Monthly Archives: October 2023

Brentwood Bay Park Renamed from Pioneer Park to HEL,HILEȻ Youth leaders successfully worked with the District of Central Saanich to provide the park with a SENĆOŦEN name, eliminating the previous name’s implication that settlers were the first to find the land. After a year-long initiative led by W̱SÁNEĆ youth, the Central Saanich Council approved a request to change the name of “Pioneer Park” to HEL,HILEȻ on September 25, 2023. In late 2022, youth from the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership School and Stelly’s Secondary organized a gathering to implore the District of Central Saanich to restore a SENĆOŦEN name to the [...]

This time of year, around what is now called November, is traditionally known as WESELÁNEW – Moon of the Shaker Leaves  W̱ESELÁNEW̱ ȻNIȽs IYAḴs TŦE SȻÁĆEL CȽs ENÁ, ȻESȻOU TŦE ĆEḴ SPW̱ELO ȻNIȽ EN ŚW̱HOÍ ȻENs HÁQEW̱ ȻNIȽ ENs LÁSET ȻEms SJELȻÁSEṈ. ȻNIȽs PIW̱EṈs TŦE SȾOȾȽEs TŦE SḴALÁLṈEW̱W̱SITEṈ EṮ W̱ESELÁNEW̱SQÁ, ȻENs HÁUE ṮÁ,. U TW̱OMET ŚW̱OL ȻENs KEPT TŦEN SIȽEN STÁSEȽ E TŦEN ÁLEṈ. NI TŦE YÁ, TÍYEL EMNIEN E TŦE KEYIEĆ EȻ TUOs ȻESȻOU TŦE ṈAḴE YÁ, TELSENETEṈ NIȽ Ȼs ÍYs ȾOȽEṈ EW̱E Ȼs ḴELELs SȽIḰs TŦE KEYIEĆ. ȻNIȽs ĆEḰUSEs TŦEN QEȽ W̱ILṈEW̱ȻNIȽ ENs LÁSET ȻENs MIȽE. [...]

At this time, this engagement session is meant for W̱SÁNEĆ Community members ONLY. Forums for non W̱SÁNEĆ members will be held in due time. W̱SÁNEĆ Community Invitation to: Indigenous Management Board Update (GINPR and Proposed NMCAR) Wednesday, November 1st, 3:00pm - 6:00pm Tsawout Gym Learn why eleven First Nations Communities, from Snuneymuxw to W̱SÁNEĆ formed the Indigenous Management Board and what the IMB is doing to protect our lands and waters. Specific topics include a proposed National Marine Conservation Area Reserve (NMCAR) and the current operation of the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve (GINPR). RECENT POSTS [...]

Study Hall for Indians    High school students from four Indian reserves on the Saanich peninsula are being provided with a “study hall” program on week nights in Tsartlip School, Brentwood.    Transportation to the school, where tutors and reference materials are available, has been arranged by the Indian school board.    Molly Pelkey, school and home co-ordinator, says there are 75 students from East and West Saanich, Pat Bay and Cole Bay reserves who can take advantage of the program.    Most of the students achieve much more by studying in classroom environment, she said.    “They find this program really works.”    A private [...]

This time of year, around the new moon in the month of October, is traditionally known as PEKELANEW - The Moon That Turns the Leaves White  This is the moon of the turning white season (frost). This moon brings the first frost. The leaves lose their colours and turn pale. Deer hunting is the activity during this moon. The earth is cooling down and the people turn their efforts to hunting. WEATHER The longer, cooler nights can lead to frost on the leaves and the ground in higher country. ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES The W̱SÁNEĆ people began splitting the cedar [...]

W̱SÁNEĆ Engagement Forum Proposed Barrier and Road Widening Project at Goldstream River When: Wednesday, October 18  Where: Saanich Fairgrounds – Main Hall  Time: 5:00-8:30 p.m.  The Forum will start with a meal and include the following Presentations: Project Proposal – Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) Technical – WLC Referrals, Lorax Environmental Services, Goldstream Hatchery Historic Use Presentation – Trailmark and UBC W̱SÁNEĆ Laws – YELḰATŦE (Robert Clifford), J,SINTEN (John Elliott), W̱IĆKINEM (Eric Pelkey) Open Floor – Participant Questions to Presenters  Trans-Canada Highway 1 – Goldstream Median Barrier and Widening Project Location The province have proposed to do [...]

Hope is Queen will pressure Ottawa IMAGE CAPTION: Chief Vern Jacks, of the Tseycum First Nation, holds a letter outlining his concerns over native rights that he’ll present to Queen Elizabeth when the monarch lands in Victoria this afternoon. “A dominant society that does not respect or acknowledge our history,” the letter states. “Our youths feel alienated because there still exists the discrimination that was afflicted on our people by the arrival of the first Europeans.”    The Queen and Prince Philip begin their Canadian tour today.  After several hours in Nunavut, Canada’s newest territory, they will land at a Canadian [...]