Monthly Archives: July 2023

W̱SÁNEĆ Lands Trust Society Becomes Charity with Ecological Gift Status, Launches Donation Page It is now easier for land to be returned to W̱SÁNEĆ and for donations to be made to support W̱SÁNEĆ-led restoration and care of that land.  The W̱SÁNEĆ Land Trusts Society (WLTS) is a not-for-profit organization formed in 2021 as a modern vehicle to return 9.67-acre SISȻENEM (Halibut Island) to W̱SÁNEĆ. It has recently received Charitable Status and is now accepting further donations of both land and money.  The W̱SÁNEĆ have had a sacred obligation to care for the land and waters since the beginning of [...]

NEWS RELEASE FOR RELEASE ON JULY 24th 2023   W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council Parks Canada W̱SÁNEĆ bless new land-based whale watching trail on ṮEḴTEḴSEN (Saturna Island)  Opening ceremony honoured W̱SÁNEĆ sacred responsibility to the relatives of the deep   Saturna Island, BC - W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council (WLC), Tsawout First Nation, and Gulf Islands National Park Reserve (GINPR) are pleased to announce the opening of a new land-based whale-viewing trail at ṮEḴTEḴSEN (pronounced tek-tek-sin, East Point on Saturna Island). The trail is called ḰENES SOȽ (pronounced kwun-us-saw-lh).   The new trail – which officially opened on June 22, 2023 – supports community members [...]

Saanich Hurricanes Showcase W̱SÁNEĆ Athleticism The Saanich Hurricanes ladies’ soccer team – an already talented group – is getting better with every tournament. The Saanich Hurricanes ladies’ soccer team took home the win at the Saanich Invitational Native Soccer Tournament recently held at Tsartlip. The Saanich tournament was just one of many on the Hurricanes’ active schedule.  They also recently attended the Seabird tournament and made it to the quarter final. The team – made up of fourteen W̱SÁNEĆ players aged thirteen to mid-forties – is seemingly unstoppable. In the words of Coach Rhiannon, they’re a “very skilled and [...]

This time of year is traditionally known as ĆENHENEN.  ĆENHENEN NIȽ ŚW̱TÁĆELS TŦE HENEN HIȽ ŚW̱DÁLETEṈs E TŦE ÍY QÁLES X̱EṈ OL Ȼs XÁĆEṈs. TOW̱OL U ṈEN TŦE SĆÁNEW̱E TIÁ ȽḴÁLJ. MEQ EXIN ŚW̱OX̱s TŦEN QEȽ W̱ILṈEW̱LÁE EṮ ĆELȽTENEM, TEMTEM AXEN, SMO₭EĆ, SDÁYES, ḰENNES. NIȽ SU ĆḴEĆEs TŦEN QEȽ W̱ILṈEW̱. SU ṮÁNEḴs KPETTEs TŦE SĆÁLEĆES ḰEL ḰEL E TŦE SYESEs TŦE ṈENṈENEs E TŦE SȻÁs ĆELÁṈENs. SU MEQs SÁN XĆIT ȻE NIȽ Es SÁN TŦE ṈENṈENEs ȻE ĆTOLES Es SE ȻE NÁTEṈ Es. HO ȻENNES TŦE ṈEN S,IȽEN TŦE EȽTÁLṈEW̱SU HIMETs TŦE SĆÁLEĆEs ṈÁTW̱E TŦE ŚW̱SIÁMs EṈOTEs TŦE [...]

Update - W̱SÁNEĆ Capacity Funding to Support Engagement on Proposed Road Project at Goldstream River Trans-Canada Highway 1 – Goldstream Median Barrier Widening Project Overview The province have proposed to do road work where the Trans-Canada Highway passes through Goldstream Provincial Park. The Goldstream River supports chum, coho and chinook salmon fisheries, and the ongoing practice of W̱SÁNEĆ rights including fishing, food gathering, holding ceremonial gatherings, and exercising stewardship responsibilities. Over the past year the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council (WLC) have been consulted by the provincial Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) about a proposal to widen the highway, install [...]