REPORTING · 26th November 2009
Merv Ritchie
EDITED 11:00pm November 26,2009, Videos added Story Corrected Friday amNelson Leeson passed away at approximately 3:30 pm Thursday, November 26, in Prince George. Also known as Sim’oogit Axhlaawaals, Leeson was in fragile health for some time. He had suffered a heart attack during a kidney dialysis treatment earlier in the week.
Leeson was elected President of the Nisga’a Nation in October 2004 in the second nationwide election under the Nisga’a Final Agreement.
Hereditary Chief of the Raven/Frog clan he spent over 20 years in various Nisga’a public offices working for the common good of the Nisga'a Nation
He attended residential school in Edmonton and later became a commercial fisherman. He served four terms as Councillor and two terms as Chief Councillor for Greenville (Laxgalts’ap) Village Council.
Leeson was also the Executive Chairperson of the Nisga’a Tribal Council and one of the primary land claims negotiators during the final stages of the historic Nisga’a Final Agreement negotiations in 2000. During his tenure with Nisga’a Tribal Council he served as Chairperson of Public Education and as Chairperson of Resource Working Group.
Mr. Leeson spoke about unity. He seemed to have a vision of bringing all peoples together; regardless of race, religion or nationality.
In this video, welcoming and congatulating Ali Howard as she swam the entire length of the Skeena River to raise awareness of the issues, Leeson again spoke about unity. Watch it
HEREVideo of Nelson Leeson welcoming the First Nations Elders to the 33rd Elders Gathering in Terrace BC
HERE.
Video of Nelson Leeson as Hereditary Chief of the Nisga'a asking Tsimshian for Permission to use buildings on their land for Elders gathering Celebration and Feast
HERE 
Nelson Leeson with the Stanley Cup in Terrace - Photo by Wanda Simpson
Acknowledging Skeena Swimmer Ali Howards efforts in Uniting all the Peoples of the Northwest at Kitsumkalum in August 2009.
Leeson and other Nisga'a Hereditary Chiefs at the Elders Gathering addressing the Kitsumkalum of the Tsimshian Nation requesting permission to hold celebration and feast on their lands.
Hesquiat Shaman explains Nisga'a
Comment by jamey sterritt on 12th December 2009
Why are our cousins called Nisga'a?
Why do they call their River the Naas?
Existentialism predicates only 3 real phenomena in the Universe: Language, things, and truth. All language deals with the same objects, and only the truth determines what is good and what is evil.
But what is the Truth? The question Jesus demurred to answer.
Truth is the story all the languages tell about the things, and that story has two parts: the knowing and the telling. Now we know our Law is based on the same formula: Adaawk, and Ayoak: the telling and the establishing.
Much is made of the thought that it is a good idea to use force to establish order but what is the condition of the world produced by that premise? It is not good. What world has this become when the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to a war monger (mongers sell their wares.)
I believe life is a simple process intended to create a beautiful experience and I contend that the reason for the evil in the world is the drastic deviation from the true story of the world that is driven by false dogma and incorrect ideas about reality. The key figure in my theory, therefore, is Jesus. And then my theory incorporates the Kilauts (what Haida know us as; the three People), and the Potlatch culture directly, and in Name, into the story of Jesus. We are supposed to translate the Gospel into reality based on our ownership of the Land (meaning all the land in the world).
We, the Tsalmalkit speakers, descend from the tribes of the Three Wise Men, and we are the Meek.
The URLs below introduce the Nisga'a to themselves and encourages them to assume a greater role beyond the Naas. Do not sit on your successes, and do not entertain the idea that it is wise, even possible, to restrict yourselves to your Valley, and survive as Nisga'a. The world waited to the very last to meet us, after all other peoples had been introduced to Euro concepts of law (force).
We are the Chosen and the true along the straight and the narrow. We live what Jesus foretold, but have been sidetracked by some one else's attempt to steal the story of the truth from us.
The world needs us now and Jesus bids me say so.
These Urls are from my comments addended to Nelson's 3 world-wide speeches (via internet).
http://ca.video.yahoo.com/watch/5523707/14525381
http://ca.video.yahoo.com/watch/6498395/16850376?v=6498395
There is a formula laid down by which we resume telling the truth. The truth belongs to Potlatch. When our model of society is seen in the context of the existing land holding system, all the other people of the world will rush to sign up with us and earn rights to enter Potlatch.
There will be no more war, ever.
Jesus told me all of this that I have written for you to read.
Our Deepest Condolences to the Leeson Family
Comment by Verna J. Tolmie on 28th November 2009
It has been two full days since Nelson's passing and I am still in shock and very sad about losing a very dear friend.
First of all, I'd like to thank The Prince Rupert Daily News for providing us with such memorable pictures and videos of our great leader, Nelson Leeson, who will be fondly remembered by many people for years to come. I knew that Nelson played a big role in providing representation at all levels of government but your coverage provided a better perspective of his immeasurable inspiration for all to know and embrace his short life.
I had the privilege of working with Nelson in the late 70's and early 80's when the Land Claims issues first surfaced. He took the bull by the horn and worked very hard to make sure that the native people living in the North receive the information that they needed to understand the changes that will afffect their daily lives.
Nelson spearheaded the inclusion of his people when the Ridley Island mega-projects became a reality during the 80's. He knew how important the employment
opportunities were for the young people and forged a path for them to be able to obtain a Union Card with the Unions of the day.
I attended the Elders' Gathering in Terrace last summer and I was so happy to see Nelson again after many years. He was so proud of the Nisga'a Nation people who helped in any way and capacity to make it a huge success - especially the young people in the Culinary Arts Program who provided three meals a day for a week to thousands of people, what excellent work! The Talent Show also made him very proud to see all of the people who participated and provided entertainment for all to enjoy.
After listening to the videos that the Prince Rupert Daily News included in the article, I could hear Nelson's passionate plea to all of us to be the ambassodors to promote unity with each other and the world.
I am hoping that the memorial and funeral coverage will be made available through any media outlet because many of us will not be able to attend this very historic passing.
My thoughts and prayers are sent to the Leeson family especially Noreen, Richard, Andrea & the rest of Nelson's immediate family.
