Volume 15 . Issue 5
MAY 2019
TSAWWASSEN 10-YEAR TREATY CELEBRATION
PAGES 12 - 16
WELCOME FIGURE UNVEILED ON SALT SPRING
PAGES 27 - 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 easyto-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
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 Edith Moore - Columnist DESIGN & LAYOUT Kelly Landry & Marissa Nahanee 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 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: Tsawwassen Nation unveiled five new posts in its territory during its 10-year treaty celebration on April 3. Photo by Cara McKenna.
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. SNAW-NAW-AS (Nanoose) (250) 390-3661 chris.bob@nanoose.org www.nanoose.org
2. HOMALCO (250) 923-4979
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. K'ÒMOKS (250) 339-4545 http://www.komoks.ca 5. MALAHAT (250) 743-3231 info@malahatnation.ca www.malahatnation.com 6. TLA’AMIN (604) 483-9646 clint.williams@tn-bc.ca www.tlaaminnation.com
9. TSAWWASSEN (604) 943-2112 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 • 3
MALAHAT NATION PARTNERS ON PROPOSED Malahat Skywalk would give impressive views, combining nature-based tourism
Malahat Nation has partnered in plans for a new elevated “skywalk” that would give tourists a stunning view of their territory on Vancouver Island. The proposed wooden Malahat Skywalk is a 650-metre forest pathway leading to a tower with a climbing spiral ramp, inspired by elevated forest walks in Europe. The skywalk, north of Malahat Summit in the Cowichan Valley, would conclude at 4 • SALISH SEA SENTINEL
a 40-metre-high sightseeing lookout tower with views of Finlayson Arm and the coastal mountains. Malahat Nation has partnered with a new company on the project called A.Spire by Nature, led by two people who founded the Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish. David Greenfield, principal of A.Spire by Nature, said the attraction would combine nature-based tourism with cultural tour-
ism experiences led by Malahat members. “The Malahat Skywalk will offer opportunities for locals and visitors alike to immerse themselves in local storytelling, cultural celebration and natural interpretive education,” he said in a statement. Applications to build the project have been submitted to local and provincial governments. If approved, A.Spire by Nature and Malahat hope to start construc-
workiNg witH First NatioNs commuNities Hazelwood is coNtiNually lookiNg For opportuNities to work For, or witH, First NatioNs iN caNada. tHis approacH Has allowed us to work For a variety oF NatioNs iN bc, aNd Has Helped us create a variety oF workiNg agreemeNts witH NatioNs tHat sHare our eNtrepreNeurial spirit.
Hazelwood.ca/First-NatioNs
G WA I I E N G I N E E R I N G
Civil & Environmental
‘SKYWALK’ IN TERRITORY
• Feasibility
• Project Management (PMP)
• INAC Reporting & Applications
• Sustainable Communities • Water & Wastewater
• Contaminated Sites
with cultural experiences
tion this fall and open the attraction in June of 2020. Malahat Nation Coun. George Harry Jr. added that his community’s leadership is proud to partner on the project. “Not only is it a tourism experience that speaks to sustainability and the connection to our land, but it will also provide opportunities for many generations of the Malahat Nation to come,” he said. “We look forward to telling the stories of our people and welcoming the visitors to our community.” Community consultations are still taking place, and more information can be found at www.malahatskywalk.com.
Strength Through Relationships www.gwaiieng.com • 250-886-0049 SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 5
Photos by Jerald Walliser via VCC.
ELDER PROFILE: TSLEIL-WAUTUTH’S DEANNA D. GEORGE Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council is run with guidance from an Elders Council with representatives from its 11 member nations. The Salish Sea Sentinel is profiling a new elder from the council each month. By Edith Moore, NmTC communications liaison Tsleil-Waututh Elder Deanna D. George’s traditional name is Synlha’liya. The name was handed down to her from her grandmother on her father’s side — Elizabeth Roseena Joseph of the Squamish Nation. Her parents are Sam and Caroline (nee Trimble) Joseph of the Squamish Nation, and Deanna is one of 11 children. Deanna recently celebrated her 80th birthday. She married into the Tsleil-Waututh nation 61 years ago, and she and her husband Earnest have four children of their own: Carleen, Leah, Earnest and Deanna. They also have 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren, with the youngest one being just two months old.
