August 8 was a good day for the W̱SÁNEĆ First nation whose Traditional Homeland includes S,DÁYES/ Pender, S,ḴŦAḴ/Mayne, and ṮEḴTEḴSEN/Saturna as well as much of the Saanich Peninsula.  On August 8 W̱SÁNEĆ Elders, community members and youth came to the foot of the road overlooking Bedwell Harbour to ceremonially reclaim the ancient village of QENEN,IW̱, located at the site that Poets Cove Resort now occupies.

On August 8 two new panels were added to the original 13 moon calendar installation that had been constructed in May 2019 to help launch the ṮEṮÁĆES Climate Action Project.  The two new panels describe the intertwined relationship between the village of QENEN,IW̱, and SXIXŦE the original W̱SÁNEĆ reef net site near the entrance to Bedwell Harbour.  The artistically designed panels by W̱SÁNEĆ artist Sarah Jim tell the story of QENEN,IW̱, and SXIXŦE with impactful images.  

Hereditary Chief Eric Pelkey (W̱IĆKINEM) guided this project from start to finish with support from the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council and the W̱SÁNEĆ School Board.  Chief Pelkey observed: “The W̱SÁNEĆ People have maintained the connection between QENEN,IW̱, and SXIXŦE for thousands of years before colonization.  Our People have a responsibility to restore the connection and reclaim our ĆELÁṈEN (world view/birthright).”

SENĆOŦEN language specialist and teacher Renee Sampson (SX̱EDŦELISIYE) opened the ceremonies with a beautiful song she composed to protect one of her daughters from restless spirits while her daughter participated in the 2020 five-day ṮEṮÁĆES Climate Action course held at Poets Cove resort.  One of the highlights of the day was the beautiful blessing song by SX̱EDŦELISIYE and the accompanying dance by the inspiring W̱SÁNEĆ dancers.

Elder Belinda Claxton (SELILIYE) assisted in unveiling the two new panels and expressed gratitude for the growing community to community relationship between the W̱SÁNEĆ community and the S,DÁYES community. SELILIYE acknowledged the restlessness of ancestral relations resulting from the disruption of a burial ground during the reconstruction of Poets Cove Resort in 2002.  She also pointed out the reburial sanctuary across the road from the resort that was built to honour the ancestors. The sanctuary was erected ceremonially in 2008 by W̱SÁNEĆ Elders with support from the then resort general manager Walter Kohli.

W̱SÁNEĆ artist Sarah Jim’s design of the two new panels captures the spirit of the inter relationship between QENEN,IW̱, and SXIXŦE. The QENEN,IW̱ panel contains a QR Code which connects to both a SENĆOŦEN and English version of the QENEN,IW̱ story.  The QR code on the SXIXŦE panel connects to a video showing the ceremonial revival of the reef net technology by the W̱SÁNEĆ youth and young adult reef net team.

The W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council arranged for the W̱SÁNEĆ youth leadership team to conduct a ceremonial reef net set at SXIXŦE to coincide with the August 8 event.  However, mechanical problems delayed the reef net set which was successfully carried out on August 14th.

The August 8 keynote presentation was given by Hereditary Chief Eric Pelkey, great grandson of former Hereditary Chief Louie Pelkey who was born at QENEN,IW̱ in the 1860s.  Chief Pelkey animated the story of QENEN,IW̱ describing the dramatic event that occurred there and how QENEN,IW̱ got its name which translates as- “What you have witnessed.”   The story reinforces the W̱SÁNEĆ Traditional Law prohibiting greed and requiring sharing of the gifts from the Creator.  Chief Pelkey acknowledged the strong support from the S,DÁYES community and thanked the SGI Community Resources Centre and the South Pender Historical Society for their leadership. 

The ceremonies concluded with Elders John Elliott (J,SIṈTEN) and his brother Elder James Elliott (STIWET) who both spoke of their culture from the heart and gifted us with inspiring songs.  A salmon feast followed co-hosted by the CRC ṮEṮÁĆES  Reconcilli-Action team, the South Pender Historical Society, and the S,DÁYES Truth and Reconciliation Circle for invited guests at the Reserve next to the resort. 

The project was funded with support from the Real Estate Foundation of BC, the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council, the W̱SÁNEĆ School Board, the BC Heritage Fund, the South Pender Island Historical Society, the Southern Gulf Islands Community Resources Centre and Poets Cove Resort.

Chief Pelkey has played a key role in the ṮEṮÁĆES Reconcilli-Action Project.  He led the revival of the W̱SÁNEĆ First Salmon Ceremony which launched the ṮEṮÁĆES Revitalization Project in 2021.  Most recently he has given presentations to the South Pender Local Trust Committee and the South Pender Historical Society AGM (see story on p. xx).

The S,DÁYES community is enriched with the generous sharing of W̱SÁNEĆ culture and wisdom.  As SX̱EDŦELISIYE (Renee Sampson) reminds us, “W̱SÁNEĆ ÁȽE ȽTE  U, TU,E  ÁȽE – the W̱SÁNEĆ are still here.”

Paul Petrie for the CRC’s ṮEṮÁĆES Reconcilli-Action Project team