Fort Nelson First Nation member honoured as Indigenous hero

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. — One of Fort Nelson First Nation’s (FNFN) own has been hailed an Indigenous education hero.

School District 57 (SD57) has honoured Crystal Behn in its Indigenous Hero Poster Project. The project is an initiative from SD57, which celebrates people who have “strengthened the community and continue to inspire positive change,” according to its website.

Behn was nominated in the Indigenous Education category, and told Energeticcity.ca about her first reactions to being nominated.

An artist, knowledge keeper and Indigenous planner for the Two Rivers Gallery in Prince George, she has also held workshops highlighting her artwork to SD57 students.

She’s also going to showcase her artwork and culture to students in Vanderhoof next week.

“It made me feel really proud,” said Behn. “Just seeing that somebody nominated me and recognized me in all the work that I do just made me really happy.”

“[It] made me feel like what I’m doing is giving positive change.”

Behn’s journey is a long road through addiction, recovery and inspiring the next generation.

Of Dene and Carrier roots, Behn grew up in Fort Nelson. She also spent time in Fort St. John.

Behn remembers the early cultural works of her mother, Sally Behn, the first female chief of FNFN.

“I watched my mom make slippers and beaver fur mitts and hats and all that good stuff,” said Behn. 

After learning of a traumatic episode from her family’s past, Behn said she began a rebellious period, which included moving to Fort St. John and developing a deep addiction to drugs and alcohol.

She said her mom battling cancer furthered her dependency, even after moving back to Fort Nelson. 

“I was a drug dealer,” Behn recalls. “I was in a really bad crowd. That lifestyle really sucked me in. There were times when I thought that’s all I would ever be.”

Behn said she went to rehab after a three-day binge. Upon her return, she leaned on her grandparents for support, and in doing so, rediscovered her culture, which she described as “her new addiction.”

“My family has always been really cultural,” said Behn. “My uncles would bring home moose in the fall, and the family would go out to our cabin in the springtime. That is where I learned to skin my first beaver.” 

Behn revealed to Energeticcity.ca she celebrated two decades of sobriety last week, having not consumed since 2006.

Incorporating natural materials such as hand-smoked moose hide, moose antler, porcupine quills, glass stones, caribou hair, fish scales, birchbark and beads, Behn’s beadwork has seen her run her own business, In Her Footsteps Dene Designs and been featured as a storyboot artist for Manitobah Mukluks.

She also won the BC Achievement Award in 2021. However, the most important title in Behn’s life is being a mom, and she says it is important to teach her children about their culture.

“My passion is teaching the younger generation, passing on culture, tradition [and] generational knowledge,” said Behn. “Knowing I’m passing it on to the younger generation is basically what gives me my drive.”

“Because I’m a mother, teaching my kids and letting them see their mom be somebody that has overcome obstacles, someone that is able to put food on the table [is] what keeps me going.”

To see Behn’s artwork, visit In Her Footsteps Dene designs Facebook page.