Volume 13 . Issue 10
December 2017-January 2018
CULTURE IS HEALING
PAGES 11-13
CHILDREN & FAMILY HOUSE POST PAGES 16-20
NAUT’SA MAWT TRIBAL COUNCIL NATIONS
Naut’sa mawt - Working together as one EDITORIAL TEAM Cara McKenna – Editor editor@salishseasentinel.ca Todd Peacey – Photographer DESIGN & LAYOUT Kelly Landry & Carmel Ecker ADVERTISING & DISTRIBUTION Manoj Sood ads@salishseasentinel.ca 604-943-6712 or 1-888-382-7711 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 PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT #42922026 Undeliverable mail may be returned to: 330-6165 Highway 17A Delta, B.C., V4K 5B8 circulation@salishseasentinel.ca 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: Olivia Blaney, centre, and her classmates from Snaw-naw-as’s Headstart Program perform a song at an unveiling ceremony for a new welcoming post in Nanaimo. More on page 16. CORRECTION: In a story in our November issue about a new program at Kw’umut Lelum involving youth carving a cedar canoe, the word “Kw’umut” was misspelled. We apologize for the error.
The Salish Sea map was created in 2009 by Stefan Freelan at Western Washington University
1. HALALT (250) 246-4736 chief@halalt.org www.halalt.org
7. SNUNEYMUXW (Nanaimo) (250) 740-2300 johngwesley@shaw.ca www.snuneymuxw.ca
2. HOMALCO (250) 923-4979 m.enevoldsen@homalco.com
8. STZ’UMINUS (Ladysmith) (250) 245-7155 Ray.Gauthier@coastsalishdevcorp.com www.stzuminus.com
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
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
SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 1
COAST SALISH STORIES
SNAKE ISLAND STORY
Told by Celestine Aleck (Sahiltiniye) of Snuneymuxw First Nation There are many versions of this story I have come across and this is the one I could grasp. This is Spencer Point’s version of Snake Island: Long ago, and still today, our grandparents had taken the first grandchild that was born and raised them with all our snuw’uy’ulh: all our teachings. Well, this one set of grandparents was raising their granddaughter. She would wake up have breakfast, do her chores and then get teachings before she would go out and play all day. The grandmother used to walk through the village looking for her granddaughter, and she never knew where she went day after day. One day, the grandmother decided to get an older girl to follow her granddaughter to see where she was going. So that morning, the granddaughter woke up and had her breakfast, got her teachings and finished her chores and went out to play. Two long houses away the older girl had been waiting to follow her seen her come out of her longhouse and began to follow the granddaughter. The granddaughter had walked all 2 • SALISH SEA SENTINEL
the way up to the mouth of the river and she jumped into the water. Just as she had jumped into the water, all these snakes came out and wrapped all around the girl and began to play with her. The older girl had watched to see if they were really playing, and once she had seen that she rushed all the way back to the grandmother. “Your granddaughter is at the mouth of the river playing with snakes,” the girl said. The grandmother was so worried and upset that she was doing that, so when the granddaughter got home she had asked: “What are you doing?" “You must play with your own kind you cannot play with snakes, that’s wrong, that’s bad! No more,” the grandmother scolded. The granddaughter said: “No grandma, please, they are my friends, I love them and they love me. We play every day.” The grandmother replied: “No, you cannot play with them.”
The granddaughter didn’t listen. She would still sneak away to the mouth of the river and play with the snakes, and as time went by and she had gotten a bit older, she began dreaming of a tall dark figure with red eyes, and the granddaughter's stomach began to grow. Her grandfather would ask her: “What happened? Who did you sleep with?” But she was too young to understand what he was asking and that he had thought she was pregnant. But because she wasn’t married back then, she had to leave the village. The grandfather had taken her onto the canoe and went out past Saysutshun and left her on the island that is called Welhqi:um (Snake Island). He went back home and the grandmother kept asking where he took their granddaughter, but the grandfather wouldn’t tell her until she got upset. When he finally told her, the grandmother got onto her canoe and went up to Welhqi:um. She saw her granddaughter and told her to come down to the canoe, but the granddaughter’s big
AROUND THE SALISH SEA
tummy was gone, the island was covered in snakes, and she couldn’t move. Grandmother rushed home and told grandfather about what had happened. He told all the men to go home and get their knives—they were going to save granddaughter. All the men got into their canoes and went to Welhqi:um and jumped out their canoes and began to cut the snakes. There were so many snakes that the men couldn’t keep up, so grandfather told them to build a fire on the island and to tell granddaughter to jump over. So they did, and she jumped over and was OK, but to this day, if anyone ever goes to Welhqi:um, the snakes look like they are cut in half and have no tails. Our Snuneymuxw First Nations had fished for blue backs, lingcod and even seal back in the day on Welhqi:um, but once it became Snake Island our people couldn’t fish there, for anything caught near the island is bound to have snakes in its tummy.
