Oral Histories and Family Trees
Oral Histories and Family Trees
Oral histories (adawx) and family trees (wil-dzook or genealogy) are core pillars of Tsm’syen and neighbouring Nations’ knowledge systems. They connect people to their origins, house groups, territories, responsibilities, and ancestral rights. While the deepest levels of adawx are protected within each wilp, general teachings about their purpose and structure can be shared.
1. What Are Oral Histories (Adawx)?
Adawx are:
- Records of lineage
- Accounts of migrations, origins, or important events
- Stories of encounters with the natural or supernatural world
- Teachings that explain laws (ayaawx)
- Evidence for land rights and identity
Adawx are **not myths**. They are lived histories preserved through:
- Witnessing
- Repetition
- Ceremonial validation
- Continuity within the wilp
Each adawx belongs to a house group and must be told only by those who carry the right.
2. How Oral Histories Are Preserved
Traditional methods include:
- Elders teaching children in the home
- Mentorship within the wilp
- Ceremonial retellings during feasts
- Seasonal gatherings
- Travel between related communities
Accuracy is maintained through:
- Multiple carriers within the same family
- Cross-checking with other houses
- Witnessing during formal ceremonies
Changing or exaggerating an adawx is considered a serious wrongdoing.
3. Role of Adawx in Governance
Adawx serve as:
- Proof of the wilp’s connection to specific territories
- Evidence for crest and name ownership
- Support for decisions in feasts or disputes
- Guidance on proper conduct
- Protection against false claims
They are the foundation of hereditary governance.
4. What Are Family Trees?
Family trees map:
- Bloodlines
- Clan and house connections
- Marriage ties
- Adoption (where appropriate)
- Descent from notable ancestors
Traditionally, this knowledge was carried in memory by:
- Sigidimnak’ (matriarchs)
- Simgigyet (chiefs)
- Knowledge keepers
- House historians
Genealogy ensures every person knows:
- Who they descend from
- Which wilp they belong to
- Who their relatives are
- Where they have responsibilities
5. Why Genealogy Matters
Family trees aren't only about history. They affect:
- Rights to names
- Rights to territory
- Conduct during feasts
- Marriage and kinship boundaries
- Obligations to other houses
- Proper witnessing and validation
Knowing your ancestry protects both the individual and the wilp.
6. Adoption and Lineage
Public teaching only (no internal details):
- Adoption historically occurred for important reasons — survival, strengthening alliances, replacing family losses, or ensuring the continuation of a lineage.
- Adoption granted an individual certain rights within the wilp, but **did not automatically extend to their descendants** unless validated by the house and witnessed.
- Only the wilp can confirm its genealogical structure.
Accuracy and honesty are essential. Misrepresenting origins can harm a whole house.
7. Responsibilities of Story Carriers
Those who carry adawx or genealogies must:
- Tell the truth without embellishment
- Correct false statements
- Avoid sharing restricted details publicly
- Teach youth in appropriate settings
- Maintain humility and dignity
- Preserve knowledge for future generations
The role is a responsibility — not a performance.
8. Youth and Learning
Children learn best when:
- They hear stories often
- They know their matrilineal ancestry
- They learn names of houses and clans
- They participate in feasts as witnesses
- They ask respectful questions
- They grow confident in who they are
A strong genealogy helps a young person understand:
- Their place
- Their duties
- Their belonging
9. Modern Challenges
Colonization disrupted the flow of oral histories through:
- Residential schools
- Loss of language
- Christianization
- Indian Agents banning feasts
- Forced relocations
- Disconnection between families
As a result:
- Some genealogies have gaps
- Some adawx have missing pieces
- Some family disputes arise from confusion, not intention
The restoration of family trees is part of healing.
10. Responsible Sharing in Modern Times
Safe, respectful ways to preserve history today include:
- Audio and video interviews (with consent)
- Written summaries of non-restricted stories
- Family tree charts for the wilp
- Archiving names and dates
- Protecting sensitive information
- Labeling materials as Public, Family-Only, or Restricted
- Using careful digital storage
- Rule:**
If a story belongs to the wilp, the wilp decides what may be shared.
11. Core Teaching
Your genealogy is your strength. Oral history is your memory. Together they form the backbone of identity, rights, and belonging. They must be carried with honesty, responsibility, and respect.
This page provides general, safe teachings. No restricted adawx, names, or hereditary details are included.