WLC

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 purchased [...]

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 [...]

This time of year, from around what is now called mid-February to mid-March, is traditionally known as WEXWS-Moon of the Frog. The frog on the face of the moon represents DOLUANW – the Keeper of the Sacred Season. It is time to gather food & medicine. The W̱SÁNEĆ People place cedar boughs at the shore so herring will lay roe on them. CONNECTIONS AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION  The W̱SÁNEĆ People designated this month to sacredness and purification. For the W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples, this moon, in particular, is significant because the frog acts as a witness and a messenger. The frog [...]

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 [...]

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). https://youtu.be/YpJdR5cv5co While the setting of the Reef Net itself didn’t take very long, it was months in the making. The project took place in multiple phases: Research, construction [...]

This time of year, from around what is now called mid-December to mid-January, is traditionally known as NINENE –  The Moon of the Child.  NINENE – MOON OF THE CHILD (mid-December to mid-January) The face of the young man represents youth, a new beginning, the rebirth of the animal world, and the new edible shoots. This is the Saanich New Year. The moon’s yellow hair is the returning light to the world. CONNECTIONS AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION The Winter Solstice (December 20/21) is the point at which the sun is farthest from the Equator, thus it is the darkest [...]

On December 14, 2020 the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council hosted the W̱SÁNEĆ Celebration of Culture to kick off a year of Marine Use Planning engagement with the W̱SÁNEĆ community. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4PZjG3ob7w&feature=youtu.be Part one of the celebration showcases the poetry of PEPAḴIYE (Ashley Cooper), singing from Vanessa Claxton, traditional drumming by Gail Sam, and Carving by Bearcat Sam. We showcase these talents with SṮI (Love), ÁTOL (Respect for the rights of others), ȽIȽEȻ (Interconnectedness), U SṮOṮEMTES (Reciprocity), and ÍY ŚW̱ḰÁLEȻEN and SDIWIEȽ (good intentions and prayer).⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MA3xAqIimDY&feature=youtu.be Part two of the celebration showcases hooping by Rebecca Jim, filmmaking [...]

This time of year, around what is now called December , is traditionally known as SIS,ET – THE ELDER MOON. SIS,ET – THE ELDER MOON (December) The Elder’s hair holds and shields the elderly people who share the teachings, the beliefs, the history and the culture with the children who are gathered in the warmth of the firelight. CONNECTIONS AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION This is the oldest of the moon family and means the elder. It is also the time when teaching occurs. This is the last in the yearly cycle of the moons. At this time of year [...]