AV俱乐部

The Indigenous Blacks & Mi'kmaq (IB&M) Initiative and the Schulich School of Law at AV俱乐部 community are saddened to learn of the passing of Mi鈥檏maw Grand Chief Ben Sylliboy of Waycobah First Nation in Cape Breton, who died peacefully of natural causes on November 30, 2017, at the age of 76 at Cape Breton Regional Hospital.

鈥淥ur thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time,鈥� says IB&M Initiative Director Michelle Williams. 鈥淕rand Chief Sylliboy honoured us with an opening prayer at the IB&M Initiative鈥檚 25th anniversary, and we greatly appreciated his wisdom, leadership, and generous spirit.鈥�

Law school alumnus Jarvis Googoo (LLB 鈥�08) provided the following biography of Grand Chief Sylliboy from the as written by alumnus Jaime Battiste (LLB 鈥�04) in 2010. Battiste was a legal advisor to Grand Chief Sylliboy and the Mi鈥檏maq Grand Council and is currently Nova Scotia鈥檚 Treaty Education Lead:

Humbleness, Compassionate and Understanding are words that describe Grand Chief Benjamin Sylliboy. For the Mi鈥檏maq these are important qualities for our leaders of the Grand Council. To understand the Leadership of the Mi鈥檏maq Grand Council or Sante Mawiomi one must understand that there is no hierarchy within the Mi鈥檏maq 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鈥檏maq nation without monetary compensation. Through his lifelong commitment to his community and the Mi鈥檏maq, Grand Chief Ben Sylliboy has become a respected Elder and Statesmen for the Mi鈥檏maq community.

Grand Chief Ben Sylliboy was born in the Mi鈥檏maq Community of Wekoqma in Nova Scotia. Ben grew up in a modest household, as many Mi鈥檏maq 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鈥檏maq who attended the residential schools Ben鈥檚 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鈥檏maq Grand Council.

At the time the role of the Mi鈥檏maq Grand Council was very spiritual and involved promoting the community faith and culture. As a Keptin then for the Mi鈥檏maq 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鈥檏maq Reserves. He served nine terms as councilor for his community.

In 1992 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 鈥淏en take on the role of interim Grand Chief.鈥� 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鈥檏maq Grand Council.

Grand Chief Ben Sylliboy continues to be the grand chief today for the Mi鈥檏maq Grand Council. Through out the years Ben has seen the Mi鈥檏maq Grand Council continue to promote the culture and spirituality of the Mi鈥檏maq. He also has been a part of the renewal of the Mi鈥檏maq Grand Council role as governing body within the Mi鈥檏maq 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鈥檏maq Leadership as with all leaders need to be educated; however he also states that education of the Mi鈥檏maq ways must be taught alongside normal education especially the history of the Mi鈥檏maq.

Grand Chief Sylliboy continues to be a part of meetings with other leaders today and believes unity will help the Mi鈥檏maq in the future. He holds strong to the vision that the Mi鈥檏maq should one day determine for themselves rather then government who is a Mi鈥檏maq and community member. Grand Chief Sylliboy continues his role today with great humility and understanding of the Mi鈥檏maq people. He continues to live in Wekoqmaq First Nation with his wife and he has 2 grandchildren. Despite ongoing Health problems Grand Chief Sylliboy continues to attend as many functions as he can and continues to be a respected leader within the Mi鈥檏maq community.