SHOWCASING TALENT: NMTC ARTIST DIRECTORY SEEKS SUBMISSIONS By Edith Moore, NmTC communications liaison If you haven’t heard, Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council has a new Coast Salish Artists website that can be found at www.indigenousartists.org. The website is designed to be a celebration of our artists in the 11 First Nations that we work for. It is part of my job to populate this website with our many talented artists. I will be gathering artist’s biographies along with photos of them and their work over the next couple of months. One of the recent visits I had was with the talented Margaret (Marge) George at Tsleil-Waututh First Nation. If you are ever at the nation, look her up and you will not only get to see her wonderful
cedar weaving but you will also have the privilege of a wonderful visit just as I did. Along with her cedar weaving that she learned from her grandmother Annie Charlie of the Fraser Valley, she sews, beads, does wool weaving and crochets. In the past, she has been commissioned to do work for Stanley Park. It’s a pleasure to see some of the talented people we have in our nations. If you are interested in being part of the artists’ website and have some talent to showcase, please register yourself at www.indigenousartists.org or email me at emoore@nautsamawt.com. I will also be visiting each of the nations, so keep your eyes open for invitations to come to have your work added. This is exciting work and I am honoured to be a part of it. SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 3
‘YOS’ POLE
WELCOMES GUESTS TO MALAHAT TERRITORY
4 • SALISH SEA SENTINEL
Carvings feature important figures to the nation, including Thunderbird and Sasquatch Story by Cara McKenna with files from Barclay Martin Photos by Barclay Martin Trail-walkers who are taking in the beauty of Malahat Nation’s territory will now be greeted by a detailed pole that tells stories of the nation. The “Yos” (Thunderbird) pole has been cemented to mark a section of the Trans Canada Trail that travels along the west side of Malahat Mountain. It was unveiled during an event on Oct. 24. The carving was shaped by several youth from Malahat Nation (Troy, Damian and Malden Harry), who worked with Stz’uminus artist Luke Marston and Nuu-chah-nulth artist Moy Sutherland Jr. The project was the result of a partnership between the nation, Cowichan Valley Regional District and School District 79. Marston explained that carvers worked with elders to create the work. “They know the land, they know the spirit of the land and they know what it means to their nation,” he said. “Everything on this sculpture is something that is of cultural importance to Malahat Nation.” Marston explained that the lands are the home of the Thunderbird, and that the mountain was always called “Yos” which is why the pole carries that name, and why the Thunderbird has such significance on the carving. Everything on this sculpture is The front of the pole shows Yos something that is of cultural carrying salmon to underline the importance of the salmon run to importance to Malahat Nation. the Malahat people. The back of the pole features Sasquatch, who is said to have lived in the mountains, looking down on the people, alongside two children. Legends say Sasquatch kidnapped the two children and they stayed with her in the mountains before they were able to escape by rubbing pitch into the creature’s eyes. Carrying the representations, at the bottom, is a carving of the Big House, which holds all of the teachings. North Cowichan Mayor Jon Lefebre attended the pole’s unveiling and gifted the nation with a piece of artwork. He said he is grateful that now people who walk the trail will get a better sense of Malahat’s territory and stories. “I am so appreciative of you involving youth in the carving,” Lefebre said. “In my culture, that’s something we need to work on. Involving the youth. And we can learn from your approach.” The Trans Canada trail is one of the world’s largest connecting networks of trails, and currently stretches more than 18,000 km across the country. When it is completed, it is set to expand to 24,000 km.
SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 5
Above: Carver Luke Marston of Stz’uminus First Nation. Below: North Cowichan Mayor Jon Lefebure gifts a piece of artwork to Malahat Nation.
6 • SALISH SEA SENTINEL
Wes (left) and Jeff Edwards welcome guests to Malahat territory with a song. Inset: Troy Harry, one of the Malahat youth who helped with the carving, SALISH SEA •7 stands withSENTINEL the finished pole.
