lessLIE: Modernizing Tradition

By Cara McKenna

For Coast Salish artist lessLIE, even his name is a well-crafted piece of art.

“My colonized, Catholic, Canadian name is Leslie Robert Sam,” he introduces himself. “And my decolonized artist name is lessLIE.”

The self-given name has … Read More

Indigenous Peoples Day celebrated

On June 21, events were held in Coast Salish communities and across Canada in celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day (formerly Aboriginal Day).

Stz’uminus, Snuneymuxw and Cowichan members were part of one event at Transfer Beach Park in Ladysmith, with … Read More

Plant medicine

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Story and photos by Tricia Thomas

Traditional medicine is … Read More

New cultural tour begins at Homalco

Cascading waterfalls, glacier-fed teal ocean water and mountain ranges for miles. This is the home of the Homalco people, known to some as Orford Bay, located about two hours by boat from Campbell River.

This year Homalco has partnered with … Read More

‘We are thinking about our kids’: UVic symposium visits T’Sou-ke

Guests visited T’Sou-ke Nation on May 5 to learn about the community’s forward- thinking ways as part of an ethnoecology symposium at the University of Victoria.

The four-day event was led by Indigenous plant and land use expert Nancy Turner.

… Read More

Tsleil-Waututh holds water blessing ceremony on Mother’s Day

Photos and story by Cara McKenna

Tsleil-Waututh Nation and allies celebrated Mother’s Day by honouring the one who has nourished, protected and housed all of us for millennia – Mother Earth.

The community held a water blessing ceremony at Whey-ah-Wichen … Read More

‘Salish Class’ ferries will soon sail B.C. waters

All three of BC Ferries’ new Coast Salish-adorned vessels will soon begin service for all to see, but Stz’uminus artist John Marston got to take a sneak peek of his work.

Marston created a design for the Salish Eagle, and … Read More

Talking trees: Coast Salish cultural tours begin in Squamish

Standing in front of a picturesque view of the Stawamus Chief Mountain high on the alpine, Iris Lewis (Chichitelwet) tells the story of a two-headed sea serpent that left its mark on the cliff face.

A young man from the … Read More

Young songwriters honoured at Stz’uminus

A group of Stz’uminus Grade 6 students have won a prestigious songwriting contest that meant performing for B.C.’s Lieutenant Governor.

Judith Guichon’s Sing Me A Song program invited amateur musical groups to write and sing an original song for Canada’s … Read More

Beloved former chief remembered through healing garden

Elder and longtime Snaw-naw-as chief David Bob always took care of his people, whether it was getting the nation’s health centre built or working to revitalize culture.

When he suddenly passed away in January, Bob was making progress on his … Read More