Words by Cara McKenna.  Photos by Tricia Thomas 

According to Snaw-naw-as stories, when residential schools began and ceremonies became illegal, ancestor Nanoose Bob burned all of the First Nation’s regalia in an effort to protect people.

Much of the community’s culture was lost, including one of theCoast Salish nation’s most treasured ceremonies – to welcome babies into the community. Snaw-naw-as recently brought that ceremony back for the first time in decades.

About two dozen babies and children were welcomed in a daylong event in the community hall with food, ceremony and song. Elder David Bob said Snaw-naw-as decided to keep the event open to children as old as five because the community hadn’t held such a ceremony in so many years. “We haven’t done this in as far back as I can remember,” he said.

The ceremony was prompted when organizer Niki Voysey, who works with the Inter- Tribal Health Authority, attended a similar event at another First Nation. She realized that Snaw-naw-as was mostly having ceremonies for things like deaths, but not many positive events.

Charlie George, who was emcee, told people at the event that the ceremony was to introduce the little ones to their people. “My family here at Snaw-naw-as, they wanted to welcome home their children,” he said. “We’re bringing them home today.”