8 • SALISH SEA SENTINEL
TRACY WILLIAMS: TRADITIONAL TECHNOLOGY The Squamish Nation artist uses materials from Mother Earth to create tools, clothing and more By Cara McKenna Tracy Williams (Sesemiya) is kind of like a scientist and an artist mixed into one. She’s been described as a “traditional technologist” which seems fitting given the intricate tools and garments she’s able to weave using things she’s gathered from nature. Fish skin leather, traditional tools such as fire-starters and baskets are just some of the objects she’s created from gathered materials—not to mention countless experiments. During an artist’s talk at the Bill Reid Gallery in late October, Williams showcased some of her work and spoke about her process. The Squamish Nation member, teacher and mother comes from a long line of basket weavers and has been on a
learning journey for a couple of decades. But she actually got a bit sidetracked from her initial quest to learn weaving, because there was so much more knowledge to find. “It’s funny because one thing that I realize is that everything relates to each other,” she said. “Even just hide tanning and what does that mean, how does that vary between animals? I can do it but I’m not masterful.” She is, however, causing a buzz with some of the work she’s done, such as an experiment she recently did with creating fish skin leather boots for her daughter. Williams said she had an ongoing fascination with fish skins, and decided to tan some using a tree bark solution as an experiment. When she showed the result to an elder, she realized what she was doing
was actually revitalization. “This elder looked at it and said ‘I remember seeing that when I was a kid,’” Williams said. “I was like, ’tell me more,’ because it is not easy to find these things. It’s like you’re finding these strands of memory from different places.” Williams also has dissected practical knowledge from traditional stories. Recently, she said, she came across a legend about a boy who was forlorn, so the sun came and gave him a cloak made of duck skins and squirrel skins. “As a clothing maker I was totally fascinated. I’ve never heard of those materials together,” she said. “It was said that you could take this cloak and wear it and call the herring to the water. I was just fascinated at the bigger story that was going on here.” Continued on page 10
SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 9
Continued from page 9
Williams has now reached a point in her craft where she feels she can experiment with natural materials and methods – however going back to the land and relearning traditional ways was not an easy process to begin. Perhaps ironically, at first she had to turn to YouTube videos to learn some of the basics. But now, the wilderness is her family’s workshop, playground, and grocery store. “This is something that my husband and my children and I worked on for quite a number of years now, in the beginning it was hard to find teachers,” she said. “This is something that didn’t happen overnight, of course you underestimate the skills you need.” But Williams said the sometimes-tedious process of figuring out self-identity has been worth it because her children are growing up with traditional methods being the norm. “It’s not easy to be a hunter/gatherer family with the city around you,” she said. “(But) I think our kids are going to grow up with a sense of a deep connection to land.” Some of William’s pieces will be on display at the Bill Reid Gallery’s Intangible exhibition until Dec. 10. 10 • SALISH SEA SENTINEL
CULTURE IS HEALING A look at a Vancouver organization that’s aiming to connect urban Indigenous youth with teachings On a brisk evening in Vancouver, a group of a few dozen Indigenous youth are gathered in the cozy basement of a downtown building eating salmon, getting to know each other and making drums with guidance from Squamish Nation cultural educator Anne Guss. The group is all under 30, and represent-
ing nations across the country. They are here as part of a new inclusive program being run by YouthCo’s Yúusnewas team called Culture is Healing. The program involves hosting free cultural events for urban Indigenous youth, and aims to connect the youth with culture and each other. The drum-making workshop is only the
second Culture is Healing event, but the program has already started drawing a large turnout and created a buzz on social media. The Sentinel caught up with Kwiigay iiwaans, one of the program’s organizers who is Squamish and Haida, to learn more about YouthCo and the new workshops. SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 11
The Sentinel: Tell me a bit about YouthCO, and how the Culture is Healing events began? Kwiigay: YouthCo is an HIV and Hep C Society in Vancouver. We are youth driven, meaning everyone who works at YouthCO is under the age of 30. Our work aims to fight stigma, share knowledge, and provide resources around HIV and Hep-C. The Culture is Healing program began because we, the Yúusnewas team, felt a disconnect between those of us who are marginalized due to our HIV/ Hep C status, gender/sexual orientation, income level, etc., and our access to cultural teachings in an urban environment. The Sentinel: How are the events planned, and who is allowed to attend? Kwiigay: We work together as a team and with young Indigenous people in 12 • SALISH SEA SENTINEL
the community to decide what workshops we will offer. Planning generally starts about a month in advance. First we poll our community members about what cultural activities they would like to participate in. Next we start finding a facilitator, thinking about what we need to set up the space and materials if needed. After this we can start promoting with a Facebook event page, on our website (with option to RSVP), Instagram, and other platforms. The week and day of we set up the space, arrange food and get ready to host! We want to ensure this is a low-barrier event, and that means making the workshops free of charge, providing food, and communicating access needs. This program is by and for all self-identified Indigenous people between the ages of 14 - 29 regardless of sexuality, gender, or abilities.
