Volume 14 . Issue 3
April 2018
Kwekwecnewtxw: watch house built near pipeline PAGE 14-17
Ay Lelum takes fashion week PAGES 6-9
NAUT’SA MAWT TRIBAL COUNCIL NATIONS
Naut’sa mawt - Working together as one EDITORIAL TEAM Cara McKenna – Editor editor@salishseasentinel.ca Todd Peacey – Photographer Celestine Aleck (Sahiltiniye) - Columnist DESIGN & LAYOUT Kelly Landry & Carmel Ecker ADVERTISING & DISTRIBUTION Todd Peacey ads@salishseasentinel.ca PUBLISHER Gary Reith, CAO Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council 330-6165 Highway 17A Delta, B.C., V4K 5B8 604-943-6712 or 1-888-382-7711
The Salish Sea map was created in 2009 by Stefan Freelan at Western Washington University
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The Salish Sea Sentinel is published monthly, ten times a year, by the Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council, representing 6,500 people in 11 member nations. © Salish Sea Sentinel is all rights reserved. Contents and photographs may not be reprinted without written permission. The statements, opinions and points of view expressed in articles published in this magazine are those of the authors. The publisher accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, transparencies or other materials.
COVER PHOTO: Tsleil-Waututh member Swaysən (Will George) stands with a Coast Salish watch house built near the Kinder Morgan pipeline route on March 10.
3. KLAHOOSE Qathen Xwegus Management Corp (250) 935-6536 www.klahoose.com 4. MALAHAT (250) 743-3231 caroline.harry@malahatnation.com www.malahatnation.com 5. TLA’AMIN (604) 483-9646 clint.williams@tn-bc.ca www.tlaaminnation.com 6. SNAW-NAW-AS (Nanoose) (250) 390-3661 chris.bob@nanoose.org www.nanoose.org
7. SNUNEYMUXW (Nanaimo) (250) 740-2300 www.snuneymuxw.ca 8. STZ’UMINUS (Ladysmith) (250) 245-7155 Ray.Gauthier@coastsalishdevcorp.com www.stzuminus.com 9. TSAWWASSEN (604) 943-2122 info@tsawwassenfirstnation.com www.tsawwassenfirstnation.com 10. TSLEIL-WAUTUTH (604) 929-3454 cao@twnation.ca www.twnation.ca 11. T’SOU-KE (Sooke) (250) 642-3957 administrator@tsoukenation.com www.tsoukenation.com Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council 8017 Chemainus Road Chemainus, B.C., V0R 1K5 (250) 324-1800 • www.nautsamawt.org
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B.C. INVESTS IN MALAHAT TREATY WITH $9M LAND PURCHASE What was formerly known as the Bamberton industrial site has been renamed ‘Malahat Lands’ B.C. has purchased 230 hectares of private land that is set to go to Malahat Nation when its treaty is complete. The province bought the land at what was formerly known as the Bamberton industrial site for $9 million. The province said in a news release that the site will become part of Malahat’s treaty lands—tripling its total land base—once its negotiations have concluded and the final agreement comes into effect. The community has renamed the site Malahat Lands. Malahat Coun. Matt Harry said that he believes that the treaty land acquisition will allow the community to meet some of its goals for future generations. “Malahat Nation is working hard to build a strong, lasting government that will provide a sustainable economy—bettering families and focusing on the children to come,” he said. B.C. Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Scott Fraser said the land purchase is meant to show the province’s commitment towards making progress on treaties. A statement from the province said that Malahat is located in a region with a scarcity of Crown land available. “We’ll see the benefits of this investment in Malahat Nation as we complete and implement a treaty, and as the nation develops
B.C. Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Minister Scott Fraser was given a certificate of appreciation by Malahat after the province purchased land that is set to form part of the nation’s treaty lands.
its lands in ways that create jobs and support the economic, social and cultural needs of its people,” he said. “When a First Nation prospers, its neighbours prosper.” SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 3
Deep Roots co-ordinator and Klahoose member Jacqueline Mathieu poses with a paddle. Submitted photo.
