Yearly Archives: 2020

Environmental Remediation and Monitoring Opportunity JOB DESCRIPTION The W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council has created an opportunity for a W̱SÁNEĆ person interested in Environmental Remediation and Monitoring. The work to take place this summer involves the remediation of ḰEL,SET (Reay) Creek. This position is not the same as a Cultural Monitor. Between mid-July and mid-September, Transport Canada will be working to remove pollutants from the creek and pond. The Environmental Monitor Assistant will monitor the remediation work to ensure that W̱SÁNEĆ environmental interests are considered. The successful candidate will have the ability to share information and receive on the [...]

W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council - Youth Employment Opportunity Job Description: Six Youth Reef Net Workers Date Posted: June 30, 2020 Due Date: July 8, 2020 Application Details: Please send resume and cover letter to Gord Elliott, Director of Operations (gord.elliott@https://wsanec.com/) by due date JOB DESCRIPTION As an organization focused on self-determination, the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council promotes the W̱SÁNEĆ culture, traditional practices, and SENĆOŦEN language, including the original W̱SÁNEĆ management of the environment as it was meant to be. The WLC also seeks to promote sustainable and equitable development of resources within W̱SÁNEĆ Territory. One of the projects the [...]

As part of our mandate, the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council regularly features W̱SÁNEĆ community members who work to enhance recognition and respect for W̱SÁNEĆ culture. ŚW̱,XELOSELWET (Tiffany Joseph)--meaning “Camera Lady” in SENĆOŦEN--is a trained filmmaker, an experienced environmental steward and advocate, a SENĆOŦEN language learner, a writer, a teacher, and an astrologer. The history of W̱SÁNEĆ people’s self-advocacy has inspired her to learn and practice the W̱SÁNEĆ ways of life her elders and ancestors fought for her, while also doing whatever she can to provide those same opportunities to her children and future W̱SÁNEĆ generations. ŚW̱,XELOSELWET was given [...]

The W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council, as part of the work to reinstate W̱SÁNEĆ Natural Laws, is working with Elders to capture W̱SÁNEĆ Creation stories. Once captured, these stories are then transcribed and translated into English with two goals.  The first goal is to create a comprehensive repository of culture, language, history and law for future generations. The second goal is to articulate and apply the Natural Laws in policies made throughout W̱SÁNEĆ territory. This work of compiling W̱SÁNEĆ Natural Laws began 40 years ago through the hard work of W̱SÁNEĆ Elders. To learn more about this work, the W̱SÁNEĆ [...]

The W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council is looking for W̱SÁNEĆ people to perform during an event to celebrate W̱SÁNEĆ culture.  Are you an artist, dancer, performer, musician, comedian, storyteller, author or poet? Are you a W̱SÁNEĆ community member? Would you like the opportunity to showcase your talent? The W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council is looking for W̱SÁNEĆ people to perform during an event to celebrate W̱SÁNEĆ culture. The event itself will take place in the summer of 2020.  In these uncertain and often difficult times, art can remind us of the joys of life and the resiliency of our people. While this [...]

In its ongoing work to enhance recognition and respect for W̱SÁNEĆ peoples’ rights, the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council is making progress on the enormous task of revitalizing W̱SÁNEĆ Natural Laws.  W̱SÁNEĆ Natural Laws come from the Creation Stories that have been passed down from generation to generation. These Creation Stories and Natural Laws have survived through multiple epidemics, the oppressive residential school system, and the criminalization of W̱SÁNEĆ cultural practices. While the colonial government tried to eliminate SENĆOŦEN and W̱SÁNEĆ culture, W̱SÁNEĆ people resisted and continue to live according to these teachings. Image: CBC https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/residential-day-school-survivors-who-lost-language-and-culture-seek-redress-1.3032862 J,SIṈTEN, John Elliott, [...]

The W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council has begun work to form a W̱SÁNEĆ Youth Advisory Committee. ‎Eric F. H. Pelkey‎ to WSÁNEC - Saanich Nation REQUEST FOR W̱SÁNEĆ YOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE LETTERS OF INTEREST May 01, 2020 – The W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council has begun work to form a W̱SÁNEĆ Youth Advisory Committee. TheW̱SÁNEĆ Youth Advisory Committee will provide recommendations on matters related to W̱SÁNEĆ youth and community. The W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council requests that eligible applicants submit Letters of Interest to the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council. These Letters of Interest should state how you meet the W̱SÁNEĆ Youth Advisory Committee eligibility requirements (below), why [...]

The marine territory of the W̱SÁNEĆ in the Southern Strait of Georgia is home to more than 3,000 species. These include the world’s largest octopus, 100-year-old rockfish, vast schools of herring and salmon, millions of sea birds, as well as seals, sea lions, dolphins and whales, including the iconic southern resident killer whales. Many of these species are at risk of extinction, with only 73 southern resident killer whales remaining and rapidly declining herring populations. Incredibly, B.C. is still one of the only provinces in Canada without legislation dedicated to protecting and recovering species at risk The proposed National Marine [...]

The WLC is pleased to welcome Joni Olsen to the team! Learn more about Joni 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/rhGcS6WAhZE Interviewer: Can you please tell us your name and a bit about your background? My name is Joni Olsen. I am from the Tsartlip First Nation and I have lived here my whole life. My background initially was in small business ownership. For 15 years now I have been elected counsel for the Tsartlip First Nation, so I [...]