The Sentinel: The first event was a plant medicine workshop, then the drum-making. What kind of response have you seen at those? Is there a high demand? Kwiigay: As we host more events, they have been becoming increasingly popular! We’ve been getting a lot of great feedback from our communities about these events, and a lot of excitement around what future events Culture is Healing will host. The Sentinel: At the drum-making workshop, there were youth from Indigenous communities across the country. Can you talk about why having a venue to reconnect is important for youth in the city? Kwiigay: Colonialism has caused many of us to grow up with very little of our cultural teachings. In our com-
Kwiigay iiwans (left) and Kayla Mitchell, organizers of the Culture is Healing nights.
munities we can see and live this reality daily. Living in an urban environment can bring its own unique difficulties. It is still important for those of us who face additional barriers due to our vast and varied intersecting identities to have a safer space, dedicated for us, to exist in and share teachings with each other in order to build stronger, and more inclusive communities. The Sentinel: It’s a unique program. What’s the best part about hosting such events? Kwiigay: It is so rewarding hearing all the feedback from our community! Personally, I’ve struggled to find space that honours my intersecting identities while also sharing cultural teachings and found solace at Yúusnewas. Having the privilege of doing the work to put on events like this is a dream come true for me.
Squamish Elder Anne Guss helped the youth to create drums.
We want to ensure this is a low-barrier event, and that means making the workshops free of charge, providing food, and communicating access needs. The Sentinel: Have there been any challenges? Working together as a team we get everything done fairy efficiently with little difficulty. While there have been hiccups along the road, we’ve yet to face a problem we could not work through together. The Sentinel: It seems like the program has been a success. What's next for the future? Kwiigay: Going out on the land, nature
walks, movie nights, beading, the possibilities are endless! Our community decides which future events we host while we figure out how to provide it to them. We are planning on having monthly volunteer meet ups as well, building a team that will work alongside us during our Culture is Healing events in varying capacities, and assisting with outreach. The Sentinel: What would you say to youth who might be considering attending, or want to get involved in other ways? Kwiigay: Check out our social media platforms if you would like more information, and please don’t hesitate to contact us using whichever platform feels best for you! More information about the workshops is available at www.youthco.org. SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 13
BREAKING THE INTERGENERATIONAL CYCLE lessLIE, centre, stands with his daughter Cadence and partner Amanda Bob.
14 • SALISH SEA SENTINEL
Coast Salish artist lessLIE reflects on the challenges of being a parent while dealing with trauma stemming from residential schools Personal essay by lessLIE Editor’s note: This essay contains personal stories involving addiction and abuse and might be triggering to some. Reader discretion is advised. Being a great parent in any era of humanity has probably always been a challenging undertaking. Being a great contemporary First Nations parent, despite the legacy of colonialism, cultural genocide, and the residential school system, makes great parenting even more challenging. Many of our family members never had proper parenting because they were taken from their families as children and put into residential schools. Many were abused and made to feel worthless. This has created an intergenerational cycle. Yet the legacy of poor parenting resulting from the residential school system has to end somewhere. As a parent of a two-year-old baby girl, I have given myself the challenge of being the best parent possible by any standard. Like many others, I want my daughter to have a better childhood than I had. My childhood was filled with many wonderful memories, yet unfortunately, it was also filled with trauma. I grew up being raised by my extended family, many of whom had problem with drinking. This was a part of the legacy of residential schools: my parents, grandparents, and aunts and uncles had problems with alcoholism. I witnessed them drinking, and even as a child, it was embarrassing and sad. Like those who went to residential schools, I saw many things during my childhood that I should not have been exposed to, and which would form the foundation of who I would grow up to become. On the few occasions when I have walked East Hastings Street in Vancouver, I have thought that statistically, that is where I should have ended up. Some of my childhood experiences are indirectly attributable to the residential school syndrome. I saw adults in my family getting drunk all the time. I witnessed sexual and physical abuse. I personally experienced poverty and molestation. I saw, learned, and experienced things that a little boy
