CALL NUMBER: T1186:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): John Williams recalls Haida history PERIOD COVERED: 1790-1967 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1969 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: John Williams speaks about Tanu, his ancestral home, the Haida, and stories about a man called "Gundels" -- the war chief of the Tanu Eagle clan (1840's). He continues with background information about the Haida people, war, trade, contact with the English, American and Spanish traders, peace, Gundels' raids on forts and his visions. John Williams discusses the coming of the missionaries, the Coqualeetza Residential School, the Haida move to Skidegate, the Coqualeetza education of village leaders including Peter Kelly, Albert Jones, Solomon Wilson, George Young, Mat Williams and other;s and their contributions. He talks about employment and services in Skidegate. TRACK 2: John Williams continues to speak about the Skidegate village, services and changes since 1937, employment and ;capital projects, community relations, funding and construction of the community centre, the relationship with the RCMP, and community acceptance.
CALL NUMBER: T1186:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Work for Haidas and family history of John Williams PERIOD COVERED: 1862-1969 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1969 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: John Williams speaks about Lewis Collinson, the hereditary Chief, employment in the fishing and logging industries, welfare, education, thoughts on the future decline in fishing and logging and the need for additional educational opportunities. TRACK 2: "Johnny" Williams recounts his family history, his grandparents, Methodist schooling, intermarriage, Skidegate village "one big family",; his own attempts to gain a high school education, school integration and his schooling in Skidegate and Coqualeetza.
CALL NUMBER: T1186:0003 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Impressions of Indian situation in Canada, Queen Charlotte Islands PERIOD COVERED: 1932-1969 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1969 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: John Williams continues speaking about his time at the Coqualeetza school, his recovery from tuberculosis, continuing his education, his belief in the importance of education, the Native Brotherhood, Indian land claims, the background of the determination of Masset and other reserves on the Queen Charlotte Islands by Judge O'Reilly, and recollections about John Williams' father.