‘DEEP ROOTS’ RADIO GIVES PLATFORM TO KLAHOOSE VOICES Second season of program with increased cultural focus started airing in mid-March By Cara McKenna The second season of a community radio show and podcast from Klahoose territory gives a platform to Indigenous voices as it digs deeper into stories from the nation. Cortes Radio’s Deep Roots program launched its first season with an environmental focus in 2017, with ten half-hour episodes highlighting everything from 4 • SALISH SEA SENTINEL
cedar weaving to traditional clam gardens. With its second season, featuring nine episodes, the program has matured and found a greater cultural focus by hiring Klahoose First Nation co-ordinator Jacqueline Mathieu. Through interviewing members from her community, Mathieu has helped the Deep Roots team to conceptualize and
...that’s been really rewarding when someone is willing to share their story. My dream would be to have everyone in my community able to share.
focus stories on traditional food, culture night, coming of age and more. The season began releasing weekly episodes in mid-March. The show airs each Thursday. “It’s been a really interesting process just because I’m at the forefront of arranging the interviews, and that’s been really rewarding when someone is willing to share their story,” Mathieu said in a phone interview. “My dream would be to have everyone in my community able to share.” Mathieu, who also works on language revitalization for Klahoose, said the show has been another outlet for her to showcase the nation’s culture. Deep Roots producer Odette Auger, who is Anishinaabe, said the show always highlighted Indigenous stories from Cortes, but the new season is about polishing that focus. She said an increased input from Klahoose members has been crucial because their priorities in what stories should be told are often different than what a writer might think. “I think something that we need to do as a society is have more of that intention (behind stories and why we’re telling them),” Auger said. “I think we’re doing a better job this year in that Jacqueline went around and asked ‘what would you want to hear?’” Auger said one episode she’s particularly excited about is an interview with Klahoose member and “natural storyteller” Ken Hanuse, who was part of a group that discovered a side-long looking face carved into a tree in the nation’s territory several years ago. The culturally-modified tree, or arbor glyph, is being restored to be displayed at the nation. “(Ken) wanted to share more information on the arbor glyph that was found,” she said. “That’s kind of the fun thing about radio is that it can move the listener in a different way. It has the potential to capture different tones and different emotions.” Auger said the team hopes that season three, pending funding, can start to expand its focus to include Klahoose sister nations Homalco and Tla’amin. She said she also hopes to increase outreach to see more youth from the communities working on the show. Deep Roots’ major funding source is the Community Radio Fund of Canada. It also received support from Tides Canada and the Victoria Foundation for its first season. “We all have an auntie who has really good storytelling abilities,” Auger said. “To be able to capture that in recording, that’s a meaningful act.” Episodes of Deep Roots, along with more information, can be found at http://cortesradio.ca/deep-roots.
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From left: Sophia Good, Hazel Moorhouse-Good and Aunalee Good take the stage at the end of the Ay Lelum show at Vancouver Fashion Week.
AY LELUM BRINGS COAST SALISH CULTURE TO VANCOUVER FASHION WEEK The F/W18 ‘Thul Te Lada’ collection connects generations through design By Cara McKenna The Snuneymuxw family-run fashion house Ay Lelum showcased their work at Vancouver Fashion Week with a collection that was all about transformation and honouring matriarchs. Featuring original music and designs, Ay Lelum’s Fall/ Winter 18 collection displayed the vast artistic capabilities of sisters Aunalee and Sophia Good and their family. The collection is titled “Thul Te Lada,” which means “Maker of Beautiful Things.” It’s also the traditional name of the designers’ mother Sandra Moorhouse-Good, gifted to her by her late mother-in-law Hazel Good (Tsum Quat). The collection heavily featured serpent designs drawn by Aunalee and Sophia’s brother Joel—the serpent represents transformation and power, and is a significant symbol for the Good family. The show on March 21 opened with a model wearing an oversized coat and a knee-length dress, as the booming soundtrack featuring spoken word and Coast Salish songs began. The collection of both ready-to-wear and show exclusive designs also featured a mix of dresses, a poncho and a floorlength cape. All of the pieces were wrapped in Coast Salish art. When the show closed, Aunalee, Sophia and Sandra walked up the runway with hands raised, as the audience cheered them on. The Vancouver Fashion Week showcase is the latest achievement for the growing secondgeneration design house. The clothes are designed by the sisters with mentorship from Sandra, who created clothes for her own line called Ay Ay Mut in the 1990s. That line featured art by Sandra’s husband William Good, who has played a key role in revitalizing Coast Salish designs on Vancouver Island. William’s art is now on Ay Lelum’s clothes along with Joel’s. Continued on page 8
The big part of everything of what we’re doing is we’re recording art, history, music, language...And we have all of those elements in our show, to do with traditional Coast Salish art and culture.
Continued from page 7
Joel Good, who drew the serpent designs heavily featured in Ay Lelum's F/W18 collection, works on a carving.
