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In Memoriam: Grand Chief Ben Sylliboy

Posted by Schulich School of Law on December 6, 2017 in Law News, News
Grand Chief Ben Sylliboy at the 25th anniversary celebrations for the Indigenous Blacks & Mi'kmaq Initiative (Photo: Adams Photography)
Grand Chief Ben Sylliboy at the 25th anniversary celebrations for the Indigenous Blacks & Mi'kmaq Initiative (Photo: Adams Photography)

The Indigenous Blacks & Mi'kmaq (IB&M) Initiative and the Schulich School of Law at pilipiliĀž»­ community are saddened to learn of the passing of Miā€™kmaw Grand Chief Ben Sylliboy of Waycobah First Nation in Cape Breton, who died peacefully of natural causes on November 30, 2017, at the age of 76 at Cape Breton Regional Hospital.

ā€œOur thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time,ā€ says IB&M Initiative Director Michelle Williams. ā€œGrand Chief Sylliboy honoured us with an opening prayer at the IB&M Initiativeā€™s 25th anniversary, and we greatly appreciated his wisdom, leadership, and generous spirit.ā€

Law school alumnus Jarvis Googoo (LLB ā€™08) provided the following biography of Grand Chief Sylliboy from the as written by alumnus Jaime Battiste (LLB ā€™04) in 2010. Battiste was a legal advisor to Grand Chief Sylliboy and the Miā€™kmaq Grand Council and is currently Nova Scotiaā€™s Treaty Education Lead:

Humbleness, Compassionate and Understanding are words that describe Grand Chief Benjamin Sylliboy. For the Miā€™kmaq these are important qualities for our leaders of the Grand Council. To understand the Leadership of the Miā€™kmaq Grand Council or Sante Mawiomi one must understand that there is no hierarchy within the Miā€™kmaq Grand Council meaning that with the role of Grand Chief or Keptin comes no great reward or prestige, rather it means a life of service to the Miā€™kmaq nation without monetary compensation. Through his lifelong commitment to his community and the Miā€™kmaq, Grand Chief Ben Sylliboy has become a respected Elder and Statesmen for the Miā€™kmaq community.

Grand Chief Ben Sylliboy was born in the Miā€™kmaq Community of Wekoqma in Nova Scotia. Ben grew up in a modest household, as many Miā€™kmaq at the time which lived with modest means of supporting themselves. At the age of six Ben was sent to the Indian Residential School in Shubenacadie, where his parents believed he would receive a good education because of the Nuns and Priests who taught there. As many Miā€™kmaq who attended the residential schools Benā€™s time there was filled with hardships but he is thankful that he was only there for four years.

After the Residential school, Grand Chief Sylliboy moved back to his home community and within months was infected with Tuberculosis. This sickness would last 18 months where he was in and out of hospitals. It was when he was finally healthy that Grand Chief Sylliboy attended the Indian Day school for four years until he received a job clear cutting for power lines.

Grand Chief Sylliboy was first selected as keptin by his community in 1968, because of his continued engagement with the community and always being one who was known for being willing to help out community members and the church. A keptin is a life long position of great honour often referred to as a heridetarial or life chief in other parts of Canada. A keptin is a leader within his community and make up members of the Miā€™kmaq Grand Council.

At the time the role of the Miā€™kmaq Grand Council was very spiritual and involved promoting the community faith and culture. As a Keptin then for the Miā€™kmaq Grand Council Grand Chief Sylliboy made it a priority to be there for fellow community members during deaths in the community as well as other spiritual and cultural events. In 1970 he was elected as an Indian Act Band Councilor, which is an elected form of leadership in the Miā€™kmaq Reserves. He served nine terms as councilor for his community.

In 1992 he was informed by the Putus of the Grand Council Charlie Herney that then Grand Chief Donald Marshall who was very ill had asked that ā€œBen take on the role of interim Grand Chief.ā€ This came to a surprise to Grand Chief Sylliboy who took on the role as requested but to this day still wonders what qualities that the late Grand Chief saw in him. During the following summer at the feast of St. Anne Grand Chief Sylliboy would be made permanent Grand Chief by the Keptins of the Miā€™kmaq Grand Council.

Grand Chief Ben Sylliboy continues to be the grand chief today for the Miā€™kmaq Grand Council. Through out the years Ben has seen the Miā€™kmaq Grand Council continue to promote the culture and spirituality of the Miā€™kmaq. He also has been a part of the renewal of the Miā€™kmaq Grand Council role as governing body within the Miā€™kmaq that focuses on the recognition and implementation of Aboriginal and Treaty rights. Over the years Grand Chief Sylliboy has consulted with many elders who have continued to guide him, he is a firm believer that Miā€™kmaq Leadership as with all leaders need to be educated; however he also states that education of the Miā€™kmaq ways must be taught alongside normal education especially the history of the Miā€™kmaq.

Grand Chief Sylliboy continues to be a part of meetings with other leaders today and believes unity will help the Miā€™kmaq in the future. He holds strong to the vision that the Miā€™kmaq should one day determine for themselves rather then government who is a Miā€™kmaq and community member. Grand Chief Sylliboy continues his role today with great humility and understanding of the Miā€™kmaq people. He continues to live in Wekoqmaq First Nation with his wife and he has 2 grandchildren. Despite ongoing Health problems Grand Chief Sylliboy continues to attend as many functions as he can and continues to be a respected leader within the Miā€™kmaq community.