News

WEXES – MOON OF THE FROG

2024-03-09T00:43:48+00:00

This time of year is traditionally known as WEXES-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 announced the Sacred Season of Plenty. Because the frog [...]

WEXES – MOON OF THE FROG2024-03-09T00:43:48+00:00

Meet Priscilla Omulo

2024-03-08T16:49:40+00:00

Meet Priscilla Omulo, the new Women's Coordinator at the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council Read the transcript below to learn more about Priscilla and the work she’ll be doing with the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council. Interviewer: Can you tell me a bit about who you are and where you’re from? My name is Priscilla Omulo. My maiden name is Bartleman, I’m from Tsartlip First Nation. I recently moved back home to the island after being on the lower Mainland for just over 10 years. I did my schooling and a lot of nonprofit work there. I moved back to attend the University [...]

Meet Priscilla Omulo2024-03-08T16:49:40+00:00

The Cowichan Sweater Film, Women’s Day Screening

2024-03-08T18:52:54+00:00

This International Women's Day, let's give a big shout-out to the women who made "The Cowichan Sweater: Our Knitted History" film possible! We raise our hands to Mary Galloway and Tiffany Joseph the executive producers and to the hardworking all-Indigenous crew, these women poured their hearts into sharing this important story. The film explores the history of the sweaters in the Cowichan and Saanich territories on Vancouver Island and the traditional knitters from these communities. We congratulate their dedication to preserving our cultural heritage and showcasing the beauty of Cowichan Sweaters. Join us for a virtual screening tonight to honour [...]

The Cowichan Sweater Film, Women’s Day Screening2024-03-08T18:52:54+00:00

This Time 54 Years Ago – March 1970

2024-03-04T21:49:49+00:00

Four Chiefs To Sit On Board    Four Saanich Peninsula band chiefs will sit on Canada's first Indian school board, it was announced Thursday at a meeting in the East Saanich Reserve community hall.    The new board will run Tsartlip day school on West Saanich Road.    The chiefs - Phil Paul (Tsartlip), Gabriel Pelkey (Tsawout), Don Williams (Pauquachin), and Sandy Jones (Teycum) - will make up an interim board along with Victor Underwood Jr., Gus Bill, Marie Cooper and Tom Sampson.    The four bands formed the Saanich Indian Education Association two years ago when they learned the federal government planned to [...]

This Time 54 Years Ago – March 19702024-03-04T21:49:49+00:00

Share your thoughts to receive a $50 gift card!

2024-02-23T21:50:43+00:00

Share your thoughts to receive a $50 gift card! The W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council is working on developing a Marine and Land Use Plan for the W̱SÁNEC people that will help guide us under a unified vision for the marine/land environment and protect the W̱SÁNEĆ way of life. It will help identify appropriate strategies to assert and affirm W̱SÁNEĆ authority and presence throughout the territory. This is a multi-year (5+) initiative that will identify community goals and priorities regarding Douglas Treaty Rights, Aboriginal Rights and title, and appropriate strategies to assert and affirm W̱SÁNEĆ authority and presence throughout the territory. [...]

Share your thoughts to receive a $50 gift card!2024-02-23T21:50:43+00:00

Share your thoughts on Goldstream!

2024-02-22T19:21:07+00:00

Share your thoughts on Goldstream! At this time we are seeking feedback from W̱SÁNEĆ Community Members only. Fill out the survey W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership are seeking input on whether or not to support the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure (MOTI) project to conduct roadwork on the Malahat Highway where it passes through Goldstream Park. We have developed this survey for W̱SÁNEĆ members to provide input on whether or not the proposed MOTI Highway 1 project is acceptable for Goldstream. At this time we are seeking feedback from W̱SÁNEĆ Community Members only. Fill out the survey RECENT POSTS [...]

Share your thoughts on Goldstream!2024-02-22T19:21:07+00:00

Meet Robyn Heaslip Kefi

2024-03-05T18:26:43+00:00

Meet Robyn Heaslip Kefi, the new Program Manager for the Indigenous Management Board Read the transcript below to learn more about Robyn and the work she’ll be doing with the Indigenous Management Board. Interviewer: Can you tell us a bit about who you are and where you’re from? My name is Robyn Heaslip Kefi and I live in Cowichan Bay in Quw'utsun lands. I am of Irish, French, Scottish and English ancestry. I grew up in Cree territory in Edmonton and moved with my parents and siblings as a young adult to Lekwungen and WSÁNEĆ lands in Victoria. After [...]

Meet Robyn Heaslip Kefi2024-03-05T18:26:43+00:00

ṈIṈENE – W̱SÁNEĆ New Year

2024-02-12T20:15:29+00:00

In our world, this is the true beginning of the Saanich Year. The new moon signifies a change--our days are growing longer. Nature, the moons, and the whole world are being reborn. ṈIṈENE – MOON OF THE CHILD  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. WEATHER This is the time the Earth starts to move closer to the Sun once again. All things begin to warm [...]

ṈIṈENE – W̱SÁNEĆ New Year2024-02-12T20:15:29+00:00

Sacred object returned home to W̱SÁNEĆ

2024-02-07T20:32:14+00:00

Sacred object returned home to W̱SÁNEĆ W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council (WLC) hosted a homecoming ceremony on Thursday, January 25, 2024. The ceremony marked the significant return of SDÁLṈEW̱, a sacred bowl set to be sold by settlers, but intercepted by SFU. Since arrival, settlers have appropriated and displaced countless W̱SÁNEĆ sacred objects. Outside of W̱SÁNEĆ care these objects are unable to serve their sacred purposes, and are instead shuttled worldwide as museum display pieces or elements of private collections without regard to their ancestral home.  In recent years, WLC has made significant efforts to raise awareness regarding the proper care [...]

Sacred object returned home to W̱SÁNEĆ2024-02-07T20:32:14+00:00

We want your Input on the W̱SÁNEĆ Youth Council

2024-01-30T20:20:28+00:00

We want your Input on the W̱SÁNEĆ Youth Council We are seeking feedback from the community about the W̱SÁNEĆ Youth Council. Fill out the survey by February 26th for a chance to win one of five $50 Visa gift cards! TAKE THE SURVEY Why have a W̱SÁNEĆ Youth Council? The W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council (WLC) is an organization that was created to provide a space for W̱SÁNEĆ leaders to come together to discuss topics that are in common and relate to the broader territory of W̱SÁNEĆ. The WLC researches and provides information to W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership on topics in which [...]

We want your Input on the W̱SÁNEĆ Youth Council2024-01-30T20:20:28+00:00
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