We are the Ma'Amtagila.
Spring 2025
Matagila
The Supernatural Seagull Who Gave Life to All Ma’amtagila
The Ma’amtagila are one of the tribes within the Kwakwaka’wakw nation, deeply connected to their ancestral lands and traditions. Among their rich cultural narratives is the story of Matagila, the supernatural seagull heralded for giving life to all Ma’amtagila people. This narrative resonates deeply within the community, symbolizing resilience, unity, and the enduring bond between nature and culture.
For countless generations, the Ma’amtagila hereditary chiefs have upheld the principles of potlatch law, a system that emphasizes communal stewardship and the sharing of resources. Within the Ma’amtagila tribe, the Hamatam clan has long cared for Hiladi—a sacred site known as "the place to make all things right." Archaeological evidence reveals that Hiladi has been inhabited for over 10,000 years, serving as a testament to the Ma’amtagila's enduring relationship with the land.
In recent years, the Ma’amtagila have been striving to reclaim their traditional territories to restore and regenerate their natural environment for future generations. Through these efforts, they aim to revive forests, river systems, root gardens, and aquaculture, ensuring these ecosystems are properly stewarded, just as Matagila's spirit intended.
However, this journey has not been without challenges. The Ma’amtagila's rightful title to their lands was removed under Crown law nearly 40 years ago. Despite this, their standing under potlatch law has never wavered, with the Kwakwaka’wakw’s hereditary chiefs acknowledging the Ma’amtagila as the legitimate caretakers of these lands, and most importantly the existence of all Ma’amtagila are very much alive and active.
Complications arose in 1998, when elected Chief John Smith of the Tlowitsis Band Administration presented a Band Council Resolution (BCR) claiming the Ma’amtagila had relinquished their title to him. This unilateral decision led to the misappropriation of resources through unsustainable logging and the establishment of fish farms—moves that contrasted sharply with Ma’amtagila values.
Crucially, no Ma’amtagila chief signed the BCR, nor were they consulted.
The resolution lacked the consent and presence of any hereditary Ma’amtagila leaders. As a result, the Ma’amtagila have continued to fight for recognition of their sovereignty and stewardship over their lands under Crown law.
The actions taken by the Tlowitsis Band Administration have threatened the very essence of the Ma’amtagila, pushing them towards the brink of cultural extinction. Yet, like Matagila the supernatural seagull, they rise resilient, committed to protecting both their cultural heritage and their environmental legacy.
Supporting the Ma’amtagila goes beyond advocating for land reclamation. It means endorsing the removal of harmful practices like fish farms and excessive logging, fostering the revival of ecosystems critical to their identity. By standing with the Ma’amtagila, we honor the spirit of Matagila and the profound lessons of stewardship and resilience embedded within this community’s storied past.
So this summer, please come and support the Ma’amtagila in their endeavour to restore their connection to their lands that they have always called home. Come listen to their truth and history as they share their stories in connection to land and waters.
Please email info@maamtagila.com if you’d like to support of help with their cause.
To all Ma’amtagila!! We salute you!
Your strength and integrity has kept our legacy alive and now we shall rise.