On Wednesday, November 26th, 2025, W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council (W̱LC) and its partners held a ceremony to celebrate the raising of five W̱SÁNEĆ posts outside the new Amazon warehouse in SETI,NES (Sidney, BC).
Artists from each W̱SÁNEĆ Village helped carve the cedar posts. The artists who contributed include Bear Horne, Charles Elliott Jr. (Chaz), James Jimmy, Aubrey Lafortune, and Mark Henry.
The posts speak to W̱SÁNEĆ history, culture and territory, and signify the power and presence of W̱SÁNEĆ collectively. Each post features W̱SÁNEĆ relatives and stories. For example, the posts illustrate the importance of the clam gardens and harvesting (KEXÁL,S), acknowledge the four W̱SÁNEĆ villages on the W̱SÁNEĆ peninsula, and share the interconnectedness of the territory and W̱SÁNEĆ ways of seeing – including the importance of the KELȽOLEMEĆEN to that interconnectedness. One post also includes a SḴITEU (Mermaid). The SḴITEU is a sign of good fortune and a warning to those that are misbehaving, representing the balance of relationships in W̱SÁNEĆ territory.
The celebration on November 26th included drumming, a cedar brushing off ceremony, and several speeches. Speakers included the artists, Victoria Airport Authority (VAA), and York Realty, the developer of the Amazon building.
The raising of the new posts is both an act of cultural revitalization and reconciliation. Their presence not only visually acknowledges the new building’s place on W̱SÁNEĆ’s territory to all who pass by, but physically restores W̱SÁNEĆ’s presence – including elements of W̱SÁNEĆ’s culture and identity – on W̱SÁNEĆ lands after years of removal and erasure.
The journey to raising the posts was bumpier than anticipated – taking slightly longer than planned – however, it provided a learning opportunity that will create a smoother path for similar initiatives in the future.
W̱LC is grateful to the countless individuals and organizations who contributed to the journey that led to raising the posts – including their creation, installation, and celebration. In particular, W̱LC thanks the artists who designed and created the posts, President of York Realty Matt Woolsey who purchased the posts, W̱LC’s Community Engagement Coordinator Eric Pelkey who helped plan the ceremony, and Elizabeth Brown and Francesca Wheler from the VAA who assisted in all planning and communications throughout the project.
Public and private institutions interested in learning more about commissioning and showcasing W̱SÁNEĆ art throughout W̱SÁNEĆ territory are invited to learn more about the W̱SÁNEĆ Art Protocol and to explore W̱LC’s portfolio of W̱SÁNEĆ artists.
To learn more about this story and W̱LC’s ongoing work to uplift W̱SÁNEĆ, be sure to sign up for W̱LC’s newsletter.
