Justa Monk
Justa Monk (1942-2018) was a leader of the Dakelh people of the central interior of British Columbia. He was known as a strong advocate for indigenous rights, for protection of the environment, especially fishery, and for the maintenance of his Carrier language.[1] [2] The first part of his life was documented in a full-length biography by Bridget Moran.[3]
Early life
[edit]Born the youngest of nine children on November 20, 1942, and raised in Tachie[4] , he grew up on the land and was a fluent speaker of the Carrier language.[5] He spoke only Carrier until he was 10 years old and started school at Lejac Residential School, where he was forbidden to speak his language.[6] He and his brother ran away from the abuse at Lejac when he was 14, in grade 7, during a tuberculosis outbreak.[7][8] He worked in the forest industry for the next ten years.[4] In 1967, when he was 24, while drunk, he stabbed his brother John with a hunting knife, killing him, for which he served a prison sentence of two years less a day.[7] After further education in Dawson Creek he returned to Tachie where he worked for the band, Tl'azt'en Nation, in maintenance,[4] initially driving a snow plow.[6]
Political career
[edit]Monk eventually became band manager, the top staff position, and was then elected chief. He focused on bringing electricity and clean water to the village and on improving roads.[4] He was also instrumental in founding Tanizul Timber, a company owned by Tl'azt'en Nation, which obtained Tree Farm License 42, the first tree farm license owned by a First Nation.[9]
He was the founding chief of the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council, serving from 1981 to 1983 and again from 1990 to 1994.[5] In this role he pushed for self-government for indigenous people and for the closure of the Prince George office of the Department of Indian Affairs and for the reassignment of its budget to First Nations.[4] He played a major role in the ultimately successful opposition to the Kemano Completion Project, which would have further reduced the flow of water in the Nechako River.[10][7]
He also served as co-chair of the Northwest Treaty Tribal Nations.[1] At the provincial level, he served two terms as co-chair of the First Nations Summit.[1]
He continued to serve his community until poor health intervened. He was elected Tl'azt'en Nation chief in December 2013[11] and served until his resignation in 2017.[12]
Personal life
[edit]Monk was married twice. With his first wife, Theresa Monk, he had five children: Sharon Monk, Bonita Monk, Darcy Monk, Justa Monk Jr., and Shania Monk.[6]
He died on March 14, 2018, in Tachie.[12] He was buried in Tachie on March 19, 2018.[13]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "First Nations Summit statement on the passing of respected Dakelh leader Justa Monk". First Nations Summit. 2018-03-15. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
- ^ "Assembly of First Nations Offers Condolences, Remembers Justa Monk". Assembly of First Nations. 2018-03-16. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
- ^ Moran, Bridget (1994). Justa. Vancouver: Arsenal Pulp Press. ISBN 978-1551520148.
- ^ a b c d e Kurjata, Andrew (2018-03-15). "First Nations leadership 'icon' Justa Monk dead at 75". CBC. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
- ^ a b "Carrier Sekani mourns loss of former Chief Justa Monk". PG Daily. 2018-03-14. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
- ^ a b c Hoekstra, Gordon (2018-03-15). "Northern B.C. First Nations leader Justa Monk dies at age 75". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
- ^ a b c Geernaert, Barbara (2018-03-15). "Monk remembered for leadership". Prince George Citizen. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
- ^ Godbout, Neil (2018-03-16). "Justa Monk's life should inspire all". Prince George Citizen. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
- ^ Booth, Annie; Bird, Beverly. "Forestry and Community in the Tl'azt'en Nation". Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
- ^ Wagg, Dana (1994). "Carrier Sekani appeal to U.S. president". Windspeaker. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
- ^ Lloyd, Ruth (2013-12-02). "Tl'azt'en elects Justa Monk chief". Caledonia Courier. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
- ^ a b "Justa Monk Passes". CKPG Today. 2018-03-14. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
- ^ Hansen, Catherine (2018-03-19). "Justa Monk Remembered". CKPG Today. Retrieved 2023-10-06.