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A few of the community members that served in World War Two are remembered by their families. Mary Bartleman: Mary Bartleman was a private who served in the Canadian Women’s Army Corp from 1939-1945. Stationed in Victoria, BC, Mary did not have to kill anyone. She received the Canadian Volunteer Service Meda for her 5 years of service. Her niece Pat, holds her Canadian Army Discharge Certificate which shows her war service badge number #293612 and her discharge date in August 1945. Mary Bartleman had enrolled at 18 years old. “She was a beautiful young lady who lived [...]

When: November 12, 2024 at 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Where: WLC Board Room, 800b Stellys Cross Rd, Saanichton, BC V8M 1J4 Please join us in welcoming our new Women's Coordinator, Shantelle Voyageur! Share a meal together, food will be provided. Bring any projects you've been working on, any crafts you have. We are excited to get back into our women's gatherings on a regular basis. Can't wait to visit, see you soon! Please note *** Child minding may become available with advance notice. RECENT POSTS How are we doing? Leave Us Your Feedback Here [...]

You are invited to witness the unveiling of the Indigenous memorial monument erected in honor of brothers Edward, Ben and George Underwood. 10:00 AM: Meet at Tsawout First Nation 10:20 AM: We will walk across the street to the monument site. Call or text 250-896-6166 for more information RECENT POSTS How are we doing? Leave Us Your Feedback Here

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. [...]

Tribal Councils and other collaborative bodies – are organizations where multiple bands sit together to provide services, to create access to the resources, to meaningfully advance the rights of Indigenous communities, to lessen competition and to take care of internal business before meeting with external organizations or governments. Collaborations such as Tribal Councils are important because they are Indigenous governance structures. Their unified voice challenges the colonial argument - that western governments need to manage territory because First Nations are divided and do not have the structures in place to manage shared spaces. W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council (WLC) Policy and [...]

Removal of Invasive Deer on SḰŦÁMEN to Continue in Fall 2024 Last year, property owners voted to move forward with the eradication of all fallow deer on Sidney Island. Eradication of fallow deer on Sidney Island will continue this fall. This permanent elimination of the fallow deer on Sidney Island is a last resort effort to stop the devastating impact they’ve caused the delicate ecosystem. Fallow deer are an invasive species introduced in the area by Europeans in the 1900s. The deer indiscriminately eat the island’s vegetation and have left the island devoid of medicines and food bulbs [...]

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 year’s Tribal Journeys event culminated on August 5th, 2024 and was a resounding success. (Shown here: Video of W̱SÁNEĆ landing) Tribal Journeys are annual traditional canoe voyages during which canoe families representing individual First Nations and Tribes paddle long distances across ancestral waterways to a shared location for five Protocol Days. Tribal Journeys are an opportunity to celebrate the reemergence of Coast Salish culture and communities on the water, preserve cultural knowledge, and encourage the continued use of canoes. When it comes to Tribal Journeys, the journey is just as important as the destination. As each canoe [...]