columbia. As a young man he worked as a fisherman. He later served as band councillor and became active in the Native Brotherhood of British Columbia
, of which he eventually became chairman. He was also a member of the Pacific Salmon Commission
. He served for many years on the Nisga'a Tribal Council, of which he was elected President in 1992. In these various positions he was instrumental in bringing modern medical care, education, and resource management to the Nass River
Valley. He was the chief Nisga'a representative in the negotiations that led to the signing of the Nisga'a Treaty on 4 August 1998, the first modern treaty between a British Columbia First Nation, Canada, and British Columbia. In November, 2000 he was elected President of the new Nisga'a Lisms government.
A fluent speaker of the Nisga'a language
, he is a member of the Gitlaxt’aamiks Ceremonial Dancers. He holds the noble name Sim'oogit Hleek
. He is married to the former Audrey Adele Munroe with whom he has seven children: Marilyn Arlene, Joseph Wayne, Sharon Marjorie, Theodore Allen, Frank Curtis, Keith Andrew and Kevin Wesley.
He received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws Degree from Royal Roads University
in Colwood
, near Victoria
on October 17, 1997, one from the Opening Learning Agency in Burnaby on May 7, 1999, one from Simon Fraser University
in 2000 and one from the University of Northern British Columbia
on May 26, 2000. He received the Humanitarian Award from the Canadian Labour Congress
in Toronto
on May 6, 1999.
In 1999 he received the Order of British Columbia
.In 2000, Chief Gosnell received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation
. In 2001, he was named an Officer of the Order of Canada
and was promoted to Companion in 2006. In 2002 he received the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal.
Nisga'a
The Nisga’a , often formerly spelled Nishga and spelled in the Nisga’a language as Nisga’a, are an Indigenous nation or First Nation in Canada. They live in the Nass River valley of northwestern British Columbia. Their name comes from a combination of two Nisga’a words: Nisk’-"top lip" and...
people of northern British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
The son of Eli and Mary Gosnell, he was born at Arrandale Cannery and grew up in the village of New Aiyansh where he still lives. He received his formal education at St. Michael's Residential School
Canadian residential school system
-History:Founded in the 19th century, the Canadian Indian residential school system was intended to assimilate the children of the Aboriginal peoples in Canada into European-Canadian society...
in Port Alberni, British Columbia. As a young man he worked as a fisherman. He later served as band councillor and became active in the Native Brotherhood of British Columbia
Native Brotherhood of British Columbia
The Native Brotherhood of British Columbia is a province-wide First Nations rights organization founded in the Tsimshian community of Port Simpson , British Columbia, in 1931. The Tsimshian ethnologist and chief William Beynon and Chief William Jeffrey were among its four founding members...
, of which he eventually became chairman. He was also a member of the Pacific Salmon Commission
Pacific Salmon Commission
The Pacific Salmon Commission is a regulatory body run jointly by the Canadian and United States governments. Its mandate is to protect stocks of the five species of Pacific salmon. Its precursor was the International Pacific Salmon Fisheries Commission, which operated from 1937 to 1985. The PSC...
. He served for many years on the Nisga'a Tribal Council, of which he was elected President in 1992. In these various positions he was instrumental in bringing modern medical care, education, and resource management to the Nass River
Nass River
The Nass River is a river in northern British Columbia, Canada. It flows from the Coast Mountains southwest to Nass Bay, a sidewater of Portland Inlet, which connects to the North Pacific Ocean via the Dixon Entrance...
Valley. He was the chief Nisga'a representative in the negotiations that led to the signing of the Nisga'a Treaty on 4 August 1998, the first modern treaty between a British Columbia First Nation, Canada, and British Columbia. In November, 2000 he was elected President of the new Nisga'a Lisms government.
A fluent speaker of the Nisga'a language
Nisga'a language
Nisga’a is a Tsimshianic language of the Nisga'a people of northwestern British Columbia. Nisga'a people, however, do not like the term Tshimshianic as they feel that it gives precedence to Coast Tsimshian. Nisga’a is very closely related to Gitksan...
, he is a member of the Gitlaxt’aamiks Ceremonial Dancers. He holds the noble name Sim'oogit Hleek
Laxsgiik
The Laxsgiik is the name for the Eagle "clan" in the language of the Tsimshian nation of British Columbia, Canada, and southeast Alaska...
. He is married to the former Audrey Adele Munroe with whom he has seven children: Marilyn Arlene, Joseph Wayne, Sharon Marjorie, Theodore Allen, Frank Curtis, Keith Andrew and Kevin Wesley.
He received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws Degree from Royal Roads University
Royal Roads University
Royal Roads University is a public university located in Colwood, Greater Victoria, British Columbia, that describes itself as "Canada's University for Working Professionals".-Overview:...
in Colwood
Colwood, British Columbia
Colwood is a city located on Vancouver Island to the southwest of Victoria, capital of British Columbia. Colwood was incorporated in 1985 and has a population of approximately 15,000 people. Colwood lies within the boundaries of the Victoria Census Metropolitan area or Capital Regional District,...
, near Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
on October 17, 1997, one from the Opening Learning Agency in Burnaby on May 7, 1999, one from Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University is a Canadian public research university in British Columbia with its main campus on Burnaby Mountain in Burnaby, and satellite campuses in Vancouver and Surrey. The main campus in Burnaby, located from downtown Vancouver, was established in 1965 and has more than 34,000...
in 2000 and one from the University of Northern British Columbia
University of Northern British Columbia
The University of Northern British Columbia is a small, primarily undergraduate university whose main campus is in Prince George, British Columbia. UNBC also has regional campuses in the northern British Columbia cities of Prince Rupert, Terrace, Quesnel, and Fort St. John...
on May 26, 2000. He received the Humanitarian Award from the Canadian Labour Congress
Canadian Labour Congress
The Canadian Labour Congress, or CLC is a national trade union centre, the central labour body in English Canada to which most Canadian labour unions are affiliated.- Formation :...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
on May 6, 1999.
In 1999 he received the Order of British Columbia
Order of British Columbia
The Order of British Columbia is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Instituted in 1989 by Lieutenant Governor David Lam, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier Bill Vander Zalm, the order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to honour...
.In 2000, Chief Gosnell received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation
National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation
The National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation is a nationally registered non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds to deliver programs that provide the tools necessary for Aboriginal peoples in Canada, especially youth to achieve their potential.-About:To date the Foundation through its...
. In 2001, he was named an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
and was promoted to Companion in 2006. In 2002 he received the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal.