Joseph Gosnell

Background

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.

Career

He received his formal education at Saint Michael"s Residential School in Portuguese 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 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. He holds the noble name Sim"oogit Hleek.

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.

In 1999 he received the Order of British Columbia. As of 2012, he is serving as the first Visiting Distinguished Indigenous Scholar in Residence at the Vancouver School of Theology.

Achievements

• He received the Humanitarian Award from the Canadian Labour Congress in Toronto on May 6, 1999. In 2000, Chief Gosnell received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation. 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 Meda

Membership

He was also a member of the Pacific Salmon Commission. A fluent speaker of the Nisga"a language, he is a member of the Gitlaxt’aamiks Ceremonial Dancers.