April 9, 1941 - April 9, 2020
It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Neil John Sterritt on April 9th, 2020, in Williams Lake, BC.
Neil is survived by Barbara his loving wife of 56 years, sons: Gordon (Cici) and Jamie, grandchildren: Todd (Brittany), Cory (Makayla), Kreg, Elena, Cassidie and great-grandson Knox.
Also survived by sister Shirley Muldon (Earl), brothers Jamey, Arthur (Patricia), Richard (Marlese), Roger (Josie), stepmother Barbara Jean, sister-in-law Teri Hepplewhite and many nieces, nephews and relatives and friends around the world.
He was predeceased by his father Neil Benjamin and his mother, Alma Jean.
Born and raised in Hazelton, BC, Neil's love for the land and its people was evident through all stages and aspects of his life. His hereditary name was Madiigam Gyamk, from the Gitxsan House of Gitluudaahlxw.
Neil met his wife to be (Barbara Hepplewhite) at Gladstone Secondary, graduating in 1960. He attended UBC and eventually enrolled in the Mining Diploma program at BCIT, where he emerged from the first BCIT graduating class in 1966.
Life took him many places, living and working throughout BC, Yukon, Manitoba, Ireland, Arizona, Ottawa and eventually 150 Mile House. While these were all special to him, his home was always Hazelton and their beloved Temlaham Ranch on the banks of the Skeena River.
His early career included logging with his father and working in mining exploration during the summers while still attending school. He worked for Kennecott Exploration, Amax Exploration, 'Ksan Historical Village, the Gitxsan-Wet'suwet'en Tribal Council, Assembly of First Nations and with countless First Nations communities and organizations throughout BC and the Yukon.
Always working with and on behalf of his nation, he helped advance Aboriginal Rights and Title at the local, Provincial and National levels. Much of his work set the stage that launched the precedent-setting aboriginal rights case, Delgamuukw v. The Queen, where in 1988, he spent 33 days on the stand as an expert witness defending the knowledge of Gitxsan Elders and leaders.
He was also co-chair of the Federal-Provincial constitutional round on Aboriginal Issues for the Charlottetown Accord and a mediator during the Oka Crisis.
In 1992 Neil established Sterritt Consulting, where until just recently, he utilized his vast experience to assist indigenous organizations with aboriginal and treaty rights, self-government and leadership skills development.
Neil participated on many governing bodies, including the Nicole Valley Institute of Technology, Royal BC Museum and Royal Canadian Geographical Society, as well as many commissions and committees worldwide. This included extensive work and speaking engagements in Australia, New Zealand, Norway, East Malaysia, Thailand and the United States.
He authored many articles, papers and books of which his pride was "Mapping My Way Home, A Gitxsan History". A culmination of years spent researching his Gitxsan and European roots. The book received the 2017 BC Book Prize Roderick Haig-Brown Award and second place in the 2017 BC Historical Federation for Historical Writing.
Considered by many to be an extraordinary man for his passion, humility and integrity, everything he did, he poured his heart into. He was extremely honoured and proud to be awarded the Queen Elizabeth Golden Jubilee Medal (2002), Honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from the University of Toronto (2008) and University of Victoria (2017) and the Order of British Columbia (2017).
While this is a short glimpse into his incredible life and accomplishments, of which his most significant was his family - in Neil's words if you would like to know more, "... it's in the book".
In lieu of flowers or donations, we ask that you spend time with your loved ones, enjoy the outdoors or raise a glass of your finest and toast to lasting, lifelong friendships and beyond. This is what he would wish for you.
At a time when we can safely gather, a Celebration of Neil's life will be held in Hazelton BC.