The life of Bill Wilson and his fight for Indigenous rights

Credit: Global News

It was 40 years ago, Kwagiulth (Kwakwaka’wakw) Hereditary Chief Bill Wilson (Hemas Kla-Lee-Lee-Kla), and father of Canada’s first Indigenous Attorney General, Jody Wilson-Raybould (Puglaas), helped negotiate and draft the first amendment to Canada’s then-new constitution.

The constitutional reform, enshrining Indigenous land and treaty rights, was born out of the First Ministers Conference in March 1983. Wilson’s now widely seen exchanges with then Prime Minister Pierre Elliott-Trudeau, were broadcast on national television.

Wilson spoke with Global News in an exclusive and extensive sit-down interview inside his Campbell River home to talk about his life, including that pivotal moment of political change, what he thinks of current efforts to advance Indigenous issues and where he thinks more needs to be done.