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During an interview at their family home, Sophia spoke about how helping her parents with their artistic collaborations growing up allowed them to more easily start their own design company several years ago. “We started (helping with) fashion shows really young. And then we put on fashion shows,” she said. “We did it with mom and dad and so the doors were already kind of open because we knew people in the industry.” The sisters’ clothes, which are manufactured in both Vancouver and at their home at Snuneymuxw, are now sold in about a dozen stores and on BC Ferries. Aunalee said showing their work in fashion week seemed like a logical next step for their company. “The big part of everything of what we’re doing is we’re recording art, history, music, language,” she said. “We’re trying to record as much as we can. And we have all of those elements in our show, to do with traditional Coast Salish art and culture.” Sophia, a mother of five, said she feels it’s important to include her kids in the work just as she and her siblings grew up around design. As she speaks, her baby plays by her feet as the rest of the family sits around the kitchen table, bantering and poking fun at each other and at Joel, who is working on a carving. “This is just normal,” Aunalee laughs, joking that they should have their own reality show. The family home, also an art studio, is plastered wall to wall with Coast Salish paintings, blankets, fabrics and carvings. “We’re all on the same track,” Aunalee said, adding that members of the family will often have the same ideas, and act on them, without talking about it first. “It’s transforming through the previous generations, through the ancestors.” She said that another part of entering Vancouver Fashion week was to show that non-Coast Salish people, and nonIndigenous people, can wear their designs. The subjects they work with are all non-private and nonceremonial, so they can be worn by everyone. “We’re featuring art from a Coast Salish master carver but it’s for everyone,” Aunalee said. “There’s a lot of pride in wearing the art. That’s in the best context of that word. We’re honoured to be able to wear it.” More information about Ay Lelum and their retailers can be found at www.aylelum.com.
SNUNEYMUXW MED STUDENT AIMS TO IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTHCARE IN FIRST NATIONS Darcy Good will soon begin psychiatry residency at UBC Victoria Story by Cara McKenna Photos courtesy of UBC At just 24 years old, Darcy Good has accomplished a lot. Graduating high school early at 16 years old, the Snuneymuxw member has been in university since 2010, and medical school since 2014. He’s the youngest of 32 students in the University of British Columbia's Island Medical Program in Victoria, and the first in his community to get into medical school. Recently, Good has been in the spotlight as one of several students featured in UBC’s “For a better BC” campaign. The far-reaching campaign has showcased outstanding students from various disciplines in ads online, on the radio and on billboards. Good had agreed to take part in the campaign a while back, he said, then hadn’t thought about it until he started seeing his face on billboards. Suddenly, everyone in proximity of the farreaching campaign knew about his educational journey. “Being able to be involved in the UBC ads, it’s raising awareness (for Indigenous healthcare),” he said. The ads feature Good’s own story about going to medical school and his personal to improve mental healthcare for Indigenous communities. Good said he initially aspired to be a family doctor, ever since he was a kid and an intensive-care-unit doctor saved his stepfather’s life post-heart attack. But after trying a psychiatry rotation, he changed his mind. “Essentially you go through each specialty (as part of the program),” he explained. “So I had my psychiatry rotation and I essentially fell in love with it. …ultimately, I really love that connection with people.”
“So I had my psychiatry rotation and I essentially fell in love with it. …ultimately, I really love that connection with people.”
This summer, Good will start a residency program in the psychiatry department at UBC Victoria – his first choice. Last summer, he did a four-week Indigenous mental health elective in Maple Ridge, serving the Seabird Island and Sts'ailes nations. “That’s when this whole plan solidified and I thought this is what I really want to do,” Good said. “I really want to be able to deliver those services directly into the communities.” Good said he ultimately wants to be able to go into underserved First Nations across Vancouver Island to provide culturally-sensitive mental healthcare. Of course, the Snuneymuxw community is proud of him too. And he’s proud of his community in turn, which recently started building a new state-of-the-art healthcare centre. “People are just so excited for me and I’m just wanting to do everyone proud,” he said. “My mom (is) my biggest hero my biggest champion, my biggest supporter.” Good said his mother Debbie raised him as a single parent, making many sacrifices so that he could go to private school, and continues to inspire him to push ahead when things get difficult. “That’s where a lot of my wanting to give back is coming from is how much of an impact my mom has made,” Good said. Good’s UBC campaign can be viewed at www. ubc.ca/forabetterbc/darcy.
SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 11
UNCONDITIONAL LOVE FOR MY LATE STEPFATHER Coast Salish atist lessLIE reflects on the challenges of blended post-colonial families, and finding inner peace Editor’s note: This essay discusses domestic violence and addiction and might be triggering to some. Reader discretion is advised. Personal essay by lessLIE Step-parenting and blended families can be a challenge in the best of times. But for contemporary First Nations people, things often become more complicated due to broken relationships brought about by the intergenerational impacts of residential schools and other post-colonial problems. For many stepparents who had traumatic childhoods 12 • SALISH SEA SENTINEL
themselves, the challenge of unconditionally accepting a child who is biologically not their own is very real. As a Coast Salish man, my own childhood began with memories of my mother as a single parent. As a little boy, I longed for a father. I began my dream of becoming an artist by drawing Popeye, and I wanted a strong sailor like Popeye was for a father. In my early childhood, my mom dated a Navy man named Charlie. Charlie was always nice to me and my younger sister. He played with us and left
money for us when he left the house. Me and my younger sister hoped that Charlie would become our dad, but we were hurt and disappointed when our mom told us that they weren’t in a serious relationship. After the disappointment of not having Charlie as a father, my sister and I were so excited when our mom met a Navajo sailor named Dennis. As a little boy who loved Popeye, and who thought I would automatically become stronger by eating spinach, I was so happy to think that I would have a strong sailor for a father.
For the first year of his relationship with my mom, Dennis was very nice to my sister and I. However, after we officially became a family and moved into an apartment together, he changed. My boyhood dreams were shattered by weekends of alcoholism and domestic violence. One of my earliest family memories of Dennis was of him giving me a mean look when I took the garbage out. I also remember when Dennis bought our first used family car, a Ford Fiesta—how I was happy and smiled at him as he got out of the car, but he just gave me a dirty look and walked into our apartment. I felt sad by this. There were many bad memories. As I got older, my teenage story seemed to be a classic stepfather and stepson conflict, with post-colonial problems added in. I felt Dennis never gave me credit for who I was, and that I didn’t fit into Dennis’ mold of what a “man” was. He would constantly call me a “mama’s boy,” and implied that I was a sissy and wimp because I wasn’t into sports and didn’t know how to catch a football. It seemed like he disapproved of everything I did, including my interests, such as going to the library and reading. I think he felt that I should be putting on a uniform and earning a wage instead. I began to become very bitter, angry, and resentful towards Dennis. I felt I could not look past how he treated me, or the domestic violence he subjected us to. Over time, I began to think that if I work out hard enough, that I could someday punch him around like he punched, kicked, and pushed my mom around. Eventually, I too felt demoralized, and felt that if my stepdad didn’t care about morality, why should I? When I became a young man, and moved out of the house to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree, things went downhill for my family. For a short period of their lives, my mom and stepdad quit drinking, went to counseling, and church. But after I moved out, they stopped going to church and counselling, and began to drink again. Shortly after that, my mom and stepdad became drug addicts.
I was deeply saddened and very hurt when my sister brought me to see my mom, and found her homeless, sitting on a dirty trail next to the freeway, doing drugs. This was one of the most painful experiences of my life. My anger towards Dennis worsened, because I blamed him for dragging my mom into a life of alcoholism, drug addiction, and homelessness. But over time, seeing my mom and Dennis’s lifestyle forced me to reconcile my feelings towards him, because I knew their time could be limited. In 2009, I received a call from my grandfather. He told me that he felt Dennis was not going to make it. I quickly arranged to visit him in Seattle. Standing on the ferry, looking at the natural beauty of the Salish Sea, I had to reflect on my life with Dennis. Even though the innocent boy I used to be didn’t get the Popeye to protect my family that I felt I deserved, I knew that Dennis had a special place in my life, regardless. And feeling it could be the last time I saw him alive, I thought about the good memories of him. I recalled being an innocent, loving boy, going to a sporting goods store in downtown Seattle with my mom and Dennis. Dennis bought me a pair of Nike basketball shoes. I was so happy. I remember proudly walking through downtown Seattle, smiling and wearing them. I also remember when he bought me and my sister a bike. Sitting in the car outside the department store with my mom, as he lifted my sister onto the bike, my mom told me to be thankful to Dennis. These were cherished memories. When I arrived at the hospital to visit Dennis, I had to sit in the car for a minute to prepare myself. After that I walked into his hospital room. Standing next to him as he laid in the hospital bed, I told him that even if we didn’t always get along or see eye to eye, that he was still my stepdad, and that if he died, I would experience a loss in my life. Hearing this, tears fell down from his eyes. After this visit, I knew it was a matter of time before my mom or Dennis left this earth. Becoming a grown man, a
