July 2015 by Salish Sea Sentinel

Volume 11 • Issue 06

JULY 2015

This Amazing Place SPECIAL EDITION FOR VISITORS

A STRONG VOICE FOR YOUR COMMUNITY

FRAN HUNT-JINNOUCHI

GREEN PARTY CANDIDATE FOR COWICHAN–MALAHAT–LANGFORD

franhuntjinnouchi.ca /FranHuntJinnouchi @FHJinnouchi

VOTE FOR VISION

VOTE FOR EXPERIENCE

KNOW YOUR CANDIDATE

• True nation-to-nation partnerships for strong communities, affordable housing and good local jobs

• Former Elected Chief of the Quatsino First Nation

Organize a meeting with Fran today!

• Inagural Director of the Office of Indigenous Affairs at UVic

• Call 1.855.653.0236 or email ElectFran@greenparty.ca

• Owner of a popular local bistro

• Visit the campaign office: 225 Canada Ave., Duncan BC

• Defend watersheds and the coast from pipelines, tankers and pollution • Fight for a real response to the tragedy of missing and murdered indigenous women

• Status of Women Critic for the Green Party of Canada

Authorized by the Official Agent for Fran Hunt-Jinnouchi

OPINION

WELCOME TO OUR HOME

he Salish Sea is an amazing place. Of course, Coast Salish people have known that for a few millennia. But we are pleased to share it. This edition of The Sentinel is about some of the attractions for visitors to our territories. These places reveal the real wealth around us – the waters and lands and the resources created from them. From Toba and Bute Inlets to Deso-

lation Sound, Okeovor Arm and the beaches of Sliammon; from Squirrel Cove to Newcastle Island; from Indian Arm to Sooke Basin…we live in ‘the best place on earth’ for us. Some people like to travel to far-away places to learn something about cultures that existed 2,000 years ago and more. But we hope you will also want to learn more about this place we call home, a place that archeological data show as being inhabited for 10,000 years or more. We weren’t able to create Great Pyramids, Coliseums, Taj Mahals or Great

Walls made of stone. The material for building our houses, our poles and canoes grew from the earth – the Great Cedar. Our old house poles have disappeared, replaced by new structures and new generations. But we will never forget our ancestors or their values for this place. The Coast Salish have always welcomed guests and only ask that you honour our protocols. Get to know us; we’d like to get to know you. Come here not just as a tourist, but also as a participant in the lives we live on the Salish Sea.

NAUT’SA MAWT TRIBAL COUNCIL NATIONS EDITORIAL TEAM: Mark Kiemele editor@salishseasentinel.ca | 250-246-3438 Tricia Thomas triciathomas@salishseasentinel.ca | 250-709-2929 ADVERTISING / DISTRIBUTION: Manoj Sood ads@salishseasentinel.ca | 604-723-8355 PUBLISHER: Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council 1921 Tsawwassen Drive, Tsawwassen BC V4M 4G2 Gary Reith, CAO 604-943-6712 | 1-888-382-7711 The Salish Sea Sentinel is published monthly, eleven times a year, by the Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council, representing 6,500 people in 11 member nations. Design by Footeprint PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT # 42922026 Undeliverable mail may be returned to: 1921 Tsawwassen Drive, Delta, BC, V0R 4G2 circulation@salishseasentinel.ca

www.salishseasentinel.ca Deadline for editorial and advertising is the 15th of every month.

1. HALALT (250) 246-4736 chief@halalt.org www.halalt.org 2. HOMALCO (250) 923-4979 m.enevoldsen@homalco.com 3. KLAHOOSE Qathen Xwegus Management Corp (250) 935-6536 www.klahoose.com 4. MALAHAT (250) 743-3231 lawrencelewis@malahatnation.com www.malahatnation.com 5. SLIAMMON (604) 483-9646 clint.williams@sliammon.bc.ca www.sliammonfirstnation.com www.sliammontreaty.com 6. SNAW-NAW-AS (Nanoose) (250) 390-3661 administrator@nanoose.org nfnbandmanager@nanoose.org www.nanoose.org 7. SNUNEYMUXW (Nanaimo) (250) 740-2300 johngwesley@shaw.ca www.snuneymuxw.ca 8. STZ’UMINUS (Ladysmith) (250) 245-7155 Ray.Gauthier@coastsalishdevcorp.com www.stzuminus.com 9. TSAWWASSEN (604) 948-5219 chartman@tfnedc.com www.tsawwassenfirstnation.com 10. TSLEIL-WAUTUTH (604) 929-3454 bbaptiste@twnation.ca www.twnation.ca 11. T’SOU-KE (Sooke) (250) 642-3957 administrator@tsoukenation.com www.tsoukenation.com

COVER PHOTO: Cheyanne Hackett honours Orford Bay in Bute Inlet which is the traditional home of the Homalco people. Photo by Tricia Thomas.

