Raven bloodlines, Tsimshian identity: An autoethnographic account of Tsimshian Wil'naat'al, politics, pedagogy, and law

Raven Bloodlines, Tsimshian Identity is an ethnographic discussion on the sociopolitical values lived by the Tsimshian. This thesis is written from my own Tsimshian perspective, describing my pedagogical journey of Tsimshian identity, politics, and law in a matrilineal society. This thesis aims to recognize the inclusiveness and importance of matrilineal ties between intertribal communities, and highlight how western interpretations of anthropological literature have led to colonial influence in areas such as individualized rights, responsibilities, and land ownership amongst the Tsimshian. I interviewed the Tsimshian Hereditary Chiefs of my phratry to gain insight into the responsibility held to one’s family, community, and nation. By understanding and living ancestral sociopolitical values, my work aims to add to the discussion of Indigenous methods, ethnography, and pedagogy, while helping the reader gain insight into Tsimshian sociopolitical structure and its influence on intertribal relationships.