By: k'ʷunəmɛn Joe Gallagher & John Matterson
ISBN: 978-0-88839-782-9 [Trade Paperback]
ISBN: 978-0-88839-783-6 [eBook]
Binding: Trade Paper
Size: 5.5" X 8.5"
Pages: 304
Illustrations/Photos: 30
Publication Date: Summer 2024

Now You Know Me tells of a journey of understanding between two old friends who grew up in different worlds in the same small town of Powell River, BC, on traditional Tla’amin land. Joe Gallagher, who is Tla’amin, and John Matterson, who is white, were friends as teenagers but went their separate ways before reconnecting 35 years later and truly getting to know each other.

As John began to listen more deeply to Joe’s history, they journeyed together through the historic events and attitudes that deeply wounded the Tla’amin and their way of life. With each conversation, John’s understanding of Joe’s life and recognition of his own unearned advantages and blind participation in racism became clearer.

In their illuminating dialogue in Now You Know Me, we learn what it took for Joe to straddle two worlds while battling racism, a traumatic childhood, and his father’s warning that he couldn’t succeed in a white world without working twice as hard. Despite ongoing suffering from multigenerational harms, Joe garnered broad respect on his way to becoming CEO of a groundbreaking Indigenous-led health organization, bringing hope and a collaborative spirit to a revolution in health and wellness for BC First Nations.

Today, John is committed to ongoing learning and allyship, while Joe is called on by First Nations leaders as well as senior leaders in health and government as an able navigator of the movement toward Truth and Reconciliation.

k'ʷunəmɛn Joe Gallagher is Coast Salish from the ɬaʔəmen (Tla’amin) Nation. His mom Ann was from the χʷɛmaɬku (Homalco) Nation, and his father Norman was also from the ɬaʔəmen (Tla’amin) Nation. Both ɬaʔəmen (Tla’amin) and χʷɛmaɬku (Homalco) are part of the Ey7á7juuthem(EYE-a-jooth-um) speaking people which also includes the ƛohos (Klahoose) and θaɬaθtuxʷ (K'ómoks) Peoples, and who’s rich territory is the northernmost part of the overall Coast Salish territory. Joe was born in the heart of the ɬaʔəmen territory in a mill town settler colonialists named Powell River and was raised on the Sliammon (ɬaʔəmen) Indian Reserve #1.

Joe has overcome many roadblocks to become a leader on the soccer field, in his community and beyond. He proudly represented the ɬaʔəmen Nation in the highly competitive First Nations Soccer circuit and played at an elite level with the University of Victoria and with several teams in the Vancouver Island Premier league. During his playing days Joe also represented Canada in Futsal. As a community leader Joe has worked with First Nations Peoples in areas of health, governance, community and economic development, business development, intergovernmental affairs, and treaty negotiations.

He was the executive lead in the formation of a new health governance partnership between BC First Nations, the province of British Columbia and the government of Canada. This work, a first for Canada, led to Joe being the founding Chief Executive Officer for the First Nations Health Authority, supporting the health and wellness for the over 200 First Nations. Joe currently holds the role of Vice President of Indigenous Health and Cultural Safety at the Provincial Health Services Authority in BC.

John Matterson is originally from Powell River, BC., and now lives in Tsawwassen, BC. His mother, Kathleen, came to Canada as a teenager from England, and his dad, Dal grew up in the BC communities of Ucluelet and Ladner. John is retired and taking on the challenge of Parkinson's disease which he was diagnosed with in 2015.

John worked in the BC Forest Industry and in Technology companies holding executive roles with several global companies. He has travelled to over 40 countries and has lived and worked in Michigan, California, and Singapore. As a management consultant, he has helped many companies grow profitably.

John is an avid golfer and is back playing soccer at 61. He writes a blog on his experiences with Parkinson’s Disease and on his personal journey of truth and reconciliation: https://shakeitupdotonline.wpcomstaging.com

He Is looking to make a difference in the world by opening his, and other people’s eyes, to his experiences with Parkinson’s and to the unearned privilege he has received as a white man growing up on traditional First Nations Land.

“All too frequently the term “Transformative Change” is nothing but a cover for what in practice is simply performative rather than substantive. As one who was privileged to watch, and occasionally sit in on the early days and formation of the First Nations Health Authority in British Columbia, I have no hesitation in recommending this book as an example of transformational change at the individual, governmental and organisational level. Joe Gallagher was instrumental in these changes. His story, John’s story and the story of the FNHA journey are both Illuminating and inspiring. There is still much to do, as the report on anti-indigenous racism in health in BC (“In Plain Sight”) clearly demonstrates. But change, as this book demonstrates, is clearly possible."

— Dr. Perry Kendall, CM OBC FRCPC LLD(Hon), BC provincial health officer 1999- 2018

“What a gift Joe Gallagher has given us! This thoughtful and illuminating book takes us through his family life growing up in Tla’amin Nation, going to school in Powell River, playing soccer at the University of Victoria, and being mentored by elders and cultural leaders.  All of this shaped his character and drive for change as Joe eventually became CEO of the ground-breaking First Nations Health Authority.  Telling his fascinating story with John Matterson, his non-Indigenous high school friend and soccer teammate, we gather insights into how blind we all can be to systemic racism, cultural differences, and legal and policy frameworks that so often hinder rather than help the way forward.  There are so many lessons in this book for the non-Indigenous person trying to understand the impact of colonization and how space and support are needed for Indigenous ways of leadership, decision-making and provision of services -- not only in health care but in every sector.  Joe has been at the table for many of the breakthrough moments in contemporary Crown-First Nations relations in British Columbia. His story is an important one for us all."

— Arlene Paton, Former Assistant Deputy Minister, Population and Public Health
BC Ministry of Health

“Now You Know Me” is a book of powerfully raw conversations, insights and historical information that will make those of us, of comfortable settlor colonial heritage, squirm. Many of us are too confused or fearful to enter into the process of learning about the history of First Nations people. Real truth, spoken in Joe’s straightforward and respectful language, is challenging to hear. His accomplishments are remarkable as is his tireless pursuit of fair treatment for his people. John’s passionate and compassionate writing compels you to follow him on his journey of rooting out prejudice and embracing advocacy. These two men, Joe and John, possess the qualities of courage and humility which they have generously shared in the creation of this book. The question is - does the reader possess the same to start their own journey of understanding or will they continue to look away?  I am not sure anyone can read this book and remain unchanged "

— Susan Bennett, Calgary, Alberta

“Everyone should read “Now You Know Me” (Seeing the Unhidden Truth in Settler Colonialism) to get a first hand understanding of the life of a First Nations person.  It is a first hand account of John’s journey with Joe on truth and reconciliation.  Joe’s true nature comes through to show his resiliency, compassion, perspective and vision and should give readers food for thought on why reconciliation is truly required and why we are not there yet. Joe  is a remarkable person and leader who is values based and ethical to the core and truly understands the need for true. After reading the book I have a deeper understanding of the journey we all need to be on for true reconciliation."

— Mary Campling