Deanna’s first job was at White Spot restaurant where she was a dishwasher. Later, she took on a live-in nanny job and worked in a senior’s home before taking job training to become a social worker for Tsleil-Waututh. She held that position for 11 years, and later furthered her training to become an addictions worker. Currently, Deanna works as an Elder-in-Residence at the Vancouver Community College. Volunteering for many organizations, past and present, has also kept Deanna busy. She was part of a Homemaker’s Club that did fundraising with the United Church, gathering donations of clothing and household needs that were given to Indigenous families up north. She and her husband are members of the local Catho-
lic church, and they fundraise at Christmastime to buy presents for children and elders. She and her husband also sit on an Elders Advisory Committee for Vancouver Coastal Health. Deanna serves on Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council’s Elders Council, joining in part because her daughter and namesake, Deanna George, is a director for NmTC. “I was hearing all that they do, and wanted to be part of the team and be able to have some input for my nation,” the elder Deanna said. Deanna said if she had advice for others, it would be: “Love yourself and know who you are. Have a dream and go for it, and work hard for it as well.” Thank you Deanna for all that you do. SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 7
.
'
.
. ::.��;- 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
INDIGENOUS CLAM GARDENS 2,000 YEARS OLDER THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT: STUDY Research proves the ancient food security systems have been used for at least 3,500 years on Northwest Coast
By Cara McKenna Ancient Indigenous clam gardens along the Northwest Coast are almost 2,000 years older than previously thought, new research has shown. A study involving Simon Fraser University and Hakai Institute proves that clam gardens date back at least 3,500 years. That means that about 17,500 generations of Indigenous people have utilized the ancient food security systems. For the study published in PLOS ONE, lead researchers SFU Archaeology Prof. Dana Lepofsky and Nicole Smith of Hakai Institute looked at multiple clam gardens on Quadra Island — Laich-Kwil-Tach and northern Coast Salish territory. Working with local Indigenous people, Lepofsky and Smith were able to use radiocarbon dating and combined that information with history of changing sea levels to get a more accurate read than with previous studies. Clam gardens are human-built rock-walled tidal terraces that have been used by Indigenous people along the coast to help create a flourishing habitat for clams and other sea creatures. Lepofsky explained that researchers were able to utilize radiocarbon dating on clams and other marine organisms that were trapped and “frozen in time” when the clam gardens were built. “In short, what radiocarbon dating does is it calculates the time that organism died, and stopped taking in carbon,” she said in an interview. “The problem with the clam gardens is they’re made of rock, which was never living and never takes in carbon … So it’s kind of a logical thing for archeologists to do, to look for once-living creatures who were trapped when the wall was being built.” Lepofsky said the clam gardens are known to be ancient from Indigenous oral histories — but dating them through scientific techniques could make an impact when it comes to things like nations asserting rights and title in a legal setting. “It just clearly shows this is well into the past, they’re embedded into people’s lives and worldviews,” she said. “These are in oral traditions, they’re in songs, they’re in place names … (now) we have this Western date on it. We just need to accept that they’re old and they represent a viable system.” Smith said though the study took place on Quadra, clam gardens exist from Southeast Alaska down the B.C. coast and into Washington State. She said the clam gardens are exciting because they represent such a rich history of sustainable marine agriculture, and could serve as a model for future harvesting. “One thing we love about them is there’s really a magic about them,” she said. “I’d love to see us sort of remember where a lot of them are and figure out where some of them are that have fallen out of memory.”
Bryce Williams of Tsawwassen, left, and Tla’amin Hegus Clint Williams exchanged gifts during the gathering.
