Thomas “Coy” Watts’s Family Tree

Thomas is my father and this is our family tree.

Starting at Benson Island, B.C.

Tlatlaakukw’ap and Heech’is lived at Ts’ishaa on Benson Island, part of the Broken Group in Barkley Sound on the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. Tlatlaakukw’ap and Heech’is had a daughter named Tuutayilhim who married Chief Animyis (St. Claire 1998:14). Their son, Yu7akw’ayap (Yuuchkit) married Witsahwilhim (St. Claire, 1998:16) and had a daughter, Waayuukswu7utl. Waayuukswu7utl had a son named Tuutaa7ap (iktsaapat). Tuutaa7ap had a daughter named Wiitsaah, who sat next to Tuutaa7ap in potlatches, signifying her as his heir. Wiitsaah married Tom Sayaach’apis (St. Claire, 2007: 71).

After moving to Mukw’aa7a on Turret Island, Tlatleakukw’ap had a son, Uukwii7nu7a, who married Ya’ai7aks. They had a daughter, Ya7ai7aks (St. Claire, 2007:63). Ya7ai7aks married Naawee?iik who was a getter of ten whales (Sapir, Swadesh, 1955:108). Ya7ai7aks and Naawee?iik had a son, Tom Sayaach’apis. Tom married Wiitsaah and had a daughter Eva Laal Thomas (1911 and 1921 Census of Canada).

Ya7ai7aks and Naawee?iik had a son, Hayuchinkw’a7a. Hayuchinkw’a’a and Ooksay Kwilthim Hafsah had a son, John Yalthlum Moses (1911 Census of Canada). John married Marson and had a son, Andrew Moses. Andrew Moses married Louisa Tuutayilhim Mack and had Virginia, Kelly and Johnnie Moses. Mary Moses gave Louisa her traditional name Tuutaylhim.

Ya7ai7aks and Naawee?iik had a son, Kiki7in. Kiki7in had a daughter, Puunii (Polly) (St. Claire, 2007:61). Puunii married John Underwood and had a son, Walter “Watty” Watts (1901 Census of Canada). Watty became a mail carrier between Alberni and Comox (Green, 2014:129). Watty married Eva Laal Thomas and had a son, Thomas Watts Sr. (1901 Census of Canada). Thomas Watts Sr. married Louisa Tuutayilhim Mack and had three sons and five daughters. Their names are Thomas Watts Jr., Gerald, Freda, Jeffrey, Jane, Barbara, Sheila and Isabel. Thomas Watts Sr. was a farmer and worked as a longshoreman for 45 years for the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU). He was a foreman for 27 years of those years.

Thomas Watts Jr. married Dolly Morgan and had two daughters and one son, Cynthia, Wallace and Annie. At Thomas and Dolly’s wedding, the best man was Earl Tatoosh and his beautiful wife Luxy was their maid of honor. Cynthia is married to Russel Rayner and they have three children and five grandchildren. Cynthia has a Master of Business Administration and has developed a one-year course for the Athabasca indigenous community Economic Development. She is now working towards a Ph.D. Wallace is married to Cammie and they have two children. Wallace has two daughters from a previous marriage to Laurie. Wallace has been a Captain for United Airlines for over 30 years. Annie is a multimedia computer programmer, a globally award winning cookbook author, a publisher and a chef. Thomas Watts Jr. and Maureen Knighton had a daughter, Betty. Betty has three children. Betty has her Bachelor of Arts, child and youth care.

Kiki7in, had another daughter, Tuxwilthaks, who married Huu-ay-aht Chief Dan (Yaathluu-aa) Mack (Huu-ay-aht Uyaqhmis, 2009/2010:5). They had a daughter, Maggie (Aah-paat) Mack. Maggie married Hereditary Chief of the Mamalelequala “The real people” of Village Island at Knight Inlet Harry (Na’kapandzilas, “Ten Times Over”) Mountain. Maggie and Harry had a daughter, Louisa Tuutayilhim Mack. Harry acknowledged Louisa at a feast at Mimkwamlis in 1948. She brought young Coy and Jane to that feast. Louisa re-called viewing her father’s art objects in his shed at the side of his house.