should never go through. These traumatic experiences formed the foundation of who I became as an adult. One of the worst and most traumatic childhood experiences I had was watching my mom and stepdad argue at the dinner table in front of me. My mom said something to my stepdad, and my stepdad got silent for a few seconds, then, in front of me, punched my mom in the mouth. I was so shocked and hurt to see this. All I could do was put my head down on the table and cry. Another time, family members were so drunk that they forgot to buy groceries. When they finally sobered up, and bought food, my younger sister and I were so hungry that we began to cry as we reached into the paper grocery bag and pulled out bread to eat. As an innocent kid, my family were my only role models. They taught me love and acceptance, yet as my childhood experiences illustrate, they also indirectly taught me demoralization. I grew into a shy, lonely young man who did not know how to view the opposite sex. As a child, being molested gave me a warped sense of sexuality. I was unhappy, and did not care about my life, or the lives of the women I was intimately involved with. Through those experiences, I knew my life had to change. At the end of the day, I was a good man. I was educated and talented and generally tried to live a good life. But my personal issues stemming from my childhood caused me to carry myself in shame. I had to make changes in my life. I wanted to live a better life than what my family gave me and the residential school legacy taught them. I felt the only way to do that was the become a family man. In 2013, I met my partner Amanda, who was herself on a healing journey. A couple years later, we were blessed with our daughter Cadence. Amanda and I have both overcome our own trauma and addictions, and as parents, we want to give our daughter a childhood that is better than we had. We want to break the intergenerational cycle of residential schools of poor parenting and demoral-
ization. Every day we do our best to be the best parents we can possibly be. This is not to say we are perfect or do not make parenting mistakes. As a contemporary Coast Salish man, I believe it is important to be a good father. So many people walk away from parenting responsibilities. I believe it is vital to our future to raise our kids properly today. Amanda and I do this with our daughter Cadence. We do our best to love her every day. We teach her the ABCs, counting, colors, art, drumming, tradition, happiness, pride, manners, a good diet. I know that my daughter is watching and learning from me, just as I did with my parents as a kid. I have a responsibility to her to be the best human being I can be. We can break the cycle of residential schools by being proud, dignified parents. One aspect of decolonization is relearning how to live honourable lives. We do not need to act “Indian� under the Indian Act. We need to reclaim our human agency. We need to reclaim our will to live good lives. After colonialism and the residential school legacy, selfgovernment also means watching how we govern ourselves as individuals. Politics begin at home. With the right upbringing, by letting go of the residential school syndrome, our daughter could live a great life. I love my family. I do not intend to judge them for how I was raised, nor community members who are not strong enough to attempt better parenting. When I look back at my life, I can see an improvement with my generation. I received an education and began a successful art career. I never drank or did drugs. Yet I admit, I too was haunted by residential schools through a self-destructive lifestyle. My partner Amanda and are strong people. Yet our daughter has the potential to be stronger. If our daughter is properly raised, free of the legacy of residential schools, she can potentially live a life that we could have possibly only dreamed of. lessLIE (Leslie Sam) is a Cowichan and Penelakut artist, writer and father. He resides at Snaw-naw-as First Nation with his family.
SNUNEYMUXW-CARVED HOUSE POST
16 • SALISH SEA SENTINEL
FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILY UNVEILED
SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 17
Amanda Bob leads students from the Snaw-naw-as Headstart Program in a song.
The carving is a partnership between Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre and the Boys and Girls Club Photos and story by Cara McKenna A newly revealed Snuneymuxw house post will serve as a permanent reminder of relationship building and respect between two organizations that share it. The carving by Noel Brown now graces the entrance of the complex that houses the Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre and Boys and Girls Club. The work being called the “Children and Family House Post” was funded through a $20,000 grant from the B.C. Museums Foundation. At an unveiling ceremony in late October, Nuu-chah-nulth Elder Willard Gallic blessed the post with cedar. Gallic, speaking on behalf of the artist, explained the meaning of the carving. The post features four animals: a bear on the bottom to represent strength and power, then a whale, a wolf, and an eagle at the top to keep watch. “The raising of a house post or a pole is very sacred to us,” he said. “It’s something that we don’t take lightly.” Later in the day, two school groups from Snaw-naw-as’s Headstart Program and the Nisaika Kumtuks Elementary Centre – which is located in the Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre’s complex – performed songs. Then a group from Cowichan Tribes performed a traditional 18 • SALISH SEA SENTINEL
Children from the Nisaika Kumtuks Elementary Centre perform a song.
dance, before the event concluded with a salmon feast. Chris Beaton, the executive director of the Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre, said he feels the house post highlights a reconciliation process between Indigenous and non-Indigenous organizations. “This whole conversation that’s happening in this country around reconciliation really is, at its heart, around relationship building,” he said. “It’s about finding ways to learn about each other and having respectful conversations with each other…It’s as simple as that.”
Cowichan dancers perform for the crowd.
SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 19
Chris Beaton of the Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre watches the unveiling ceremony.
20 • SALISH SEA SENTINEL
Nuu-chah-nulth Elder Willard Gallic explains the meaning of the house post.
