Yearly Archives: 2023

Protesters in Grace Islet row given month to prepare case Judge delays decision on owner’s application for no-trespassing order The owner of Grace Islet, where a home is being built over a First Nations burial site, asked a B.C. Supreme Court judge Tuesday to issue a no-trespassing order to keep protesters away.    But the judge said the issue, in which local politicians and First Nations chiefs have joined protesters, could be more complicated than trespassing and deserved more time for preparation of legal arguments and research of aboriginal rights.    “[The issue] may be as simple as the plaintiff says it [...]

Indians challenging plans for Tod Inlet Traditional native Indian hunting and fishing rights will be affected by a massive resort Sam Bawlf plans near Tod Inlet at Brentwood Bay, says Tsartlip Band councillor Philip Paul.    Central Saanich council will hold a public meeting Oct. 8 to consider the proposal.    “We’ve never really challenged the fact that when we lose something because of development there should be some compensation, but we now intend doing that,” Paul said in an interview Tuesday.    “Our people were given fishing and hunting rights on the peninsula by treaties signed years ago,” he said. The head [...]

Master Paddler, Tsartlip Member Len Morris Inducted into Canadian Outrigger Hall of Fame Len Morris of the Geronimo Canoe Club has been inducted into the Canadian Outrigger Hall of Fame for “Significant and Exemplary Contributions” to Canadian outrigger canoeing. Len Morris, shown above, with several members of the Geronimo Canoe club. According to the Canadian Outrigger Racing Association, “As a Masters 40+ paddler, Len Jr. has already realized a remarkable set of accomplishments that will only continue with each passing year. This is long overdue recognition not only for Len Jr., but also for the unheralded achievements of [...]

Tribal Journeys Resumes After a Three Year Hiatus After a three-year COVID-related hiatus, Tribal Journeys resumed this year, culminating in a week of cultural protocol at Muckleshoot. (Shown above, paddlers arriving at Muckleshoot) The W̱SÁNEĆ Nation was one of 80 communities that paddled to Muckleshoot for a week of 24/7 cultural protocol this summer. 120 canoe families joined from as far as Alaska, Hawaii, New Zealand, and Japan. Participants paddled for days and, in some circumstances, weeks to reach Muckleshoot, stopping to visit many communities along the way. For over 60 canoes, one such stop was Tsawout Spit, [...]

Less Bias Asked On Marina Study Both federal and provincial governments have been asked to hold up approval permits for the planned Saanichton Bay Marina, a department of Indian Affairs official said today.    Clarence Riach, economic development officer for the south Vancouver Island Indian Affairs district, told the Times letters have been sent to both levels of government asking that no approval be given until additional studies are done on the impact of the marina on the Tsawout Indian Band, adjacent to the proposed marina.    “It’s our feeling that the Indian interests have not really been dealt with in enough [...]

Times Colonist (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada) · Mon, Sep 10, 1990 500 rally against Tod Inlet Proposal By Kim Westad Times-Colonist staff Led by the chanting of native Indian spiritual songs and the strains of bagpipes, about 500 people converged at Tod Inlet on Sunday to voice concern about a planned luxury development on the land. Native speakers and representatives from the Citizens Association to Save the Environment said they would work together to stop the luxury hotel, marina, golf course, condominium and townhouse complex slated for the shores of the waterway, an inlet off Brentwood Bay. “At this point [...]

W̱SÁNEĆ Youth Work to Revive SX̱OLE / Reef Net Fishing for Fourth Year in a Row The W̱SÁNEĆ Reef Net Fishing project continued this year, led by Co-coordinators Edna Ellsworth and Laila Morris of Tsartlip Nation. The W̱SÁNEĆ community, for the past four years, has been working diligently to reclaim the art of SX̱OLE, or reef net fishing, one of many traditional practices prohibited by the colonial government. The W̱SANEĆ Youth Reef Net Program – established by the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council in 2020 “as a way for knowledge to be transferred from Elders to Youth, revitalize W̱SÁNEĆ culture [...]