Tina House, APTN Investigates
APTN National News video journalist Tina House from Vancouver tells the deeply personal story of her beloved aunt’s decision to end her life.
As part of her APTN Investigates program, “Dying with Dignity” she met with and recorded the songs of the Lil’wat Nation performed by elder Seis’lom.
This is “Deer Song” a power song to the spirit and soul of the deer to help loved ones in their journey to the spirit world. The song is generally performed in a sweat lodge and the words are asking for kindness and gentleness – praying for the deer to pick up the deceased person and take them home.
Elder Seis’lom was born in Vancouver, B.C. and raised on the Mt. Currie Reservation by his grandparents and extended family.
Revered in the BC Indigenous community, he grew up learning traditions and customs of his people and was very fortunate to retain his ability to speak his traditional language fluently.
He said his grandfather taught him the skills he needed to survive according to their traditional way of life and later in life learned about traditional medicines and learned how to help heal people.
You can watch Tina’s program Dying with Dignity on Friday February 17th after the APTN National News
I am Archie Peters. A direct descendant of Chief Harry Peters. The rightful owner of the Sacred Deer Song. It is not supposed to be digitally or ananlogically recorded for any purpose,let alone broadcast on national television. It is a song more sacred to us than any bible or Koran. Never used in any sweat lodge or meant as a funeral song. You should come to Mount Currie and talk to our clan regarding the misuse of the Deer Song.
I am disturbed by the public domain use of our Grandfather’s song.
My name is Ki7ya, I am the granddaughter of Chief Harry Nkasusa of SAMAHQUAM, of the Stl’atl’imx Tribe, this Deer song belongs to my grandfather, and the Song is called a “Deer Song” but IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT A DEER. This song was meant for winter dancing only, and was taken out of it respectable and traditional setting by people who just like the song. I am troubled by people using the song who don’t even BOTHER learning the background and history of the song. People think I am too picky or to critical about them using this song in the general public, but it belongs to my Family in Samahquam. Yes, the other grandchildren reside elsewhere, but this song’s home is Samahquam. This song is not for public use, nor publicity, or for background music setting. And the song should only be used in its cultural setting with respect to the Family in Samahquam because when the song is used elsewhere, it will cause distress, sickness, and death.
(My aunts post)
My name is Ki7ya, I am the granddaughter of Chief Harry Nkasusa of SAMAHQUAM, of the Stl’atl’imx Tribe, this Deer song belongs to my grandfather, and the Song is called a “Deer Song” but IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT A DEER. This song was meant for winter dancing only, and was taken out of it respectable and traditional setting by people who just like the song. I am troubled by people using the song who don’t even BOTHER learning the background and history of the song. People think I am too picky or to critical about them using this song in the general public, but it belongs to my Family in Samahquam. Yes, the other grandchildren reside elsewhere, but this song’s home is Samahquam. This song is not for public use, nor publicity, or for background music setting. And the song should only be used in its cultural setting with respect to the Family in Samahquam because when the song is used elsewhere, it will cause distress, sickness, and death.