Fish-WIKS News

It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that Fish-WIKS says goodbye to Mi'kmaw Grand Chief Ben Sylliboy who passed away Thursday Nov 29 at age 76. Grand Chief Sylliboy will be forever remembered by friends, families and communities. Dalhousie released the below Memorandum. Fish-WIKS would like to extend it's condolences to Grand Chief Sylliboy's friends and family. 

MEMORANDUM

To:             The Dalhousie University community

From:        Ian Nason, Vice-President Finance and Administration

Date:         December 4, 2017

Re:            Condolences on the passing of Mi’kmaw Grand Chief Ben Sylliboy


On behalf of President Richard Florizone, I am writing to express the Dalhousie University community’s condolences on the passing of Mi’kmaw Grand Chief Ben Sylliboy, who died Thursday afternoon at the age of 76. 

Grand Chief Sylliboy lived a purpose-driven life, one guided by a deep commitment to the Mi’kmaw Nation and its people. As Grand Chief since 1991, he led the Mi’kmaq Sante’ Mawio’mi (Grand Council), the traditional government that brings together the seven traditional districts of Mi’kma’ki. His loss is being felt across our province and the Atlantic region. 

On Friday, campus flags, in Halifax and Truro were lowered to half-mast to honor his work and legacy.   

The following biography of Grand Chief Sylliboy was provided by alumnus Jarvis Googoo from the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nation Chiefs (APCFNC) to introduce the Grand Chief at the 25th Anniversary of the Schulich School of Law’s Indigenous Black & Mi’kmaq Initiative back in March 2015.
 
“Humbleness, Compassionate and Understanding are words that describe Grand Chief Benjamin Sylliboy. For the Mi’kmaq these are important qualities for our leaders of the Grand Council. To understand the Leadership of the Mi’kmaq Grand Council or Sante Mawiomi one must understand that there is no hierarchy within the Mi’kmaq Grand Council meaning that with the role of Grand Chief or Keptin comes no great reward or prestige, rather it means a life of service to the Mi’kmaq nation without monetary compensation. Through his lifelong commitment to his community and the Mi’kmaq, Grand Chief Ben Sylliboy has become a respected Elder and Statesmen for the Mi’kmaq community.
 
Grand Chief Ben Sylliboy was born in the Mi’kmaq Community of Wekoqma in Nova Scotia. Ben grew up in modest house hold, as many Mi’kmaq at the time which lived with modest means of supporting themselves. At the age of six Ben was sent to the Indian Residential School in Shubenacadie, where his parents believed he would receive a good education because of the Nuns and Priests who taught there. As many Mi’kmaq who attended the residential schools Ben’s time there was filled with hardships but he is thankful that he was only there for four years.
 
After the Residential school, Grand Chief Sylliboy moved back to his home community and within months was infected with Tuberculosis, this sickness would last 18 months where he was in and out of hospitals. It was when he was finally healthy that Grand Chief Sylliboy attended the Indian Day school for four years until he received a job clear cutting for power lines.
 
Grand Chief Sylliboy was first selected as keptin by his community in 1968, because of his continued engagement with the community and always being one who was known for being willing to help out community members and the church. A keptin is a life long position of great honour often referred to as a heridetarial or life chief in other parts of Canada. A keptin is a leader within his community and make up members of the Mi’kmaq Grand Council.
 
At the time the role of the Mi’kmaq Grand Council was very spiritual and involved promoting the community faith and culture. As a Keptin then for the Mi’kmaq Grand Council Grand Chief Sylliboy made it a priority to be there for fellow community members during deaths in the community as well as other spiritual and cultural events. In 1970 he was elected as an Indian Act Band Councilor, which is an elected form of leadership in the Mi’kmaq Reserves. He served 9 terms as councilor for his community.

In 1991 he was informed by the Putus of the Grand Council Charlie Herney that then Grand Chief Donald Marshall who was very ill had asked that “Ben take on the role of interim Grand Chief.” This came to a surprise to Grand Chief Sylliboy who took on the role as requested but to this day still wonders what qualities that the late Grand Chief saw in him. During the following summer at the feast of St. Anne Grand Chief Sylliboy would be made permanent Grand Chief by the Keptins of the Mi’kmaq Grand Council. 

Grand Chief Ben Sylliboy continues to be the grand chief today for the Mi’kmaq Grand Council. Through out the years Ben has seen the Mi’kmaq Grand Council continue to promote the culture and spirituality of the Mi’kmaq. He also has been a part of the renewal of the Mi’kmaq Grand Council role as governing body within the Mi’kmaq that focuses on the recognition and implementation of Aboriginal and Treaty rights. Over the years Grand Chief Sylliboy has consulted with many elders who have continued to guide him, he is a firm believer that Mi’kmaq Leadership as with all leaders need to be educated; however he also states that education of the Mi’kmaq ways must be taught alongside normal education especially the history of the Mi’kmaq.