YOUNG LEADERS TEACH BUSINESSPEOPLE HOW TO PARTNER WITH FIRST NATIONS Panel discussion brings issues of understanding, respect to forefront Businesspeople from across Vancouver Island learned about the basics of partnering with First Nations during a special event in Snuneymuxw territory on Oct. 25. A panel discussion on Indigenous business and economic development took place during the 11th annual State of the Island Economic Summit in downtown Nanaimo. The summit is hosted each year by the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance with an aim to build collaboration between various leaders and stakeholders. Erik Blaney from Tla’amin, Erralyn Joseph from Snuneymuw and Conrad Brown of the Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations spoke to a crowd of dozens about their business experience and answered questions. Maynard Harry, a former Tla’amin chief, moderated the event. Harry said, though all First Nations develop differently, it’s important for anyone wanting to do business with them
We need that legal component and that respect and recognition by the business community of our rights and title in our own land. to have a basic understanding of certain things. “If you as individual business owners want to work with First Nations, you have to have an idea of what life is like on an Indian reserve, the Indian Act, land code,” he said. “First Nations are a different animal, we’re communal in nature, the Indian Act created that.” Blaney highlighted the various communities he works with as an economic advisor for Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council and how different they are. “We have a very diverse mix of economic development strategies,” he said, highlighting ventures such as Tsawwassen Nation’s megamall and
T’Sou-ke’s wasabi business. Joseph, a councillor with Snuneymuxw First Nation, said her nation has been growing its participation in business in the last decade. She said that was due to a reconciliation agreement the community signed in 2013. “We need that legal component and that respect and recognition by the business community of our rights and title in our own land so we can unlock the potential ourselves,” she said. “Non-First Nations business partners are going to be key.” Joseph said that, like many communities, Snuneymuxw has been bogged down by a lack of respect. “It’s basically 150 years of federal and provincial governments really denying the existence of Snuneymuxw,” she said. “Hopefully with the new elections, federal and provincial, we can blaze a different path.” More information about the summit and resources on Indigenous business on the Island is available at viea.ca. SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 21
ACTIVISTS ‘NOT GOING TO BE INTIMIDATED’ AFTER ARRESTS AT KINDER MORGAN TERMINAL Five people now facing charges say they were standing up for Indigenous rights Five activists who are facing charges after disrupting construction at Kinder Morgan’s terminal in Burnaby, B.C., are set to appear in court on Feb. 27. The group was arrested during a flotilla event on Oct. 28, when hundreds of people gathered in Tsleil-Waututh’s territory in opposition of the pipeline expansion. Numerous people took to the water in kayaks and paddled to the terminal to check on what the company was doing, including Karen Mahon, a campaigns director for the group Stand.earth. Mahon said, as she paddled closer, she saw Kinder Morgan was in the first stages of building a security fence to construct a marine terminal behind. “I was in my little kayak and there was a private security force screaming ‘this is private property. Go away, you will be prosecuted,’” she recalled during a news conference in Vancouver on Oct. 30. Mahon said she heard the security, but also heard Tsleil-Waututh Elder Amy George saying it was not private property, 22 • SALISH SEA SENTINEL
but her nation’s territory, where her family has lived for thousands of years. So Mahon crossed the barrier line and was arrested by RCMP along with four others. “I believe Amy George is right, and I believe Kinder Morgan is wrong,” she said. “In Canada we are calling this the age of reconciliation, well now is the time for Canadians to stand alongside our First Nations friends who are saying that this pipeline will never be built.” Mahon and the other arrestees are now facing mischief charges. But as their court date approaches, hundreds of people who have opposed the pipeline are preparing for “mass civil disobedience” along the pipeline route, Mahon said. “This protest … is the first of many,” she said. “This pipeline will never be built.” Direct action training workshops began in November and will continue on as Kinder Morgan ramps up construction on expanding its Trans Mountain pipeline from B.C. to Alberta. The workshops are being hosted by non-profit groups
including Greenpeace. The project was approved by Canada but has faced mass opposition from local governments, the B.C. government, Indigenous communities, environmentalists and citizens along the route. Jake Hubley, who was also arrested, said it’s a movement of “regular” people including nurses, firefighters and artists. “For me my willingness to be arrested… means living my commitment to a better world,” he said. “We’re not going to be intimidated by arrest.” Chief Bob Chamberlin of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs said he expects this is the beginning of a much larger movement. “It’s not a small group of radical people trying to stop any development, it’s a large group of Canadians who have very deep concern for the environment,” he said. “This is not just going to magically disappear on the feet of five mischief charges. This is going to escalate. This is going to be the Standing Rock of British Columbia.”
Five kayakers are arrested by RCMP after passing a barrier erected by Kinder Morgan in Tsleil-Waututh territory on Oct. 28. All five are now facing mischief charges. –Photos by Zack Embree, courtesy of Coast Protectors
Quamichan Creek Culvert Replacement “The Fish Return”
Helping our First Nation Friends with Leadership in Being Stewards of our Environment Brian Chatwin started Chatwin Engineering in 1982 to provide services to First Nations and is a trusted partner in over 50 Communities.
