Andy Paull
Encyclopedia
Andy Paull, (February 6, 1892 - July 28, 1959) was a Sḵwxwú7mesh leader, activist, coach, and lawyer.
on Burrard Inlet
before it was banned by the Canadian government in 1885. Paull was raised in the village of St'a7mes
, near Squamish, British Columbia
, but later his family moved to the village of Eslha7an
in North Vancouver, British Columbia
where he began to attend St. Paul's Indian Residential School
when it first opened in 1899. After six years at residential school, Paull spent two years learning from local Sḵwxwú7mesh chiefs. Paull's time at residential school was clearly important to him as he maintained a close relationship with a number of the oblate
s and nun
s for his entire life. Nevertheless, he held his Sḵwxwú7mesh "education" to be at least equally important:
In 1907, he began on-the-job training with the law offices of Hugh St. Quentin Cayley, and spent four years there learning the practice of law. He never became a professional lawyer, as he would have to become "enfranchised
" (and give up his Indian status) to join the bar association. He worked instead as a longshoreman, as secretary to Chief Harry of Eslha7an
. But after the Canadian federal government made it illegal for indigenous peoples in the country to organize funds for land claims issues, the Allied Tribes of BC quickly dissolved. At home he organized bands, orchestras, athletic teams and labor groups. In 1942 he become the business manager for the Native Brotherhood of British Columbia
, but in 1942 he split with the organization and formed the North American Indian Brotherhood, an organization that later become the Assembly of First Nations
. He spoke against enfranchisement for Aboriginals saying, "You would be merely selling your birthright for the doubtful privilege of putting a cross on a ballot every four years." A number of issues he fought for were Aboriginal rights and title
, education, potlatch
ing, and political organizing.
Early life and family
Born to Dan Paull and Theresa Paull (née Lacket-Joe) of a prominent family, and was known to have a particularly close relationship with his maternal grandmother. It was his grandmother that gave him the name Xwechtáal ("the Serpent Slayer"), passed down from a legendary ancestor. His maternal grandfather was known as "Hundred Dollar Charlie," who reportedly gave the last potlatchPotlatch
A potlatch is a gift-giving festival and primary economic system practiced by indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast of Canada and United States. This includes Heiltsuk Nation, Haida, Nuxalk, Tlingit, Makah, Tsimshian, Nuu-chah-nulth, Kwakwaka'wakw, and Coast Salish cultures...
on Burrard Inlet
Burrard Inlet
Burrard Inlet is a relatively shallow-sided coastal fjord in southwestern British Columbia, Canada. Formed during the last Ice Age, it separates the City of Vancouver and the rest of the low-lying Burrard Peninsula from the slopes of the North Shore Mountains, home to the communities of West...
before it was banned by the Canadian government in 1885. Paull was raised in the village of St'a7mes
St'a7mes
St'a7mes is a village/reserve of the Indigenous Sḵwxwú7mesh, located near Squamish, British Columbia. One of the smaller villages, it houses many members of their nation. The village is also the center for administrative, educational and health services in the Upper Squamish region. The...
, near Squamish, British Columbia
Squamish, British Columbia
Squamish is a community and a district municipality in the Canadian province of British Columbia, located at the north end of Howe Sound on the Sea to Sky Highway...
, but later his family moved to the village of Eslha7an
Eslha7an
Eslha7an is a Sḵwxwú7mesh village community located on the shores of North Vancouver, British Columbia. The name is from the Sḵwxwú7mesh language, translating as head bay, denoted what used to be the farthest out reaching bay enclave in the Burrard Inlet...
in North Vancouver, British Columbia
North Vancouver, British Columbia
There are two municipalities in the Greater Vancouver region of British Columbia, Canada, that use the name North Vancouver. These are:*The City of North Vancouver...
where he began to attend St. Paul's Indian 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...
when it first opened in 1899. After six years at residential school, Paull spent two years learning from local Sḵwxwú7mesh chiefs. Paull's time at residential school was clearly important to him as he maintained a close relationship with a number of the oblate
Oblate
An oblate spheroid is a rotationally symmetric ellipsoid having a polar axis shorter than the diameter of the equatorial circle whose plane bisects it. Oblate spheroids stand in contrast to prolate spheroids....
s and nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
s for his entire life. Nevertheless, he held his Sḵwxwú7mesh "education" to be at least equally important:
In 1907, he began on-the-job training with the law offices of Hugh St. Quentin Cayley, and spent four years there learning the practice of law. He never became a professional lawyer, as he would have to become "enfranchised
Gradual Civilization Act
The Act to Encourage the Gradual Civilization of Indian Tribes in this Province, and to Amend the Laws Relating to Indians was a bill passed by the 5th Parliament of the Province of Canada in 1857....
" (and give up his Indian status) to join the bar association. He worked instead as a longshoreman, as secretary to Chief Harry of Eslha7an
Activism
Paull eventually moved onto organizing in political struggles on behalf of his people, and indigenous peoples across the country. In 1927 he testified before a special joint committee in Ottawa as an executive and secretary of the Allied Tribes of British ColumbiaAllied Tribes of British Columbia
The Allied Tribes of British Columbia was an Indigenous rights organization formed following the First World War. There were 16 tribal groups involved, all focused on the issues of land claims and aboriginal title in British Columbia....
. But after the Canadian federal government made it illegal for indigenous peoples in the country to organize funds for land claims issues, the Allied Tribes of BC quickly dissolved. At home he organized bands, orchestras, athletic teams and labor groups. In 1942 he become the business manager for 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...
, but in 1942 he split with the organization and formed the North American Indian Brotherhood, an organization that later become the Assembly of First Nations
Assembly of First Nations
The Assembly of First Nations , formerly known as the National Indian Brotherhood, is a body of First Nations leaders in Canada...
. He spoke against enfranchisement for Aboriginals saying, "You would be merely selling your birthright for the doubtful privilege of putting a cross on a ballot every four years." A number of issues he fought for were Aboriginal rights and title
Aboriginal title
Aboriginal title is a common law doctrine that the land rights of indigenous peoples to customary tenure persist after the assumption of sovereignty under settler colonialism...
, education, potlatch
Potlatch
A potlatch is a gift-giving festival and primary economic system practiced by indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast of Canada and United States. This includes Heiltsuk Nation, Haida, Nuxalk, Tlingit, Makah, Tsimshian, Nuu-chah-nulth, Kwakwaka'wakw, and Coast Salish cultures...
ing, and political organizing.
Further reading
- Andy Paull: As I Knew Him and Understood His Times Dunlop, Herbert Francis. (Vancouver: The Order of the O.M.I. of St. Paul's Province, 1989).
- “’I Have Lots of Help Behind Me, Lots of Books, To Convince You’: Andrew Paull and the value of literacy in English.” Brendan F.R. Edwards. BC Studies 164 (Winter/Spring, 2010).
- http://www.abcbookworld.com/?state=view_author&author_id=7545 Retrieved November 21, 2007
- http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0006151 Retrieved November 21, 2007