TFN CELEBRATES 10-YEAR TREATY ANNIVERSARY
Nation marks occasion by unveiling five posts marking corners of its treaty land base Photos and story by Cara McKenna Tsawwassen Nation celebrated the milestone 10-year anniversary of its treaty effective date with a day of ceremony and celebrations on April 3. The nation officially unveiled five new territorial marker poles at the corners of its land base before hosting a gathering in its longhouse. The posts were carved by Cliff Gurniak, Karl Morgan and Bryce Williams with help from youth apprentices. On the morning of April 3, community members and guests took two buses around the nation for the unveiling of the five poles, each dispersed on different cor14 • SALISH SEA SENTINEL
ners of the land. Witnesses were called and group of Tsawwassen women — Valerie Cross-Blackett, Loretta Williams, Laura Cassidy and Shirley Larden — brushed each post with cedar boughs. That evening, hundreds of people from the various nations and organizations joined the nation in its longhouse to mark the momentous day with songs, speeches and a feast. Then-chief Bryce Williams said a new era for Tsawwassen began when the final agreement with B.C. and Canada came into effect under his predecessor Kim Baird in 2009. “Today Tsawwassen members celebrate the restoration of our way of life under
the treaty,” Williams said. “The first decade of self-government gives us reason to believe there is a bright future ahead of us.” Under its modern treaty, Tsawwassen has become completely self-governing, reclaiming ownership to 724 hectares of land. The nation has invested in new infrastructure including thousands of homes, free post-secondary education for members and efforts to revitalize culture and language. The nation is now an economic force in Metro Vancouver thanks to its investments in business that have included the high-profile openings of the Tsawwassen
Mills and Tsawwassen Commons shopping centres. The nation also has several industrial investments, including a new massive industrial business park, and Amazon is currently building a shipping warehouse on TFN lands. Doug Caul, B.C.’s deputy minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, shared with Tsawwassen Nation that its flag was hanging in the provincial parliament building to mark the treaty anniversary. “That flag is an affirmation of that strong relationship between us, and a symbol of the journey we will continue to take together under this treaty relationship,” Caul said. “You’ve made incredible progress under the treaty and have such a strong track
record of economic, social and cultural success.” Marc Miller, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, also attended the event on behalf of Canada. He said the Tsawwassen treaty is a “remarkable agreement,” being the second modern treaty in B.C.’s history, and the first in a major urban centre. It was the first treaty to be reached under the B.C. Treaty Process. “The Tsawwassen First Nation Final Agreement was revolutionary, innovative and visionary,” Miller said. “It evoked hope for a new way forward.” A group from Tla’amin Nation also attended the event, and Hegus Clint Williams said that Tsawwassen’s accomplishments under its treaty have inspired his
nation to do the same. Tla’amin’s modern treaty came into effect on April 5, 2016. “(A group of us) attended the effective date celebration of the Tsawwassen treaty 10 years ago,” he said. “We hid up there in the corner, away from the microphone and the lights and just took it in, as we were still negotiating then.” After dinner, Tsawwassen’s 2016 to 2019 executive council and legislature was recognized in the longhouse. Tsawwassen’s government underwent a change just two days after the treaty celebration, when the community elected Ken Baird as its new chief. Bryce Williams served as chief since 2012, and Baird will be the third chief of Tsawwassen to serve during its post-treaty era. SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 15
Cultural objects were displayed outside of Tsawwassen’s longhouse during treaty day.
FEDS TO FORGIVE, REIMBURSE $1.4 BILLION IN TREATY LOANS
Bryce Wiliams, left, watches the pole unveiling alongside Andrea Jacobs and her two children.
B.C. First Nations that have gone into debt with Canada to negotiate modern treaties will soon no longer have to worry about repaying that money. The federal government announced in its 2019 budget that it will forgive all outstanding treaty negotiation loans. Canada will also reimburse Indigenous governments who are repaying, or have repaid, their loans. The total amount being forgiven or reimbursed is a massive $1.4 billion — of that, $938 million is being dealt with by March of 2020. A media release from the Alliance of BC Modern Treaty Nations welcomed the budget announcement. The group of governments from the Tsawwassen First Nation, Tla’amin Nation, and the five Maa-nulth Nations had been advocating for treaty loan forgiveness, saying it’s a matter of fairness. Bryce Williams, the outgoing chief of Tssawwassen First Nation, said the budget announcement comes after many years of engagement with the federal government about the loans. Tsawwassen’s final agreement came into effect in 2009. “It has long been our position that negotiation debts are an unjust financial burden, at odds with the spirit and intent of our modern treaties,” Williams said. “The Tsawwassen First Nation Final Agreement does not just benefit Tsawwassen First Nation. It is a benefit to all Canadians. As such, it never made sense for us to shoulder a debt burden for working to advance a truly equal relationship.” For Tla’amin Nation, as an example, that means the nation will no longer have to worry about a treaty loan that exceeds $11 million — instead, the money can instead be reinvested back into the community. Treaty negotiations can take many decades to complete, and the debts incurred range from $2 million to $80 million, according to a separate media release from the Land Claims Agreements Coalition. The funding will reimburse more than 200 Indigenous communities and governments. “Since concluding negotiations, some treaty-holders had managed to repay the loans at the expense of other pressing needs,” the statement from the Land Claims Agreements Coalition said, in part. “Reimbursement of these funds by Canada presents a welcome opportunity to invest in a multitude of high-priority projects on the ground in modern treaty communities.” More information and details about the federal budget can be found at www.budget. gc.ca.