Ocean Hyland and Elder Amy George, both of Tsleil-Waututh nation, speak before the flotilla takes to the water on Oct 28.
1-250-753-9171 www.chatwinengineering.com bchatwin@chatwinengineering.com
SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 23
TSLEIL-WAUTUTH SCIENCE SYMPOSIUM LOOKS AT HEALTH OF BURRARD INLET The second annual event looked at latest research, revealed updated action plan A gathering focusing on a health and restoration of the Burrard Inlet took place for a second time this year as the area faces increased risks from big oil. Tsleil-Waututh Nation started the Burrard Inlet Science Symposium to compliment work that’s being done on the restoration of its territory, which has already been damaged by pollution. The event on Oct. 18 brought together First Nations, scientists and other involved parties to discuss strategies. Tsleil-Waututh also unveiled an updated version of the Burrard Inlet Action plan that was first unveiled last 24 • SALISH SEA SENTINEL
year. The plan is a “living document” that is continuously being brought up to date with new information. Chief Maureen Thomas said the event has become very important for TsleilWaututh Nation. “We are here to try to save our sea life,” she said. “We all have to be responsible. We have to bring all this knowledge, these concerns, to the general public.” Scientists that work with the nation spoke about everything from water quality to shellfish harvesting, while Elder Iggy George shared some of his
deep knowledge of the territory and tides. Andrew Day, an environmental expert who MCed the event, said it’s heartening to see such a gathering take place. “Despite all that has been lost, the spirit of trying to preserve that beautiful place is alive,” he said. “[Tsleil-Waututh Nation] is still bringing forth their teachings and identity and desire to see this area revamped and flourish. To give nature half a chance to do its best.” The Burrard Inlet Action Plan can be viewed at twnsacredtrust.ca/burrardinlet-action-plan.
BUSINESS PLANS STRATEGIC PLANS
GRANT WRITING PROPOSALS
SILVER BEACH CONSULTING
TRAINING FACILITATION
CAPACITY BUILDING ENERGY
silverbeachconsulting.com bob2davidson@gmail.com
604-353-7576
Elder Iggy George spoke about his knowledge of the land and water.
Tsleil-Waututh Chief Maureen Thomas takes to the microphone with assistance from Gabriel George.
SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 25
Charlene Aleck welcomes guests to Tsleil-Waututh’s ‘Yes Agenda Summit’ focusing on the use of renwable energy. Right: David Suzuki, the event’s keynote speaker, was blanketed by TsleilWaututh.
RENEWABLE ENERGY ADVOCATES SPEAK AT TSLEIL-WAUTUTH’S ‘YES AGENDA SUMMIT’ Community hosts event to showcase forward-looking agenda for environment Photos and story by Trevor Nault Tsleil-Waututh Nation may be saying “no” to Kinder Morgan, but officials from the community are turning that narrative on its head to highlight what they’re saying “yes” to: renewable energy. The community’s anti-pipeline initiative, the Sacred Trust, hosted a “Yes Agenda Summit” in North Vancouver on Oct. 24 as a way to highlight the benefits of moving away from fossil fuels. The event consisted of a panel discussion with experts in the field of renewables, as well as a keynote speech from renowned environmentalist David Suzuki. Sacred Trust spokesperson Charlene 26 • SALISH SEA SENTINEL
Aleck said Tsleil-Waututh has been criticized for naysaying Kinder Morgan, but the community isn’t just saying “no”– they’re coming up with alternatives. “We really wanted a ‘yes’ agenda,” she said. “What is Tsleil-Waututh doing besides opposing this big pipeline expansion project?” Tsleil-Waututh has been working on various environmental initiatives including an increased use of solar power in community buildings and restoration of the territory – something the nation is now reaping the benefits of. “Last year and this year, with my daughters, we’ve had our first clam harvest since 1972,” Aleck said to applause.
