Hundreds of people gathered at Thunderbird Hall in Ahousaht Oct. 1, honoring an invitation from Kanopit (Chief Rocky Titian) and his family.
The family was celebrating the 74th birthday of Kanopit’s sister Cecelia and they were celebrating the life of Steven Titian, who survived near fatal head injuries in the summer of 2014.
Kanopit served up plenty of food, including traditional foods like duck soup, smoked salmon heads and seal meat.
When the tables were cleared away and the chief’s curtain was unfurled, Kanopit started by offering ta’ilthma (comfort and support) in the form of blankets to families that had recently lost loved ones.
A comfortable recliner was placed near the front of the curtain for the birthday girl, Cecelia, who is the eldest of the Titian siblings.
Steven Titian sat in the singer’s circle joining them in welcome and celebration songs.
Steven’s life has been a roller coaster ride for the past four years. He married the love of his life in September 2012. The following year, just before they would have celebrated their first anniversary, Steve’s wife Arlene died in a car accident.
In the summer of 2014 he attended a house party in Campbell River when he was attacked by unknown assailants brandishing weapons. Severely injured, he was medivac’d to a hospital in Victoria where he spent months recuperating. His injuries have had lasting effects that prevent him from going back to work. But his family is grateful to have him back home, where he continues his recovery.
The first performance came from the John family of Kyuquot. Janice John, Steven’s mother-in-law, told the crowd that the song belonged to her brother, Chief Dennis John. “Dennis gave permission for Kanopit to use his song,” she said, adding that Dennis would bring some masks to use with the song when he is feeling better.
More celebrations songs were sung, including one that delighted Cecelia so much that she got up from her chair and joined in the dance, not letting her Parkinson’s Disease stand in her way. Her son Steven also joined in the dancing to the delight of the crowd.
There was more singing, dances and speeches as guests were served home-baked desserts ending with gifts being handed out to the guests.
