Yearly Archives: 2021

The WLC is pleased to unveil a series of recommendations and artist profiles designed to reestablish the prevalence and respect for W̱SÁNEĆ art within the territory. Artist: Doug LaFortune. Installation at UpTown Mall For thousands of years, W̱SÁNEĆ culture was freely expressed through art using an array of mediums for many different purposes. The diversity of art traditionally created and displayed ranged from intricately carved household objects, woven Chiefs' regalia, and massive carved and painted house posts. Prior to the arrival of settlers, W̱SÁNEĆ art--and, with it, the expression of a distinctly W̱SÁNEĆ identity--was both a sacred and ubiquitous [...]

TLC To transfer SISȻENEM (Halibut Island) to W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council. Charity raises more than $1.55M to purchase and protect the ecological and cultural gem. Click here to read the full press release Shown above: SISȻENEM Victoria, BC – The Land Conservancy of British Columbia (TLC) and the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council are pleased to announce a landmark partnership agreement that will transfer title of SISȻENEM, a 9.67-acre island off the east coast of Sidney Island, from the charitable land trust to the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council as an act of reconciliation. Also known as Halibut Island, the island was recently [...]

W̱SÁNEĆ  Art Protocol W̱SÁNEĆ people have created and displayed art and sacred symbols of our culture throughout W̱SÁNEĆ territory since long before settlers arrived. The art that W̱SÁNEĆ people created was expressed in, and on, multiple mediums for many different purposes: intricately carved household objects, complicated mechanical ceremonial objects, woven Chiefs' regalia, large carved and painted house posts, and innumerable other objects that are each an integral part of W̱SÁNEĆ culture. Each of these objects--whether used in private or displayed in public--was intended to express a distinctly W̱SÁNEĆ identity to all those able to see them. However, [...]

The WLC is pleased to announce work on a dedicated referrals office will begin this year.  Shown above: a map of the Wastewater Treatment Project ending at the Hartland Residuals Treatment Facility in W̱SÁNEĆ territory What is known as referrals are formal requests for consultation with outside parties on work within the territory. Referrals are received in accordance with the duty to consult, a legal obligation that must be fulfilled by the government prior to taking actions or making decisions that may have consequences for the rights of Indigenous peoples in Canada. Some referrals pertain to large projects such [...]

Feb 18th join us for our first in-depth community engagement session! This session is strictly for W̱SÁNEĆ people to focus on our shared history.  Register Here As we all know, our history has been told and written about us in various non-indigenous books and documents and our oral history was disregarded in much of this. Participants will be guided through a facilitated discussion to brainstorm we can share our history in a way we want it to be told. Who are we as W̱SÁNEĆ people and what are the important pieces of history that can be included in the [...]

The WLC’s community engagement sessions will continue to create an inclusive approach to nation rebuilding, as well as marine and land use planning. Traditionally, community engagement conversations would occur around the fire or at the longhouse. This is how issues impacting the community would be discussed and plans would be made to make things better. “The Indian Act continues to disrupt us from our traditional practices and is very divisive. Oftentimes, when we connect,  it’s not always in a healthy way.  We need to learn how to build trust with each other and gather in a way that creates [...]

The CRD's standing committees will now include First Nations' elected officials The Capital Regional District includes the territories of about 20 Indigenous communities. Those nations have not had much of a say in regional governance. But the CRD has taken a step towards fixing that. CRD standing committees are now going to include representation from elected members of First Nations on a rotating basis. To talk more about this, Kathryn Marlow of All Points West CBC, spoke with Joni Olsen: Read the article or listen live. RECENT POSTS How are we doing? Leave Us [...]

W̱SÁNEĆ Reef Net Project The WSANEC reef net project is a revitalization initiative led by the youth of the W̱SÁNEĆ communities to reclaim a critical piece of W̱SÁNEĆ culture previously outlawed by the Canadian Government.  This summer, W̱SÁNEĆ youth--supported by community members and elected council members from Tsartlip, Tseycum and Tsawout and a youth community representative from Pauquachin-- launched a reef net, at SX̱IX̱ŦE near QENINIW̱ (what is now known as Poets Cove). While the setting of the Reef Net itself didn’t take very long, it was months in the making. The project took place [...]