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Mathias, Joe


MATHIAS, Joe, Squamish leader (b 1944, Vancouver; d 10 Mar 2000, N Vancouver). He grew up on the Capilano RESERVE in N VANCOUVER and at age 22 succeeded his grandfather as a chief of the SQUAMISH Nation. From 1969 to his death he was the political spokesperson for the Squamish people. During the 1980s he was the leading aboriginal politician in BC, serving as chair of the Aboriginal Peoples Constitutional Conference and BC chief of the Assembly of FIRST NATIONS. A powerful speaker, much admired both within and beyond the aboriginal community, he was a guiding force in the First Nations Summit, established in 1991 to promote a negotiated resolution to the BC land claims question. See also ABORIGINAL RIGHTS.