Aunalee Boyd-Good, left, and Sophia Seward-Good.
SNUNEYMUXW GRIZZLY STORY INSPIRES LATEST AY LELUM COLLECTION
Good sisters debuted K’wuyucun~Grizzly Bear collection at Vancouver Fashion Week’s F/W19 showcase Story by Julie Chadwick Photos courtesy of VFW The Snuneymuxw-sister owned fashion house Ay Lelum has debuted its third collection to hit the runway at Vancouver Fashion Week, with clothing inspired by the power of the grizzly bear. Ay Lelum’s F/W19 collection K’wuyucun~Grizzly Bear was created with a story and song from the designers’ father, Elder William Good (Tseskinakhen), in mind. Good tells of the first grizzly bear, who lived in a cedar tree and came down to walk the earth with ground-shaking ferocity — but despite his fierce presence, K’wuyucun was gentle. Designers Aunalee Boyd-Good and Sophia Seward-Good depicted the legend on clothing using artwork by both their father and brother Joel. “The traditional Coast Salish style is a visual written language, so whenever (our dad) creates a piece there is a story to it, because it reads as a story,” said BoydGood.
“So because we knew the story and we knew the artwork that went with [it], that inspired us to create a collection about it — to make an experience for the audience at the show.” Opening to raucous applause on March 22 at Vancouver Fashion Week’s F/W19 showcase, a recording of the Elder Good’s voice singing could be heard booming through the venue. While the mix that the family created with Nanaimo’s Rob the Viking began, a grizzly video played behind the runway that was created by Salish Eye Productions. As Seward-Good’s voice came on the speakers speaking Hul’qumi’num, the first garment came out to the runway: a shimmering green couture dress featuring details of an early 1940s painting by the sisters’ great-grandfather Herbert Moorhouse alongside Joel’s artwork. The collection featured muted earth tones of greens, beiges and black, mixing readyto-wear wool capes and ponchos with striking satin couture gowns and skirts. Boyd-Good said the collection was a nod
the power of men in their family, and to their mixed heritage, which was underlined by including the artwork from their mother’s grandfather. The sisters come from a line of artists, including their mother Sandra Moorhouse-Good who had a successful clothing line Ay Ay Mut in the 1990s, and has been their design mentor. Their father has been a key culture-keeper in Snuneymuxw, bringing back traditional arts and songs to the community in a time when it was in danger of disappearing. Seward-Good said she feels honoured to have shown at Vancouver Fashion Week for a third time, because it’s another opportunity to showcase modern Coast Salish culture. “It’s more than just an ancient form of art that’s in museums,” Seward-Good said. “Because the music coincides with the designs, you’re getting language, history.” Selections from Ay Lelum’s newest and prior seasons can be found online at www. aylelum.com. SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 19
20 • SALISH SEA SENTINEL
SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 21
22 • SALISH SEA SENTINEL
HOMALCO HOSTS ʔAYʔAǰUΘƏM LANGUAGE GATHERING Northern Coast Salish Nations discussed ideas, shared knowledge during two-day workshop Photos by Todd Peacey Representatives from Northern Coast Salish nations shared knowledge about the ʔayʔaǰuθəm language during a two-day workshop at Homalco. The event called “We Will Come Together” was held for nations to discuss knowledge, ideas and revitalization efforts for the language, which many families lost because of residential schools. The gathering on March 30 and 31 was organized by Homalco’s traditional language team, Marilyn Harry and Vera Peacey. During the workshop, representatives from Homalco, Tla’amin, Klahoose and K’ómoks shared information about their own language projects. Ongoing projects include an online ʔayʔaǰuθəm language dictionary, digitizing recordings of elders, a word of the day project and more. Homalco Chief Darren Blaney, who is a residential school survivor, spoke about the importance of the four ʔayʔaǰuθəm-speaking nations to come together around the language. “When we come together like this I think we have so much memory that we can build on together,” he said. “We are getting to that point where it’s going to be harder to keep our language, so I’m glad for the work that you guys are doing today. We have so much work to do to overcome residential school.” Jacqueline Mathieu of Klahoose First Nation works on preserving ʔayʔaǰuθəm in her community through recording speakers and