father, stepfather, and family man myself, I continued to reconcile my feelings about Dennis. Reflecting on my life, it saddened me to think that I lived through seeing my grandfather not getting along with his stepson, seeing myself not getting along with my own stepdad, then personally having problems with my own stepson. Becoming a step-father myself, I had to see that, like Dennis, I was a wounded, post-colonial soul. For my own sake, and Dennis’s sake, I knew I had to make peace before it was too late. I felt this was a problem which many first Nations people face. Yet I felt it was important to our own inner peace to forgive our parents and stepparents for their personal shortcomings in raising us. During this time of reconciling my feelings, I got a message from my mom. She said that Dennis had passed away. I was in shock and denial. As a part of the grieving, I also felt anger towards him. A part of me felt free from the ghosts of his addiction and shortcomings. I also felt I was losing the past pain I experienced from being raised by him. Yet at the same time, I was deeply saddened by losing the man who helped raise me. The little boy and young man in me could only reflect on my Popeye and walking down the street with the Nikes that Dennis bought for me. At Dennis’ military funeral earlier this year, as Taps played, I felt unconditional love for my stepfather. I saw a human being whom I grew to unconditionally love, who was wounded by post-colonial problems. Shortly afterwards, talking to a best friend, I was told that Dennis did the best he could for us, and that he loved me as a son. It saddened me deeply to think the stepfather who raised me died prematurely on the streets at 60 years old. Through this tragic experience, of seeing Dennis battle with a life of alcoholism, domestic violence, drug addiction, and homelessness, I felt unconditional love for him, and was happy to make peace with him. lessLIE (Leslie Sam) is a Cowichan and Penelakut artist, writer and father. He resides at Snaw-naw-as First Nation with his family. SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 13
COAST SALISH WATCH HOUSE BUI A crew completed the structure on Burnaby Mountain Photos and story by Cara McKenna Before Tsleil-Waututh Elder Leonard George passed away in December, he had a vision for his people to build a Coast Salish watch house in their territory near Kinder Morgan’s pipeline route. On March 10, that vision became a reality when Tsleil-Waututh members oversaw the completion of Kwekwecnewtxw (a place to watch from) on Burnaby Mountain near the Trans Mountain Pipeline route. Kinder Morgan is set to triple the
capacity of its existing pipeline from Alberta to Burnaby, in a $7.4 billion expansion that would increase tanker traffic in Tsleil-Waututh’s backyard by sevenfold. Tsleil-Waututh member Rueben George said that when Leonard passed, people from the community decided to carry on his goal of building the watch house. “It’s not a ceremonial house like a longhouse, it’s a watch house where we would traditionally watch for our enemies, and
that’s what we’re going to do,” he said. “It represents the elders stepping forward and protecting the lands and waters and instructing the warriors of how to be and how to protect.” While the house was being built by a crew throughout the day on March 10, up to 10,000 people marched from Lake City Way station in Burnaby up the mountain to the watch house, to show their opposition to the pipeline expansion. Indigenous leaders attended from across Turtle Island as well as politi-
ILT NEAR KINDER MORGAN PIPELINE while up to 10,000 rallied against the growth of big oil cal leaders, environmental leader David Suzuki, and countless other key figures in the Kinder Morgan fight. Tsleil-Waututh member Cedar GeorgeParker, Rueben’s son, said he felt heartened that everyone is standing together against big oil. Tsleil-Waututh’s Burrard Inlet has already been ravaged by pollution and is only now starting to recover, and community members have repeatedly said they cannot risk an oil spill that’s “not if, but when.” “We’re here to protect, and to talk for,
the animals, the ones who cannot speak,” he said. “We have to be extra strong not only for us, but for the things we share this world with.” Eriel Tchekwie Deranger, the executive director of Indigenous Climate Action, is a member of Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation located downstream from the Alberta tar sands. She said the tar sands have “ravaged, contaminated and broken the spirit” of people in Alberta. “Just like you can’t stand for the Kinder
Morgan pipeline we can’t stand for any more tars ands in our backyards,” she said. “Right now in a climate crisis world we’re talking about developing more tar sands, we’re talking about building more pipelines, and it doesn’t make any sense.” During the day, people were encouraged to sign up to receive updates about future actions against the pipeline, and to agree to cross police lines when the time comes, by texting ‘ready’ to 522-67. More information can be found at www. protecttheinlet.ca.
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Opposite page: Top: Tsleil-Waututh members, from left, Ocean Hyland, Cedar George and Will George, welcomed a group to visit the new watch house. Bottom left: Tsleil-Waututh member Rueben George, right, marched up front armin-arm with a group of leaders. Bottom right: Tsleil-Waututh Elder Amy George, left, sat with Joan Phillip, a former councillor for Penticton Indian Band who has ancestry in Tsleil-Waututh, during speeches. This page, top left: Tla’amin members Rose Henry, left, and Ta’kaiya Blaney, sat SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 17 together before Blaney performed a song.