Prominent activist Tzeporah Berman sat on a panel with Aleck, and said numbers show that people worldwide are showing an increased interest in renewable energy over fossil fuels. “In the past 10 years, we’ve gone from five countries with climate policy and renewable energy policies to 168,” Berman said. “Since 2004, the annual investment in renewable energy capacity has increased by more than 800 per cent.” She credits the shift away from fossil fuels to rapid changes in renewable energy technology and its plummeting cost. “You’ll be told its not feasible by people who don’t want it to happen, but it is feasible, it is happening—faster than we
ever thought possible,” Berman said. The Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion has faced increasing criticism from activists, municipalities, Indigenous communities and others for its risk to the environment. The proposed expansion would increase the capacity of the existing Trans Mountain pipeline from B.C. to Alberta and increase tanker traffic in Tsleil-Waututh’s backyard by sevenfold. Oil producers have expressed hope that the expansion, approved by Canada, would help boost sinking oil prices and create jobs. But panelist Mark Tizya, the owner of Metro Vancouver-based Novo Solar Systems, said a switch away from oil is inevitable. He said he’s encouraged by the impact renewable energy subsidies have had south of the border. Tizya said researchers at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found all together, wind and solar have saved Americans approximately $88 billion in health and environmental costs over eight years. “That’s just a dollar figure, but if you think about the number of lives that’s impacted in the United States, that’s pretty amazing,” he said. Suzuki, a veteran activist, said he feels hopeful for the future, as long as people start acting now to help the environment. “Many of my colleagues are now saying we’ve passed too many critical points, that it’s too late, especially on an issue like climate change” he said. “We don’t know enough to say it’s too late. It’s urgent, yes, but you can’t say it’s too late.” SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 27
KLAHOOSE FIRST NATION
In collaboration with Klahoose First Nation and Alterra Power Corp, the Jimmie Creek run-of-river hydro project was completed in August of 2016. HazelwoodConstruction.com
BUILDING FIRST NATION ECONOMIES
COMMUNITIES WORK WITH NmTC ON HOUSING POLICY Advisor working to help communities make the most of latest housing resource A “toolkit” document intended to help solve dilemmas with on-reserve housing has already been distributed to more than 250 First Nations across Canada. Now those behind the report are working with communities to put the Housing Policy Toolkit 2.0 document into use. The toolkit was developed by Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council with input from Indigenous organizations, consultants and First Nations. On Oct. 19, Naut’sa mawt’s Housing Policy Advisor Eric Blueschke led a workshop in Nanaimo to further the discussion on creating a community housing policies. He said, now that communities have the policy tools, they can start to use and expand them to make things easier when it comes to housing on-reserve. “The workshop was the first step in using our policy tools,” he said. Blueschke said the toolkit is important because it helps nations down housing rules on reserve and helps nations to create custom plans to deal with their unique needs. He is now working with communities under NmTC’s umbrella to use the toolkit and to expand the document by springtime. “(NmTC) member nations are leading the way in this approach,” he said. “They’re the first ones to use this toolkit.” To inquire about the document, Blueschke can be contacted via email at eric@bluescke.ca.
28 • SALISH SEA SENTINEL
ICLD
Indigenous Community for Leadership and Development Customized training for your community to help create a brighter, stronger tomorrow. We are committed to: Sharing of Wise Practices
Student Experience
Developing Economic and Human Capacity Respect for Cultural Values
Ongoing Success
Sharing Wisdom. Celebrating Community.
Phone: 604.899.2400 Email: info@icld.ca Website: www.icld
.
'
.
. ::.��;- PROVIDING ·11 s·ERVICE EXCELLENCEtr,, ��� � ·\ - ...
'
_ -. ,_ - ..
, - ··:-r--:' . � .\...
..
. . .'t·-_,\._ ." ..
. -
.... �· "
� '.
.
_.:-.:FOR O\(ER 30.YEARS .. 1.
.
,,
• ��
'
MYRA offers a complete suite of technology services - from fully managed infrastructure operations to project-based technical services, strategic business planning, and enterprise business architecture. Our team of professional IT consultants will work with you to investigate, analyze, design and implement business process and technical solutions that allow you to achieve all of your strategic goals.
Business & Technical Services
Business Consulting Services Storage and Server Management System Administration Project Management & Business Analysis
Product Sales Networking Virtualization Cloud
Victoria Office
Vancouver Office
488A Bay Street 740-1190 Melville Street Victoria, BC V8T 5H2 Vancouver, BC V6E 3W1 T: 250-381-1335 T: 604-688-1719
G MYRA.com
� (250) 381-1335
SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 29
Integrated Data Management
Systems for First Nations • Band Membership & Community Database
• Financial Management Tools
• Community & Human Resource Management
• Housing & Asset Management
• Post-Secondary Education
• DoculinX™ - Electronic Filing Cabinet
• Patient Travel, and many more ...
Contact us today! 1-866-699-6829 info@xyntax.com www.xyntax.ca
One Solution. One System.
Xyntax (pronounced Zin-tax) is an Aboriginal-owned, Canadian software system that is tailored to serve the needs of First Nations. For more than 30 years, Xyntax has provided an integrated suite of easy-to-use financial and administrative management tools, exclusively for First Nations. Xyntax software is not only robust, secure and affordable, it provides high levels of personalized support to its customers. Please contact Xyntax for a demonstration of how it can provide the solutions you require for your organization.
Canada’s Premier First Nation Data Management Software