Yearly Archives: 2020

On December 14, 2020 the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council hosted the W̱SÁNEĆ Celebration of Culture to kick off a year of Marine Use Planning engagement with the W̱SÁNEĆ community. Part one of the celebration showcases the poetry of PEPAḴIYE (Ashley Cooper), singing from Vanessa Claxton, traditional drumming by Gail Sam, and Carving by Bearcat Sam. We showcase these talents with SṮI (Love), ÁTOL (Respect for the rights of others), ȽIȽEȻ (Interconnectedness), U SṮOṮEMTES (Reciprocity), and ÍY ŚW̱ḰÁLEȻEN and SDIWIEȽ (good intentions and prayer).⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Part two of the celebration showcases hooping by Rebecca Jim, filmmaking of Rose Stiffarm, and [...]

Blackfish Newsletters The W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council’s mandate is to promote respect for W̱SÁNEĆ culture, traditional practices, language and the interests of the W̱SÁNEĆ First Nations. As an organization focused on self-determination, we work to enhance recognition of, and respect for, W̱SÁNEĆ Douglas Treaty rights and W̱ SÁNEĆ Aboriginal rights and title. The WLC seeks to promote sustainable and equitable development of resources within W̱SÁNEĆ Territory, including the original W̱SÁNEĆ stewardship practices of the environment as it was meant to be. The Blackfish Newsletter aims to provide regular updates on the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council Marine and Land Use Plan for [...]

The W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council is pleased to welcome Dave Paul Jr. to the team. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTyuyUo3QVo&feature=youtu.be Interviewer: Okay, so very first question. Can you please tell us, your name and a bit about your background? Dave: My name is Dave Paul, Jr. I'm from Tsartlip first nation. I've been a community member for the majority of my life. The only time actually lived away from here with when I went to a University, I went to Simon Fraser University in the eighties, and then when my house was being built for about a year and a half, two [...]

ḰELSET Will Be Ready For Salmon Run Next Year The W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Centre celebrates another win with the remediation of ḰELSET (Reay Creek). ḰELSET (Reay Creek) runs across the Saanich Peninsula through the Victoria International Airport, the Town of Sidney, and the municipality of North Saanich. ḰELSET (Reay Creek), along with the connected ȾEṈTEN (Tenten Creek) were traditionally used to portage through airport lands, between villages and to access ḰELSET (Bazan Bay), the sea, and the Southern Gulf Islands beyond. According to Floyd Underwood, of the Tsawout Nation, who obtained the information from Tseycum Nation elders: “The [...]

The WLC is pleased to welcome ŚW̱,XELOSELWET Tiffany Joseph to the team! Learn more about Tiffany and how her expertise and training will help fulfill the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council’s mandate. Click play to view the short interview, or read the transcript below. https://youtu.be/jXfH1GPKjGY Interviewer: All right. Can you please tell us your name and your background, please? Tiffany Joseph: ÍY, SȻÁĆEL ŚW̱,XELOSELWET ŦE NE SNÁ. ĆSE LÁ,E SEN EṮ W̱SÁNEĆ I EṮ Sḵx̱wu7mesh Good day, my name is Tiffany Joseph I am W̱SÁNEĆ and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and I’m also Quw’utsun. I have some background in environmental-related work, as well as SENĆOŦEN [...]

Join us online, Dec 14th 5pm- 6:30pm for a celebratory event where we honour our own community members and their talents! As indigenous peoples, we do not always get the spotlight on our talents and gifts we bring to our communities. This is a 90-minute online event where we showcase our people in a good way, with SṮLI (Love), ÁTOȽ (Respect for the rights of others), ȽIȽEȻ (Interconnectedness), U SṮOṮEMTES (Reciprocity), and ÍY ŚW̱ḰÁLEȻEN and SDIWIEȽ (good intentions and prayer). We will be showcasing the talents of: Ashley Cooper (poet), Vanessa Claxton (singer), Bearcat Sam (carving), Gail Sam [...]

BCAFN Regional Chief Election Winner Declared. The British Columbia Assembly of First Nations declared a winner of the November election. Terry Teegee has been re-elected as Regional Chief for a term of three years. Hosted by the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council, representatives from Tsartlip, Tsawout and Tseycum met with the candidates for Regional Chief before deciding who would get their vote. The BCAFN is an organization that represents and acts on behalf of the 203 First Nations in British Columbia. Their mandate includes advocacy and implementation of Title and Rights through exercising inherent laws and jurisdiction. They do [...]

You asked, we answered. We are committed to transparency and accountability to the communities we serve. We noticed many of you had similar questions and concerns about our governance structure, relationship with each Chief and Council, our mandate and our contingency plans for dissolution.  We hope to answer these questions with the answers below. If not, please feel free to give us feedback so we can improve. What is the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council (WLC) mandate and where did it come from?  The W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council (W̱LC) is currently comprised of Tsartlip, Tseycum and Tsawout.  The Chief and one Councillor of [...]

Media Release For Immediate Release November 12, 2020   ḰENES partners with CRD on biosolids trucking contract Victoria, BC – ḰENES Transportation, a W̱SÁNEĆ First Nations partnership company, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Capital Regional District (CRD) to contract the trucking of biosolids produced at its Residuals Treatment Facility (RTF) starting this year. Under this agreement ḰENES, a new business created by the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council (W̱LC) and Sangan Resource Management, will transport dried biosolids to the Lafarge Canada cement plant in Richmond for up to five years while the CRD develops its long-term management plan for [...]

WLC and PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ Foundation explore collaboration to protect the natural ecology within W̱SÁNEĆ Territory. The PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ Foundation is a community organization active in the restoration of native ecosystems in important W̱SÁNEĆ places, as well as food systems education at ȽÁU,WELṈEW̱ Tribal School and beyond. Shown above: PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱, or "Blossoming Place", the native plant nursery, garden and centre for food systems education at ȽÁU,WELṈEW̱ Tribal School in W̱SÁNEĆ territory. The PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ Foundation has been operating out of the PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ or “Blossoming Place” nursery and gardens onsite at ȽÁU,WELṈEW̱ Tribal School in W̱SÁNEĆ territory. PEPÁḴEṈ [...]