THI LELUM SMUNEEM: A BIG HOUSE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS Tillicum Lelum unveils new childcare centre on Snuneymuxw territory A new Indigenous-focused childcare centre on Snuneymuxw territory will aim to connect kids from all backgrounds with culture and teachings. Thi Lelum Smuneem (big house for future generations) is the latest addition to Tillicum Lelum Aboriginal Friendship Centre’s growing complex on Tenth Street in Nanaimo. The centre was unveiled to the public during a celebration on March 9. The new centre will have 24 daycare spots for three-to-five year olds and another 20 for after-school care spots for five to 12-year-olds. Tillicum project coordinator Tammy Myles, from Stz’uminus First Nation, said the centre is already looking at opening another 12 spots up for infants and toddlers and hosting school programs in the building. Myles said she hopes to see both Indigenous and non-Indigenous children in the new program that will involve learning about connections to the earth, 18 • SALISH SEA SENTINEL
A pole carved by Richard Carlton, William Good and Joel Good overlooks the childcare centre.
and receiving teachings from elders. The centre has a storytelling room and a cedar protection totem overlooking the childcare centre—carved by Richard Carlton, William Good and Joel Good— to keep the kids safe and guided. “We want to share how we walk through the world and our values and our principles around love and respect and courage and truth and honesty,” Myles said. “We want our little kids to be well supported right from birth so that they can have better outcomes in the future.” The opening of the childcare centre is an important milestone for the friendship centre that’s been operating in Nanaimo for decades. “The vision here is so Tillicum can have a one stop shop where we can provide wraparound services for families,” Myles said. “That’s been happening for almost 50 years…but we’ve had to work out of many different locations and it’s been very difficult for families to jump from one program to another.”
Quamichan Creek Culvert Replacement “The Fish Return”
Above: Child and Family Development Minister Katrine Conway stands with Tillicum Executive Director Grace Elliott-Nielsen.
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The Tillicum Village complex in Nanaimo began in 2011 and now has a youth and elders’ residence, affordable housing units, a youth safe house, a young mom’s house and community garden. The childcare centre is the third phase of an eight-phase plan for the site. Future plans include a health centre, a recreation centre and a main friendship centre building for day-to-day operations. Grace Elliott-Nielsen of Stz’uminus First Nation, Tillicum’s executive director, has worked with the friendship centre for 43 years. She said it started 53 years ago, with Snuneymuxw Elder Ellen White as one of its founders. “Friendship centres…are always having a difficult time,” ElliottNielson said. “I think the highest core funding we receive is about $139,000 a year. It’s always difficult to keep moving and going.” More information about Tillicum Lelum’s programs can be found at www.tillicumlelum.ca. SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 19
Snuneymuxw Coun. Paul Wyse-Seward breaks ground for the new school with help from the na20 SALISH and SEA SENTINEL tion’s•government others involved in the project.
Snuneymuxw Elder Lolly Good shared a prayer before the groundbreaking took place.
STRONG CHILDREN: SNUNEYMUXW BREAKS GROUND ON NEW SCHOOL New Qwam Qwum Stuwixwulh School part of larger expansion for nation After two decades of planning, Snuneymuxw First Nation has broken ground on a new, larger school on its reserve lands in Cedar. The site for the new Qwam Qwum Stuwixwulh School has been blessed and a groundbreaking ceremony took place March 13. The federally-funded $11 million facility, set to be completed by April of 2019, will replace the current school on its Nanaimo reserve that opened two decades ago and has become too small. The new facility will be about three times larger than the old school at 1,814 square metres. Qwam Qwum Stuwixwulh (meaning “strong children”) follows ministry guidelines while incorporating culture, language and other Coast Salish teachings. Principal Roxanne Harris, who is also a councillor with Stz’uminus First Nation, said the larger facility will allow the school to take on about twice as many students. There are currently 56 students attending from Preschool to Grade 7. “We’re looking at doing a bit of a recruiting next year, like the kids in town or our neighbouring communities here,” Harris said. “It’s not going to just be open to Snuneymuxw children. It’ll be open to the broader community as well.” During the groundbreaking, children from the school sang a song in
Hul’qumi’num and members of the nation spoke to guests and witnesses that included Snuneymuxw employees and members of the local school board. Councillor Doug White II (Huncowiyus) said that the changes that the community has gone through in his lifetime is “incredible.” “We’ve gone through, a number of us on the reserve, what was called Indian Day School,” he said. “We’ve transitioned quite a way from that day to today…We now have doctors, lawyers, and this is a fantastic time in our lives here today.” Councillor Emmy Manson also shared that she has high hopes for the next generation. “They can stand here and sing a song, where when I was with elementary school, we couldn’t do that,” she said. “I know our culture is rising up and I’m really proud of (everyone who) made this happen.” The new Qwam Qwum Stuwixwulh School is part of a broader expansion of services for Snuneymuxw on its land in Cedar, including a new health centre that’s currently under construction and new homes. There’s a new Lacrosse field just down the road from the new school, and Harris said that a new high school across the street is now in talks. “We’re just looking at becoming a hub for Snuneymuxw,” she said. SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 21