SALISH SEA SENTINEL 1

some summer wows! This is tum’qwi’lus in the Hul’qumi’num language – July, the hot month.

It is also the time to begin to travel. Historically it was for fish and other foods. Now it is mostly for pleasure and it certainly is a joy to travel around the Salish Sea, visiting family and friends and enjoying the bounty around us. The next two editions of The Sentinel are all about such pleasures. There is plenty to see and do as we enter summer. And we’ve tried to tell you about some of the things on offer from Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council nations. We are honoured that artist Sonny Assu has allowed us to use his 2006 creation – Coke Salish – to illustrate this issue. The image on this page is courtesy of Sonny Assu and the Equinox Gallery with the photo by Chris Meier.

Canoes will fill the Powell River shores July 17-19 as Sliammon First Nation hosts paddlers from around the Salish Sea with songs, dancing, feasts and traditional ceremonies.

Explore Desolation Sound and beyond...

Cultural Canoe and Kayak Tours • Zodiac Tours Traditional Cedar Weaving Workshops 5245 Highway 101, Sliammon Tla’Amin Convenience Store home of Sli-City Grill First Nations owned and operated www.ihostours.com 604.483.1308 • info@ihostours.com 2 SALISH SEA SENTINEL

William Good talked with Mayor Bill McKay about one of his bentwood cedar boxes at downtown Nanaimo Museum recently. It was the opening of a summer-long event celebrating Ay Ay Mut, an artistic partnership between William Good and Sandra Moorhouse-Good including her clothing line. The exhibition runs until July 31.

JULY HIGHLIGHTS 3 – Council by-election, Snuneymuxw band office, 668 Centre St, 9 am-8 pm. 3-11 – Healthy Ways Pulling Together canoe journey, starts at Sts’ailes First Nation, 4690 Salish Way, Agassiz, BC. Visits Tsawwassen July 8-9. 4-5 – Canoe racing at Ambleside, West Vancouver. 11-12 – Canoe racing, Whey-ah-Wichen (Cates Park), North Vancouver. 17-19 – Sliammon Tribal Journey, Honouring Our Youth, Willingdon Beach, Powell River. 18-19 – Canoe racing at Kulleet Bay, Stz’uminus, Ladysmith 25-26 – Canoe racing at Tsartlip in Saanich. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Web sites for nations within Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council are listed on Page 1 of The Sentinel and will often include local events and activities. Other sites include: aboriginalbc.com, ihosgallery.com, moa.ubc.ca ihostours.com, nanaimomuseum.ca, newcastleisland.ca, royalbcmuseum.bc.ca, quwutsun.ca, thebearsofbute.com

ENJOY COAST SALISH TERRITORY

I’HOS CONNECTS PAST AND PRESENT I’Hos is the traditional Coast Salish name for Savary Island. The word means twoheaded serpent. The Tla’amin (Sliammon) people have been living in this area of the Salish Sea for over 8,000 years. I’Hos Cultural Tours, located in Powell River and Lund, offers a unique experience for visitors that includes wildlife in natural settings and cultural grounding. There are a variety of adventures to choose from: One is a cultural canoe tour, a five-hour paddle to Kwoo Kwak Thys (Copeland Island) in a 35-foot canoe accompanied with songs and stories of Coast Salish history. There are also two Desolation Sound tours aboard a fast and comfortable Zodiac inflatable boat. One trip is a cruise through

On tour with I’Hos (Erik and Drew Blaney)

the waters of Desolation Sound. A longer six-hour trip to Desolation Sound Marine Park involves cruising through the majestic coastal fjord known as Yekwamen, home of Klahoose First Nation. Both tours offer a certified Tla’amin guide, including owner Erik Blaney and his brother Drew. They share historical stories of First Nations people and their

cultural practices, viewing pictographs and 5,000-year-old village sites. I’Hos Cultural Tours also offers a handson experience of Coast Salish traditional cedar weaving. Half-day to full weekend workshops are available. Rave reviews for this unique cultural adventure can be found on TripAdvisor and more information at www.ihostours.com.