transcribing the language. She said that sometimes the work can get overwhelming, but that it is inspiring to gather with other nations to share resources and information. “Many hands make light work, and standing in front of you guys I really feel that,” she said. “We’re all working towards the same goal, to revitalize our language and to teach our young people, so one day they’ll be up here doing the same work.” The United Nations has declared 2019 the “International Year of Indigenous Languages,” meant to highlight the urgent need to preserve, revitalize and promote Indigenous languages around the world. In late June, a large-scale International Indigenous language conference will take place in Victoria, B.C., that will provide training and practical skills for revitalizing and preserving languages within communities. More information about the HELISET TŦE SḰÁL – “Let the Languages Live” conference can be found at www.fpcflanguageconference.com.
CULTURE IMPROVES HEALING FOR INDIGENOUS WOMEN FACING TRAUMA: STUDY Study from UBC, WesternU shows incorporating culture improves overall healing for women who have faced partner violence When Roberta Price of Cowichan and Snuneymuxw began recovering from trauma in her life years ago, she found great healing in working with elders to learn her culture. Now that she is an elder herself, Price is applying those teachings to help other women to do the same. “Those elders gave me unconditional love, and never gave up on me,” she said. “I never thought that, close to 40 years later, I would be walking in their footsteps.” A recent academic study co-authored by Price incorporated cultural elements into sessions with a group of Indigenous women recovering from the trauma of partner violence. The study from the University of British Columbia and Western University has
shown that incorporating culture into the healing process not only helped the women’s trauma, but improved their overall health. The research published in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence looked at the effectiveness of a program called “Reclaiming Our Spirits” — which involved working with a group of 152 women over six-toeight months in Vancouver and Surrey, B.C. The women took part in weekly elder-led activities and worked with elders to share personal stories, take part in ceremonies, learn cultural teachings and create traditional arts. The women also worked with nurses one-on-one. The Reclaiming Our Spirits program builds on previous work and is based on
uvic.ca/ worldsfirst
a program called iHEAL, which researchers developed several years ago for women who have faced domestic violence. Reclaiming our Spirits refines that program to meet the specific needs of Indigenous women. Lead researcher Colleen Varcoe, who teaches nursing at UBC, said the idea behind Reclaiming Our Spirits was for it to be woman-led and to incorporate more culture, ceremonies and traditions. “We thought could we make this specific for Indigenous women,” she said. “We went through quite a process of interviewing elders and asking: What do you advise? What direction should we go? How should we approach this?” Varcoe said the program, when it was complete, proved to help the women to
feel more in control of their lives. “They started out as a group with very high levels of depression and very high levels of trauma symptoms,” she said. “Those symptoms went down (and) we went back six months later and talked to the women, and they stayed much lower.” She said the study is important because it solidifies in western science what Indigenous people have already known for millennia. “It disturbs me that we need the western evidence but at the same time, over and over again, that has been shown to be the case,” she said. “It feels to me like doing research is a bit of a necessary evil to show where support can be put in for programming.” Varcoe said the research is now continuing around programming for women who have faced violence in Ontario, B.C. and New Brunswick. She is hopeful that the Reclaiming Our Spirits initiative will soon be available as a full program for Indigenous women in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, pending the approval of funding. Price said she was amazed by the women she worked with, who had faced hard-
Photo: Elder Roberta Price. Courtesy of UBC.
ships in their lives but had beautiful gifts to share. “Gently creating that awareness (around) culture and cultural teachings is going to
be what helps ground us in our journey,” she said. “I think there will be healing for all when we bring our women back.”
