Harriet Nahanee also known as Tseybayotl-t (December 7, 1935 – February 24, 2007) was an

indigenous rights Indigenous rights are those rights that exist in recognition of the specific condition of the Indigenous peoples. This includes not only the most basic human rights of physical survival and integrity, but also the rights over their land (includ ...

activist, residential school alumna, and environmental activist. She was born in

British Columbia British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...

, Canada. She comes from the Pacheedaht who are part of the

Nuu-chah-nulth The Nuu-chah-nulth (; Nuučaan̓uł: ), also formerly referred to as the Nootka, Nutka, Aht, Nuuchahnulth or Tahkaht, are one of the indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast in Canada. The term Nuu-chah-nulth is used to describe fifte ...

Indigenous Indigenous may refer to: *Indigenous peoples *Indigenous (ecology), presence in a region as the result of only natural processes, with no human intervention *Indigenous (band), an American blues-rock band *Indigenous (horse), a Hong Kong racehorse ...

peoples from the

Vancouver Island Vancouver Island is an island in the northeastern Pacific Ocean and part of the Canadian Provinces and territories of Canada, province of British Columbia. The island is in length, in width at its widest point, and in total area, while are o ...

. As a child, Nahanee attended both Ahousaht Residential School and Alberni Residential School, and would later testify about the horrible treatment she received there. She married into the Squamish (Sḵwxwú7mesh). Harriet was sentenced to two weeks in a provincial jail in January 2007 for criminal contempt of court for her part in the

Sea-to-Sky Highway Highway 99 is a provincial highway in British Columbia that serves Greater Vancouver and the Squamish–Lillooet corridor over a length of . It is a major north–south artery within Vancouver and connects the city to several suburbs as well a ...

expansion protest at Eagleridge Bluffs. She was then hospitalized with pneumonia a week after her release from the jail, at which time doctors discovered she had lung cancer. She died of pneumonia and complications at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver on February 24, 2007, one month after her original sentencing. Nahanee had been weak from the flu and asthma in January, and it was widely suspected that Nahanee's condition worsened during her incarceration at the Surrey Pre-Trial Centre. An independent public inquiry into her death was called for in the

Legislative Assembly of British Columbia The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia is the deliberative assembly of the Parliament of British Columbia, in the province of British Columbia, Canada. The Legislative Assembly meets in Victoria, British Columbia, Victoria. Members ar ...

on March 5. Solicitor-General

John Les John Les (born 1951 or 1952) is a Canadian politician and former member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for British Columbia. He has served as Parliamentary Secretary for Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) information, Minister of Small Business and ...

said the provincial government expressed regret for the passing but denied any government responsibility and refused opposition requests for an inquiry.''Legislative Assembly of British Columbia''. Hansard Services. Afternoon Session, March 5, 2007
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In the Spirit of Warrior Harriet Nahanee Weblog
– Weblog created on updates following Harriet's previous work, and the case following her death. 1935 births 2007 deaths Squamish people (individuals) Canadian environmentalists Canadian women environmentalists Anti-corporate activists First Nations activists Indigenous leaders in British Columbia Women in British Columbia politics Nuu-chah-nulth people First Nations women in politics Deaths from pneumonia in British Columbia 20th-century First Nations people 21st-century First Nations people {{NorthAm-native-bio-stub

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