Monthly Archives: December 2019

Climate Science & Traditional Knowledge Illustration of ÁLEṈENEȻ (homeland) image by Artist David Underwood. The Southern Gulf Islands are disproportionately impacted by the climate emergency declared by the Capital Regional District and the Islands Trust. They are particularly vulnerable to risk of wild fire, drought affecting food production, seasonal water shortage and shoreline erosion caused by sea level rise and increased coastal storm surges. The ṮEṮÁĆES Climate Action Project will develop and deliver 3 five-day (30 hour) intensive educational programs that combine current climate science with Traditional Knowledge of the W̱ SÁNEĆ people to inform and support decision-making [...]

South Island First Nations from Nanaimo to Saanich come together to sign a historic Accord. On November 27th, 2019, after over a year of negotiations, talks and culturally appropriate ceremonies, the IEȽȻIȽTEL or Nuts’a maat kws ‘i’ shul’ hwilasmut tu Skwul ‘i’ kwthe’ Accord was signed. The Accord unites the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council (representing the Tsartlip First Nation, Tsawout First Nation, and Tseycum First Nation), the member bands of the Historic Cowichan Nation (Cowichan Tribes, Stz’uminus First Nation, Lyackson First Nation, Halalt First Nation, and Penelakut Tribe), and Malahat First Nation, Snuneymuxw First Nation, and Pauquachin First Nation. The [...]