THE EDGE IS HERE
UVic launches the world’s first Indigenous law degree
Feminist, artist, grandmother and embracer of disruption, Dr. Val Napoleon is one of the most influential legal scholars in Canada. She is changing legal education and the lawscape of Canada as co-founder of the Indigenous Law Degree Program. In the Kokum Raven Series, Val Napoleon represents Indigenous law with trickster-grandma Ravens who create spaces for conversations and questions.
WELCOME FIGURE UNVEILED ON SALT SPRING ‘It was carved by the kids, it was carved by everyone in the community’
Photos by John Cameron via SD64
Quamichan Creek Culvert Replacement “The Fish Return”
Helping our First Nation Friends with Leadership in Being Stewards of our Environment BrianChatwinstartedChatwinEngineeringin1982toprovideservices to First Nations and is a trusted partner in over 50 Communities. 1-250-753-9171 www.chatwinengineering.com bchatwin@chatwinengineering.com
Renewable Energy and Community Energy System Specialists Since 2003, we have provided the capacity and support needed for First Nation communities to successfully navigate the clean energy project development process, from idea to operation. Have a community energy idea? Let's chat. www.barkley.ca | Unit B - 6451 Portsmouth Rd, Nanaimo | 250-390-2627
28 • SALISH SEA SENTINEL
The unveiling of a Coast Salish welcome figure marks the beginning of an increased understanding of Indigenous culture on B.C.’s Southern Gulf Islands. The figure on Salt Spring Island represents hundreds of hours of combined work by students and local residents, and it now sits outside of the School District 64 office. It was commissioned by the Southern Gulf Islands district — which spans various Coast Salish territories — as a way to educate children on local Indigenous culture. The welcome figure was shaped slowly over three years in a process led by local Interior Salish artist and SD64 employee Quentin Harris. SD64 Indigenous education coordinator Shannon Johnston said officials didn’t want to rush to work, as they wanted to ensure that as many children as possible from surrounding Gulf Islands had a chance to work with Harris. Harris hosted weekly carving sessions in a tent outside of the middle school on Salt Spring.a “We had him come every week for a number of years,” Johnston said in a phone interview. “Anyone was welcome to (help). It was carved by the kids, it was carved by everyone in the community.” On March 6, the figure was finally unveiled during a large ceremony attended by hundreds of people, many of whom travelled from the surrounding Gulf Islands. During the ceremony, Cowichan Elder Fred George brushed the figure with cedar and witnesses were called to remember the day. Harris was also blanketed to honour him for his work. Johnston said it was a momentous day for the district, as it’s the first welcome figure that has been commissioned and the work will now likely expand to other schools on other islands. “I love that we’re seeing education beyond a piece of paper,” she said. “The art is a story, the ceremony is deep teaching and (students are) learning from the land and on the land.”
Artist Quentin Harris, right, is embraced by Shannon Johnston of School District 64.
SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 29
Aleka Norris performs at the opening of Halalt First Nation’s CCP celebration.
HALALT CELEBRATES UPDATED COMMUNITY PLAN Halalt First Nation is moving forward with the first phase of an updated Comprehensive Community Plan after months of work to gather input from members. The nation held a celebration in its gymnasium to celebrate the completed document on April 11. The event was hosted by Halalt’s planning team: Jennifer Norris, Nicole Norris, Marie Rowland, Kristin Thomas and Tricia Thomas. The planning team was formed with help from two students from the University of British Columbia’s School of Community and Regional Planning, which partnered with Halalt. Laura Hillis and Desiree Givens are master’s degree students and have spent six months working with Halalt to build the Comprehensive Community Plan as part of their practicum. “We’ve learned a ton and we’re really excited to celebrate that with you,” Hillis told community members. The updated plan takes in past input from the nation, along with input that was gathered by the students and Halalt’s planning team. The goals outlined in the document include promoting language and culture, protecting resources, addressing educational needs and developing a self-sustaining economy. Halalt Coun. Pat Thomas said, now that the plan is out there, it’s important for the community to keep the momentum going. The plan will grow and be updated as required. “We need the community involved to keep moving forward, to keep (the plan) alive so it doesn’t collect dust,” she said. 30 • 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
SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 31