I read the article about Ray Silver receiving a Doctor of Laws (Hon.) with great interest.

I first met Ray when I was 17 while working with Ray and Wes Sam at my summer job in the production of clay products such as very large sewer pipes.

The plant was located on reserve lands at Kilgard in the Sumas area. The clay products were placed in large beehive kilns for firing at very high temperatures. The cool-down period after the firing of the clay products took at least the better part of a day. After firing and cool-down, the large sewer pipes were a dull orange colour.

During several summers of my student days Ray, Wes and I were a three person crew working together to haul out the heavy sewer pipes from the kilns after cool-down. We got to know each other very well.

I greatly appreciated absorbing authentic bits and pieces about the aboriginal experience within BC from Ray and Wes. Although much of my practice over the decades has been in commercial matters, I have also had a substantial aboriginal law component in my practice for almost 30 years. Perhaps my knowing Ray and Wes in my formative student years served as an inspiration to me.

Ray gave me an aboriginal name fairly early on when Ray, Wes and I formed a three person crew. I was much taller than either Ray or Wes -- Ray decided that my name would henceforth be "High Pockets" (because my pockets were some distance above the ground). That name was the only one Ray used when he sought my attention.

Although I have worked in downtown Vancouver for more than 42 years, I sometimes heard about Ray's contributions to the community and occasionally heard from Abbotsford residents who knew Ray what he had told them when they met him.

Ray's life story is compelling and his community achievements are exceptional. I'm glad for the University's bestowing of the honour upon Ray.

Thanks,
Ed Suderman