Wák̓idis - Brett Waterfall

Waí my name is W̓ák̓idis and I am Haíɫzaqv. W̓ák̓idis is my Haíɫzaqv name given to me by my late grandfather George Housty when he had his last potlatch. My q̓vṃ́siwa name is Brett Waterfall. My parents are John and Pauline Waterfall. Their Haíɫzaqv names are ⅄íkvṃi and Hílístis.  My mother is a w̓úmaqs , high ranking woman, through the name given to her by her late grandmother.  On my mothers side my late grandparents are George and Peggy Housty. Their Haíɫzaqv names were N̓ác̓i and C̓uṃ́qḷaqs. My grampa George was a hím̓ás head Chief of the y̓ísdáitx̌v tribe and head of the Eagle Clan among Haíɫzaqv. My Granny Peggy was a w̓úmaqs of the w̓úyalitx̌v tribe and head of the Wolf Clan among the Haíɫzaqv. On my father’s side my late grandparents are John Waterfall and Vicky Waterfall. They were of English and Polish decent. I am married and my wife’s name is Farrah Waterfall. She is from the Secwepemc people of Kamloops. Her Haíɫzaqv name given to her is Q̓vúswáṇ. We have three children together. Their names are Noah, Maiya and Anaya Waterfall. Their Haíɫzaqv names are H̓ík̓álális , Qvúsax̌ḷágilis and C̓úlíxax̌ḷaǧas

My mother Pauline has been a huge influence in my life by raising me in our Haíɫzaqv customs and culture. She was the one who first put that interest in me to learn about our ways. When I first started to learn my Haíɫzaqv language I spent a long time sitting with and learning from my late grandparents George and Peggy Housty. They were my main mentors and teachers. I also was privileged to sit with and learn from many of our other dear Haíɫzaqv elders. Many of whom are not here anymore. It is because of their patience in teaching me that I’m able to speak and understand my language today. I am forever grateful to them. I learned to speak my language first long before I finished any university training. This was more important to me. I did officially finish my B.A. in Linguistics / First Nations studies at S.F.U. in 2018.