George, Ronald2019-03-072019-03-0720182019-03-07http://hdl.handle.net/1828/10642Abstract This project describes the challenges and impediments members of two clans experienced while growing up and living off-reserve. Members of the Gitimt’en clan and their father clan, the Likhts’amisyu, descendants of Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs Gisdayway (Thomas George), and Tsaybaysa (Mary George) respectively, and which includes the writer, related personal experiences of living off-reserve amidst the dominant colonial culture. Approximately 70% of the total Indigenous population in Canada live off-reserve. These experiences were documented through the Wet’suwet’en hereditary system which is an oral, transparent, publicly witnessed, and ever evolving living history. Through this project, our clan realized commonalities of experience, both positive and negative, as well as potential strategies to continue our hereditary governance system with increased efficiency and unity while we continue, through legislation, to live off-reserve. Consideration that the off-reserve population comprises approximately two thirds of the Indigenous population in Canada, and is yet to be recognized by government authorities, added legal challenges disproportionate to those of the dominant culture, and to the on-reserve population. Research for this project involved increased contact amongst clan members. Through increased contact and discussion, we discovered methods to ensure consultation and inclusion in our hereditary system while living off-reserve. Members of the Gitimt’en clan also worked toward increased communication with the Wet’suwet’en on-reserve population, as well as with both provincial and federal government authorities.enAvailable to the World Wide WebRacist education in CanadaIndigenous Red CurtainRoyal Commission on Aboriginal PeoplesOn/Off-reserve IndiansApartheid in CanadaDecolonisation,Racist legislation and government policyTruth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)Tsebesa (Mary George)General List Indiansresidential schoolsWet'suwet'en Matrilineal hereditary governance systemUnited Native NationsSmogilthgem (Gloria George)Elected chiefs and government controlAssembly of First NationsConstitution ExpressInternal-Internalized ColonialismReconciliationFirst Nations/Status Indians/ Legal Indians,Enfranchised/Non-status Indians/Illegal IndiansGenocidecultural genocideproject