I am Hillary Adam I go by Hank I am from Stswecem’c/Xget’tem (Canoe Creek/Dog Creek) here in the Cariboo Region of British Columbia, I live in Williams Lake. I was born on Stswecem’c Indian Reserve number 6 a place called Toby Lake. My parents are Lila (Billy) and Willie Adams, my grand parents on my mothers side is Mary Bill and Willie Billy on my fathers side Tillie Louie and Pascal Adams.

Both my father and my mother attended St. Josephs Mission Residential School in Williams Lake around 1937. Both of my parents ran away from the Residential School but were caught and brought back to the school, the last time my father ran away from the Residential School he didn’t go back as his parents hid him at Toby Lake where I was born.

I went to the St. Josephs Mission as well in 1977 I was 15 at the time I only went for about two months and was then moved to a boarding home. I consider myself an intergenerational survivor as I was on my own since I was 13.

I grew up in Stswecem’c (Canoe Creek) in the 60’s in those days there was a lot of drinking and violence in the community as a result of this we moved to a small community of 70 Mile House. The move didn’t change the course of our lives as the drinking and violence followed us to 70 Mile House, where around 1974 I left my parents and siblings and this is where my journey began.

I have a lot gratitude for my older brother and sister-in-law who took me in and instilled in me the need to get an education, the only place at that time for me to go to school and stay was the residential school so that where I agreed to go. It took me several tries to get a grade 10 to get into professional cook training and that’s where I started. Later on I got into the business training which led me to moving back to my Home community of Xget’tem (Dog Creek) in 1996 to conduct a Traditional Use Study and from there I applied for the Self-Government Coordinator position as my community is in the BC Treaty Process. I stayed in that position for a few years and I was approached by some family Heads to run for Chief and was elected in 2002 and that has been my passion for the last 28 years, assisting my community move toward independence through Treaty Negotiations and other avenues.