Tribute to Bill Wilson, Hemas Kla-Lee-Lee-Kla

Bill was born to Charles William Wilson and Ethel Christine Johnson (Pugledee) on April 6, 1944, in Comox, B.C. He was from the Musgasmagw Dzawada’enuxw and Laich-Kwil-Tach peoples, part of the Kwakwaka’wakw Nation and a member of the We Wai Kai (Cape Mudge). His mother, Pugladee, which means ‘a good host’, is the highest-ranking name in the Eagle Clan.

In 1992, he was given the name Hemas Kla-Lee-Lee-Kla, which means ‘Number one amongst the eagles, the Chief that is always there to help’. He was our Hereditary Chief.

Through the efforts of his parents, Bill was able to attend Comox Elementary, Robb Road and Courtenay Senior High School, where he was one of the first, if not the first, First Nations student. In high school, he met Sandra Raylene Wilson (nee Hindle), to whom he was married for 9 years.

Bill worked from an early age, when at the age of 12 he began to help manage his father’s fishing plant in Comox. At 13, at his father’s insistence, Bill went gillnetting in Rivers Inlet as the Captain of his own fishing boat.

Bill’s parents ignored his wish to quit school at age 15 and become a full-time fisherman. Rather, they insisted he carry on his schooling. After graduating from the University of Victoria in 1970, Bill went on to become the second First Nations person to graduate from UBC Law in 1973. The first was his cousin, the late Judge Alfred Scow, who graduated in 1961.

While in his early life Bill worked many jobs – including as a fisherman, logger, labourer, taxi-driver, carnival barker, pulp mill worker, bartender, bouncer, poker player, stock promoter, car salesman and even as a professional soccer player – his main calling was always to leadership.

In 1958, at age 13, Bill began his work in advocacy for the rights of First Nations when he joined the Native Brotherhood. Amongst the other leadership roles he would play were: President of the UBC Native Students Association; President of the University of Victoria Native Student Union; Executive Director of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs; Director of the Native Indians and the Law Program; President of the UBC Law Students Association; Vice-President of the Native Courtworkers & Counselling Association of B.C.; Vice-President of the United Native Nations; Co-founder of the Aboriginal Council of B.C.; Vice-President of the Native Council of Canada; a Liaison Member of the Special Committee on Indian Self-Government, which produced the 1983 “Penner Report”; Chairman of the First Nations Congress; and a Task Group of the First Nations Summit.

Bill, perhaps, remains best well known for his leadership during the Constitutional conferences around section 35 of the Constitutional Act, 1982, which recognized and affirmed the rights of Indigenous Peoples. As the Vice-President of the Native Council of Canada, now the Congress of Aboriginal People, he was their spokesman at the 1983 First Ministers Conference. At the conference, Bill and other Indigenous leaders successfully negotiated constitutional amendments to section 35 that both confirmed, as treaty rights, rights acquired through modern land claims and gender equality. During these negotiations, Bill famously sparred with Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and stated, as seen on Canadian national television, how his daughters could well become Prime Minister.

In 1988, Bill helped found the BC First Nations Congress, whose aim was to facilitate land claims negotiations, and he was elected its chairman. The Congress was superseded by the First Nations Summit in 1990. In 1990, in the wake of the Oka crisis, BC First Nations came together and met with Canada and B.C. to discuss a “made-in-BC” approach to settling the land question. On behalf of the “Indians of BC”, Bill signed an agreement with Prime Minister Mulroney and B.C. that led to the creation of the BC Claims Task Force, and which led to the establishment of the modern treaty negotiation process in British Columbia.

Reflecting back on these accomplishments, and the expansive way in which section 35 of the Constitution had evolved, Bill remarked: “The work we did changed this province and the country.”

Beyond advancing changes to laws, policies and practices, Bill was a leader because he gave people hope, never backed down, and inspired people to try their best. He was a compelling orator: fierce and precise, funny and charming. Whether in a community meeting, or debating a Prime Minister, you would laugh, learn and be challenged. He always felt we all could and must do better, and he demanded that we do so.

Never one to slow down, Bill continued his work for change right until his last days. His loving, three-decade partnership with Bev Sellars, saw them support one another and work on important projects together, as they both fulfilled their leadership responsibilities to their communities and peoples. His guidance has also been instrumental to many public, and continuing, accomplishments of their daughters Kory and Jody.

Throughout his life, Bill loved travelling and spending time in communities. Indeed, he endeavoured to visit every First Nations community in Canada, the last one he visited being Seton Portage in 2022.

Bill’s pride in being First Nations was boundless, and that pride was contagious for others. In all his work, he upheld the foundations that Indigenous peoples were as good and as accomplished as any peoples, and moreover, that only we know what is best for us. He always conveyed that the solutions to the injustices we face must come from our ways, teachings, laws and traditions, while upholding our sovereignty.

In helping realize some of those big dreams, he inspired and taught us that we can accomplish whatever we set our minds and hearts to. For that, we are forever grateful for Hemas Klas-Lee-Lee-Kla and his presence in our lives. With deep love and respect, always and forever.

The family would like to thank all who have come together to assist us in this difficult time. We will never forget your kindness, prayers and support, all the cards, posts, emails, calls, flowers and condolences we have received.

We also extend our deepest gratitude to our family from the Masgamagw Dzawada’enuxw and Laich-Kwil-Tach peoples, to John Henderson for creating Bill’s funeral box, to We Wai Kai Recreation for the lunch service and We Wai Kum for honouring Bill by hosting us in the Big House and Thunderbird Hall.

We are comforted by every one of you that has come to pay your respects and to celebrate the life of our Chief, Hemas Kla-Lee-Lee-Kla.