References

• Huu-ay-aht Uyaqhmis A Rich History, A bright future. December/January 2009/2010 Issue 16.
• McMillan, Alan Daniel. Tseshaht First Nation Territory and Land Use History, Prepared for the Tseshaht First Nation, Port Alberni, B.C., 2009.
• Sapir, Edward. Swadesh, Morris. (1955). Native accounts of Nootka ethnography. [Bloomington: Indiana University, Research Center in Anthropology, Folklore, and Linguistics. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.32106007957456&view=1up&seq=9&skin=2021
• Claire, Denis E. Niismakmatsukwukw Ts’ishaa7ath, talking about Ts’ishaa7ath Land History. Manuscript prepared for the Tseshaht First Nation, Port Alberni, B.C. Coast Heritage Consulting, Victoria, B.C., 1998.
• Claire, Denis E. Tseshaht Traditional Chieftainship, Coast Heritage Consulting, 2007. Detailing Family Lineage and Chieftainship.
• Green, Denise Nicole. Producing materials, places and identities: a study of encounters in the Alberni Valley, University of British Columbia Library, Open Collections, 2014.

Hereditary Chief of the Huu-ay-aht, Robert Sport, is standing in the back next to his wife, Maggie (nee Mack). Robert adopted Louisa. The three children of Maggie and Robert are Eddie, Laurence and Willy. Big Fred is standing in the back on the left.

Tom’s children.

The “Tom Longboat Award for Canada” awarded by the Amateur Athletic Union of Canada in 1962 for Tom’s ability in the field of sports. The trophy is to recognize the recipient’s athletic achievement, good sportsmanship and the organization of sports activities in the indigenous community.

Tom won over 400 awards for his athletic excellence, sportsmanship and leadership qualities in basketball, softball, soccer, track and field, boxing, wrestling and gymnastics.

Alberni Athletic Senior A’s in 1965 were the Canadian Men’s Champions. Tom’s teammates were McPherson, Larry Lehtonen, Dave Way, Elmer Speidel, Jim Bishop, Pete Simmonds, Rayner, Gunnar Kuehn, Bill Pitcher and Krego. Tom wore number 14. The Twin City Times printed a special insert about the “Athletics Canadian Champs”.

Tom was an inductee of the Morgan William Classic Hall of Fame. This was to celebrate his athletic accomplishments over 50 years.

In 2012, Tom was an inductee of the Nuu-chah-nulth Sports Hall of Fame. The ceremony took place during the Tlu-piich Games. Presenting the plaque is Jessica Hamilton, Miss Nuu-chah-nulth.

In 2013, Tom was an inductee of the Alberni District Secondary School (ADSS) Hall of Fame.

Tom purchased two new boats in 2013 to fish for sockeye, spring and coho salmon with a gill net in the Alberni Inlet. He has more than 60 years of experience fishing for salmon.

Tom was a foreman for 27 years for McMillan Bloedel, a Canadian forestry company.

Tom was teaching his grandson Stephen how to play the accordion.

Tom loves to travel the world. In this picture, Tom is in Italy sharing his culture with Leonard George.

Tom travels regularly to China with his son Wallace.

Tom is dancing with his son Wallace and grandson Gianni at a potlatch held in the Big House at Alert Bay.

Tom with his son Captain Wallace Watts.

Dolly Morgan’s Family Tree

Dolly Morgan is my mother and this is the maternal side of my family.

Starting in Kitwanga

Stephen Morgan, Sarah Morgan, Git’ksan Nation, Gitsegukela, Kitwanga

Stephen of the Fireweed Clan and Sarah (nee Wilson), of the Wolf Clan, were married in Kitwanga, BC in 1909, and had 3 sons and 2 daughters, one son was my grandpa Wallace Morgan. Sarah Morgan was also known as Chief Ten’im’get.