KWANTLEN GUIDES TEACH THROUGH SALISH STORIES Fort Langley events educate about Indigenous history of site Standing in front of a blazing fire, Kwantlen Nation storyteller Fern Gabriel (Sesmelot) shared the story of how salmon came to her people with about two dozen guests at what’s now known as the Fort Langley Historical Site. The story involves two brothers who came across the Salmon People’s village during a journey, and participated in a feast there. After the feast, a leader from the village tells everyone to put the bones back into the river. Those bones transformed into salmon, then into people. The Kwantlen people asked the leader for the salmon to come to their territory, and were told to hold a feast much like 22 • SALISH SEA SENTINEL
the Salmon People did for them, and to put the bones back in the river. That would become the first salmon ceremony. “So the Salmon People sent the Kwantlen brothers home with a good mind and a good heart, and a full belly,” Gabriel said. “I like those kinds of people,” she added with a grin, to the group’s laughter. “Feed me and I’m your friend for life.” Fern and her nephew Brandon Gabriel (Kwelexwelsten) were speaking on a Saturday in March as part of Indigenous education events held every week at the Fort during that month. The events were part of an effort to show people the
We are asserting that our culture is still continuing and still developing and still has a place on this land. Indigenous culture and history of the area rather than just the colonial side. By sharing teachings such as to treat the river with respect, and about the importance of salmon, the Kwantlen members hope that the public’s respect and knowledge around their community will grow. Fern and Brandon also host hour-long tours of Kwantlen’s land near Bedford Landing with Port Metro Vancouver. Brandon said it feels like a “miracle” to share the stories with the public, especially kids, after so many years of not being able to because of colonization. But he said there are challenges—one being that some Fort Langley staff wear colonial period costumes, and so members of the nation must explain to guests that their paddle vests and cedar hats are not costumes, but an important part of their existing culture. “We are asserting that our culture is still continuing and still developing and still has a place on this land,” Brandon said. Fern is a well of knowledge about Kwantlen territory and has multiple degrees in history, education and language. She also teaches Hul’qumi’num. Fern said there were many dark years for her community when stories and songs weren’t being shared, and so she is grateful for all the people who helped to bring them back. “The song didn’t come until the Chehalis people came and helped with that. I always want to acknowledge them,” she said. “I always acknowledge the elders who taught me stories as well.” She said she lived in Musqueam for about a decade, and learned from the late Adeline Point, the late Bob Guerin, and Elder Larry Grant. She also credits the late Ray Silver of Sumas and the late Mel Bailey of Katzie. Brandon, who personally studied anthropology, history and fine art in university, said it’s an ongoing education for him to listen to his aunt’s stories —no matter how many times he hears them. “I always get lost,” he said. “It’s really emotional for me to listen to it. It’s always different; it’s always reaching my ears in a different way.” SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 23
MR. BANNOCK CHEF PAUL NATRALL LAUNCHES VANCOUVER’S FIRST INDIGENOUS FOOD TRUCK Story by Michelle Gamage Photos by Michelle Gamage and Paul Natrall
For the $10 Waffle Bannock, Natall dry rubs the chicken with junniper berries and then smokes the meat for 13 hours.
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Chef Paul Natrall of Squamish Nation is bringing fusion Indigenous cuisine to the Lower Mainland with his food truck, Mr. Bannock. Specializing in bannock and using traditional ingredients like juniper berries and smoked salmon, the business launched Jan. 27 in Vancouver and gained the permit to operate on Squamish Nation territory on Feb. 8. Natrall is following in his great-grandfather’s footsteps, who learned to cook in the army and went on to run two restaurants in Seattle. When Natrall was learning to cook, his cousins would heckle him, he said, just as his great-grandfather was teased back in his time for doing what was thought of as a “woman’s job.” “Two cousins were bugging me— ‘go wash my dishes, go make me something’—but now they work for me,” he
said with a laugh in an interview. Natrall left a full-time cooking job to pursue his own business two years ago. In 2017, he took home third place for his Indian Tacos at Taco Fest—beating out 20 other vendors; and then sold 2,100 tacos at the 2017 National Aboriginal Day celebration. “We built on those blocks and now we have a food truck,” he said. Mr. Bannock features traditional ingredients with a modern twist. His pulled pork sandwich, a best seller, uses a rosemary and juniper rub. It’s a version of chicken and waffles, except the meat is pulled pork and the waffles are bannock, said Natrall. He runs Mr. Bannock with help from his family. He and his partner Kelley Lloyd-Jones have six kids between them. Two kids, nine-year-old Marcus and 10-year-old Arionna, are taking an
Natrall collaborated with his longtime friend KC Hall to design the exterior of Mr. Bannock.