Let your journey begin with us… Tour the calm and scenic waters of Indian Arm by canoe or kayak and experience the culture, tradition and history of the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation. Our 25 foot traditional style ocean-going canoes will safely take you on an unforgettable journey across our waters and back through time. While you explore the rich marine coastlines of Indian Arm, our experienced guides will share legends, songs, and stories that will help you to create memories that will last a lifetime! CANOE TOURS | KAYAK TOURS | RAINFOREST WALKING TOURS | SPAWNING SALMON TOURS | MULTI-DAY TOURS

604-904-7410 | takayatours.com SALISH SEA SENTINEL 3

‘Spectacular’ sums up

FORUM FOR CHANGE

HOMALCO TOUR

VISITORS TO CAMPBELL RIVER ARE POSTING RAVE REVIEWS FOR HOMALCO WILDLIFE TOURS JOURNEY TO BUTE INLET. AND IT’S NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE GRIZZLY BEARS.

WE BUILD AND REPAIR CANOES. WE CARVE TOTEM POLES, MASKS, PLAQUES FOR YOUR HOME, SCHOOL OR OFFICE. WE ARE A FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED BUSINESS LOCATED IN COWICHAN, BC. Find us on Facebook: Coast Salish Design Follow us on Twitter: @CSalishDtweets e-mail: coastsalish@yahoo.com or call us at 250-510-1644 cell: 250-510-8560

WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU. HUY CH Q’U - THANK YOU \O/ 4 SALISH SEA SENTINEL

This year, for the first time, the traditional territory of the Xwe’malhkwu (Homalco) people is on offer in the early days of summer for cultural tours. There may not be bears yet, but visitors encounter whales, porpoises and sea lions, eagles and other wildlife in the glacial green waters around Orford Bay. The tours offer a unique opportunity for visitors to experience the lush wilderness through traditional customs and hospitality. Homalco youth serve as guides and play an important role in reclaiming their traditional cultural teachings and sharing those with others. The tours’ mission is to transform Culture into ‘Cool-ture’ in the eyes of the young people who are infectiously spreading newfound pride throughout the community and to visitors from throughout the world. Bears arrive with From the welcoming ceremony, paddling salmon in August a canoe, learning to weave cedar and meeting artists to a seafood feast with drumming and singing – a visit to Orford is rated as an experience of a lifetime. The experience only gets better in mid-August as people visit the world-class destination to view grizzly bears feeding in their natural habitat as salmon runs begin. Authorized tour operators at www.thebearsofbute.com.

ENJOY COAST SALISH TERRITORY

GREETINGS FROM HOMALCO (clockwise from left): Visitors paddle through history; Homalco people are hosts; information centre a learning place; seals, sea lions, orca whales and other wildlife abound.

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SALISH SEA SENTINEL 5

A JEWEL IN NANAIMO’S HARBOUR Small craft called ‘pickle boats’ instead of cedar canoes take visitors across Nanaimo Harbour to Newcastle Island. Called Saysushun, in the Hul’q’umi’num language, the island is part of the traditional Snuneymuxw First Nation territory. Interpreter Celestine Aleck leads tours of ancient middens and historical sites around the island, a place once extensively used for fishing, hunting, and gathering shellfish, berries and medicinal plants. In 1849, Europeans arrived and a succession of coal mines, a fish-salting plant, a shipyard and a sandstone quarry left vestiges of their presence. The story of Newcastle Island is told in the gallery of

Experience the tastes people are raving about…

Don’t panic, we got bannock! From Elk Burgers to the most talked about wings in town, we got it all. CATERING NOW AVAILABLE

SLI CITY GRILL Tla’amin Convenience Store YO UR L O CAL G RO CE RY M ARK E T 5245 Lund Highway, Powell River BC V8A 0B4 Monday to Saturday 6:30 am to 10:30 pm Sunday 7 am to 9:30 pm

6 SALISH SEA SENTINEL

ENJOY COAST SALISH TERRITORY

old photos in the pavilion and the signs posted on walking trails that lead to various historic points around the island. Now a BC Marine Park co-managed by Snuneymuxw, the City of Nanaimo and the province, Newcastle Island offers seasonal camping and moorage, along with

a concession and store and the Q’uluc’tun Bistro featuring First Nations’ foods. This summer, a new artisan workshop and craft booth will feature Snuneymuxw carvers and artists. Plans are underway for a cultural centre to be built on the island. Contact www.newcastleisland.ca

WELCOME TO NEWCASTLE ISLAND (from far left): There are plenty of camping spots available; aerial photo of the island in Nanaimo Harbour by Ken Walker courtesy Wikipedia Creative Commons; Snuneymuxw hosts welcome visitors; the city is a short boat ride away; beauty and history combine to make the island a ‘jewel’.