Great Grandpa Stephen is the third from the right. Chiefs lined up at Sir George Simpson’s centenary, Northwest Coast of North America, 1892. Stephen Morgan’s earlier names were Gwa’a’muk (young man), Wi’sakes, and Tsi’ba’saa. Stephen lived in Gitsegukela, BC. Stephen was a warrior, not in war but taking action when problems arose. For example, the earliest accomplishment was to board a Russian ship for three months while his people trapped for fur to exchange for guns. The story was that he became the “ransom”. Happily, when the ship returned, the furs were ready for trade. When the government surveyors arrived to make reservations, Stephen pulled out the surveyor’s stakes twice. For this, he was sent both times to the Okalla Federal Prison. Even though Stephen and many other Chiefs voiced their objections to the government regarding the encroachment on their land by the European, all of their objections fell on deaf ears. He finally went to England to voice his concern to Queen Victoria.  Later when the Canadian National Railway was about to pass through their territory, Stephen halted the railway construction crew until the supervisor arrived. Stephen negotiated the “Indian half fare” for the Git’ksan and where ever the train passed through the First Nation territory.  The regalia that We’get (Stephen) is wearing symbolizes his membership in the Git’ksan Secret Society.

(Right) Great grampa Stephen Morgan (Left) Simon Turner from Gitsigukla

Wallace Morgan, Gitk’san Nation, Kitwanga

Grandpa Wallace “Ax’ti’hix Gi’bu” Morgan, mom’s dad, always willing to entertain people with his violin. Grandpa married Chieftainess Tsim’hl’us, Martha Kitselas when she was 16 and together they had 14 children. Wallace was born in Kitwanga in 1903 and became the head Chief in Kitwanga, Wallace is in full regalia (middle). Kitwanga chief, Wallace Morgan, explaining Indian claims to students in New York City, 1969.

For many years, from the time that band councils were established in Gitxsan territory, Gitxsan persons have either been appointed or elected to the positions of chief and council. Many of those individuals, including Stephen Morgan and Wallace Morgan, were highly regarded hereditary chiefs and had no difficulty in their role as village leaders. Despite the efforts of the BC and federal governments to ignore them, these men fought tirelessly for resolution of the “Land Question”.

Elizabeth Annie, Richard Lowry, Gitk’san First Nation, Scotland, Nass River, Usk

My grandma Martha’s mother, Elizabeth Annie (nee Guno) was married 2 times. First to Chief Kitselas and 2nd:Richard Lowry. Elizabeth was born at Nass River, BC, in 1882.  Scottish great grampa Richard Lowrie was born in 1868 in Tillsonburg, ON, and was a prospector miner in the area of Usk. Richard pre-empted the whole townsite here in Usk. Pre- emption was a method of selling Crown land which had not been fully surveyed. This was designed to provide temporary title or permission to occupy land to incoming settlers so they quickly could build a homestead and commence agriculture.

Martha Morgan,Gitk’san First Nation, Kitwanga

My grandma Martha Morgan (nee Kitselas, Lowry) was born in Kitwanga, BC, in 1903 and married grandpa Wallace in 1918 at Port Essington, BC. Martha was know as Chieftainess Tsim’hl’us and Chief Mel’hus.

Dolly McRae, Kenneth W McRae, Annie Watts,Gitk’san First Nation, Scotland, Tseshaht First Nation, Kitwanga, Port Alberni

Mom, Dolly (nee Morgan) Watts, McRae graduating from the University of British Columbia with a degree in Anthropology. Mom and dad, Ken, former Mayor of Port Alberni, and now Freeman of the City. Annie Watts (my younger sister, chef, computer programmer and author), Simi Sara, and mom, Dolly McRae. After a cooking demonstration on CityTV – promoting a new cookbook that they co-authored called Where People Feast, An Indigenous People’s Cookbook which won a Gourmand Award for Best Local Cuisine – first place in Canada out of 6000 entries.  As the Canadian winner, their cookbook was then entered in a global competition and placed in the top 10 out of 107 contries that were entered. After the great success of the first cookbook, Annie went on to author a dairy and gluten free cookbook called “beHealthy Cookbook”. After catering and having a food stand that sold bannock, bbq’s salmon and buffalo burgers, in 1995, mom found a restaurant to buy, renovate and opened her second business, Liliget Feast House which seated 50 people. Local native artists sold their art on consignment. Liliget closed it’s doors in December 2006. Mom received an award for business presented by His Excellency Gordon Campbell, former Premier of British Columbia.