interest in Mr. Bannock and helping their dad prepare food. That makes them third-generation chefs, said Natrall. But his biggest helper is his partner. “I tell her there’s no Mr. Bannock without the Mrs.,” he said. Natrall’s next project is assembling an Indigenous cooking team to compete locally and eventually in the 2020 Culinary Olympics, which he first competed in in 2012. “There’s almost a 20-year absence of Indigenous people going to the [culinary] olympics,” said Natrall. “There’s a huge gap for Indigenous food and we need to start building on that sooner than later.” More information on Mr. Bannock —including where the food truck will be serving—can be found at www.mr bannock.com and www.facebook.com/ MrBannockFood.
SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 25
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Photos courtesy of Town of Ladysmith
STZ’UMINUS-CARVED ‘SALISH WIND’ CANOE ACKNOWLEDGES SHARED HISTORY Canoe built by Sampson brothers now sits on Ladysmith’s Transfer Beach The Stz’uminus-carved Salish Wind canoe was dedicated during an event for Heritage Week where members of the nation came together with representatives from the Town of Ladysmith to recognize their shared history. The red cedar canoe was built by Stz’uminus master carver Manny Sampson with help from his brother Elmer and painted by artist Edward Joe. The canoe was first unveiled during an event at Stz’uminus last December. It now sits at Transfer Beach on a base designed and carved by Dan Richey. Ladysmith Mayor Aaron Stone gifted a framed picture of the canoe to Stz’uminus and said the canoe is symbolic of the nation’s long history on the land, and their shared history with the town after colonization. Stone said the two parties must learn from their past to move forward in a better way. “It was representative of bringing our communities together,” he said during the event on Feb. 24. “This not only
reflects and respects (our) heritage but also points to a brighter future together.” Manny Sampson was not able to attend the event, but other Stz’uminus
members including Terry Sampson and Elder George Harris spoke on behalf of the nation. Harris shared some history about the lands, and acknowledged carvers Manny and Elmer. “Manny and Elmer are great men,” he said. “Our canoe builders are great men.” Harris said, though, that he is concerned for the future of canoe building at Stz’uminus, because there are currently only about three or four builders in the community. “Right now I’m worried about canoe building, because no younger people are taking it up, with the exception of Manny’s son,” he said. While the Salish Wind was being carved over six months, members from the nation along with others from Ladysmith had opportunities to participate in the effort and to learn about the process. The project began as a result of a partnership between Stz’uminus and Ladysmith as part of Canada 150. SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 27
AROUND THE SALISH SEA
TLA’AMIN FIRST NATION TERRITORY
Powell River penstock #4 repair and replacement project for Powell River Energy Inc. Members of the Tla’amin First Nation worked with Hazelwood to complete repairs on the 14 ft diameter, 1580 ft long, steel riveted penstock that was originally constructed in 1925. HazelwoodConstruction.com
BUILDING FIRST NATION ECONOMIES
OUR YOUTH, OUR FUTURE By Edith Moore, NmTC communications liaison Last August, Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council held its second annual Youth Leadership Gathering in the Tla’amin territory. Three dozen youth came and learned about drum making, creating traditional art, ceremony and games from their elders. I was able to reconnect with three of the youth that attended the Youth Camp during a recent visit to Stz’uminus First Nation. Stz’uminus holds Youth Group every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The coordinators Shirley Louie and Shaun Crocker are in charge of keeping these inspiring youth busy. When I spoke with youth Charlise Harris, Catherine Sampson and Blake Crocker, they shared with me the teachings they had learned at the camp that they still carry with them, such as having sacred baths in the morning, and reflecting on the meal time prayer that they learned in the Tla’amin language. They loved being able to travel and exploring new places. The keepsakes of baskets and drums that were made are still important to them. This opportunity gave them a space and time to be themselves and learn from each other. When I asked if they would go again or recommend it to other youth, they nodded with excitement. I can see we helped to develop future leaders, and for this, I am so proud of the small part I played. Lets keep up the good work of encouraging our youth to be the best that they can be, and also continually teaching them of who they are. Charlise, Catherine and Blake also have a message for all their friends from the Youth Camp: “We look forward to seeing you again and drumming and singing with you.”
28 • SALISH SEA SENTINEL
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