Éy7á7juuthem: Revitalizing a Language

by Tricia Thomas

Without the language, we are warm bodies without a spirit. – Mary Lou Fox, Ojibwe elder

Language is the foundation for our way of life; it is an integral part of our cultural expression.

Throughout time, Aboriginal peoples … Read More

Shore to Shore unveiling this month

Years of work by Stz’uminus carver Luke Marston will be revealed on April 25 when his bronze sculpture – Shore to Shore – is unveiled in Stanley Park.

The work celebrates the connections of Portuguese adventurer Joe Silvey and his … Read More

Tsum’ush means ‘delicious’

by Tricia Thomas

For the Coast Salish people, the traditional season of the herring roe harvest begins late February and early March. The Hul’qumi’num word for the herring eggs is tsum’ush.

In specific areas around the Salish Sea, cedar or … Read More

Saysutshun

Nanaimo Harbour ‘jewel’ has a new gleam

Everywhere you walk on Newcastle Island, there are the footsteps of our Snuneymuxw ancestors. The island was much used for the foods that it provided our people.

Those were the words from a … Read More

The Culture of the Canoe

By Tricia Thomas

Canoe racing season is approaching. Pullers, or paddlers, have begun to focus on their vigorous training regimes. They can be seen daily, often in early mornings or at the end of the longer days of Spring, training … Read More

Galligos is Slovenia bound with his totem

When Craig Galligos of Sliammon was working on the totem for Powell River’s Kathaumixw choral festival last summer, travel plans were in the back of his mind.

That’s because he was going to accompany the pole when it was delivered … Read More

Want wildlife? Head to Bute

Homalco Wildlife Tours is expanding from its popular ‘Bears of Bute’ excursions in late summer to a spring and summer program.

“We are expanding our very successful wildlife tours into the summer focusing on cultural tours” said Shawn O’Connor, the … Read More

Youth take on traditional foods challenge

Words and photos by Tricia Thomas

Snaw-naw-as and Homalco communities challenged their youth to learn about the traditional foods of their ancestors. And youth responded when the first part of the challenge took place on the shores of Nanoose Bay … Read More

Walking for stolen sisters

Walks in memory and honour of missing and murdered Indigenous women took place across Canada in mid-February. And on Valentine’s Day, people gathered in Nanaimo for a sobering and quiet demonstration for justice and awareness in a march from Vancouver … Read More

The Indian in the Child

By Patricia McDougall

Powerful carvings by Darren Blaney of Homalco will soon be installed at a Campbell River school as a lasting lesson about residential schools and their effect on the children in all of us.

The smell of fresh-cut … Read More