Naut’sa mawt

TRIBAL COUNCIL

1-888-382-7711

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Naut’sa mawt shipping@nautsamawt.com Tribal Council now offering preferred shipping rates. The Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council has partnered with Overland West Freight Lines and Comox Pacific Express to provide CONNECTING WESTERN CANADA reliable shipping services at preferred rates! Overland West Freight Lines is an industry leader in regional LTL (less than truckload) service. Our Need something shipped? Please contact strategically located terminals, transportation Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council first so we can professionals, and leading edge IT services ensure that we have the capability and expertise to meet and exceed help you with your shipping needs. your distribution needs. www.overlandwest.ca

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AROUND THE SALISH SEA

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Weaving cedar on a form

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HATS OFF TO OUR ELDERS: People from Halalt First Nation will be going in style to the 39th annual Elders Gathering on July 7-9 in Tsawout First

Nation territory near Saanich. Youth and others learned from Shy Waters how to work with cedar, from stripping bark and soaking bark to making hats

AROUND THE SALISH SEA

Joseph Norris

and headbands. Keeping with tradition, the hats were given away to the elders that are attending the gathering. Gary Norris coordinated funding from the First Nations Cultural Council.

Group making hats

Collette Norris

Pat Thomas and Belvie Brebber

SALISH SEA SENTINEL 9

AROUND THE SALISH SEA

LEADERS DEMAND ACTION TO PROTECT SALISH SEA

oast Salish leaders said an emphatic “No” to energy development and oil transport through Salish Sea when they gathered at Swinomish, Washington, in early June. Coast Salish Gathering delegates unanimously agreed to work together to address the transport of crude oil shipments by rail and sea through their territories. Tribes and Indian nations from Washington State met with their ‘relations’ from British Columbia have been united for the past decade to protect the Salish Sea.

Swinomish chairman Brian Cladoosby said: “We call to action the federal, state and provincial governments to work with us to restore and protect the Salish Sea through trans-boundary science, and reform of law, policy and regulations that balance environmental protection and economic prosperity so we may all continue to call this unique place our home.” Ray Harris of Stz’uminus First Nation and co-chair of the First Nations Summit in BC, said: “We have removed two dams

from the Lower Elwha River so our salmon can return home, but where will our salmon go if the Salish Sea is dirty? I speak fish, as do all of you, and with one voice we are unified for the salmon and the Salish Sea – for today and for generations to come.” Jay Julius, a council member from Lummi Nation said: “We have been here since time immemorial; and it is our sacred responsibility to ensure we protect our way of life for generations to come” www.coastsalishgathering.com

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OPPORTUNITIES

MENTORSHIP PROGRAM ARE YOU INTERESTED IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES… ENGINEERING…SALES AND MARKETING? Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council is looking for people from our eleven nations who want to know about our new Mentorship

Program. We want to link applicants with our partners to provide a paid, professional work environment for up to one year. The idea is to help you realize your career and personal goals and eventually secure permanent, full-time

employment based either in the Lower Mainland or on Vancouver Island. We want to know if the NmTC Mentorship Program sounds interesting to you. Let us know by sending an email, including your resume, to: jobs@nautsamawt.com

Erik Blaney

HERONS NEST WORKS FOR YOU A fresh, new version of the Herons Nest – Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council’s program for entrepreneurs, is about to begin. Coordinator Erik Blaney, a self-made successful businessperson from Sliammon First Nation, said he wants to hear from people in NmTC’s nations who want to work for themselves and launch their own businesses. “Over the next year, I want to help plant the seeds in our communities about business and entrepreneurship,” Erik said. “I hope to also host a gathering of economic development experts and have them spread the word about the Herons Nest. “During the next round of Herons Nest, we want to hold a gala event to present all successful businesses created and to present other exciting business ideas.” The Herons Nest started in 2014 and helped a number of people launch or expand their self-employment ideas.

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SALISH SEA SENTINEL 11

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