Category Archives: Indigenous Nations

Indigenous Nations, Politics

Rustad’s Indigenous policy announcement adds insult to injury, say First Nations

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

First Nations leaders are dismayed BC Conservative Leader John Rustad chose to announce his party’s proposed Indigenous policy on the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. 

The national holiday is a day of mourning that honours children and the survivors of residential schools, and acknowledges ongoing impacts to their families and communities. 

It’s not an appropriate occasion for a political leader to proclaim his agenda for how he plans to work with Indigenous peoples should he become leader, Cheryl Casimer, First Nations Summit political executive told Canada’s National Observer — particularly when that statement fails to uphold a commitment to Indigenous rights and title and the province’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA). 

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Indigenous languages, Indigenous Nations History

Truth and Reconciliation Ceremony on Cortes Island

There was a Truth and Reconciliation ceremony at Gorge Harbour on Monday, September 30. It consisted of sacred songs and sharing experiences, as well as Chief Steven Brown’s perspectives on how the Klahoose are reclaiming their present and their future.

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Indigenous languages, Indigenous Nations History

Liǧʷiłdax̌ʷ Name Changes For Campbell River Area

The  Liǧʷiłdax̌ʷ [pronounced Lee-gwilth-daxw] Nations (We Wai Kai, Wei Wai Kum and Kwiakah) are asking the province to change several geographic names in the Campbell River area.

They wish to change the name of the Discovery Passage to Liǧʷiłdax̌ʷ Passage, the Quinsam River to Kʷənsəm River and the Tyee Spit to ʔuxstalis [pronounced Oox-sta-lease]

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History, Indigenous Nations History

June 6-8, 1911: A point in time look at Cortes Island

Unlike most local histories, which often celebrate the accomplishments of prominent settlers, Canadian census records give us a quick peek into communities as a whole. 

The 1911 census is especially interesting for Cortes Island because, for the first time, all of the island’s 135 ‘settler’ entries are grouped together. Similarly, there is a segment for the 60 Klahoose First Nation residents in Squirrel Cove. There was also a second First Nation with a reserve on Cortes, but any relevant Tla’amin entries appear to be included with those from their main village to the south in what is now qathet Regional District. 

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Food, Indigenous languages, Indigenous Nations History

What did the Tsleil-Waututh people eat 500 years ago?

Editor’s note: At one time in their remote prehistory, all the Salish peoples are believed to have spoken a single proto-Salish language. There are now 23 Salishan languages. The Northern Coast Salish nations (Homalco, Klahoose, K’omoks and Tla’amin) speak Ayajuthem (Éy7á7juuthem), while the Tsleil-Waututh and other Coast Salish Nations from Lower Mainland speak Halkomelen (hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓).

By Mina Kerr-Lazenby, North Shore News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Crafted from a food source that was abundant, varied and rich in nutrition, the diet that the səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) had prior to the arrival of settlers was worlds away from what it is now.

New research between the Tsleil-Waututh Nation and the University of British Columbia uses archeological records and Indigenous oral histories to piece together what was on the menu between 1000 CE and European contact in approximately 1792 CE.

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