Snuneymuxw-carved Te’tuxwtun Pole unveiled at VIU

Photo: William Good (Tseskinakhen) and his grandchildren, great-grandchildren perform a family frog song.

By Cara McKenna

A Snuneymuxw totem representing the beginning of humanity, healing and learning has been unveiled at Vancouver Island University. 

The Te’tuxwtun Pole, carved by Elder William Good (Tseskinakhen), now stands in the main hall of VIU’s new Health and Sciences building on its main campus … Read More

Work begins to restore Coast Salish place names on mid-Island

Photo and story by Julie Chadwick

For Snuneymuxw Elder Geraldine Manson (C-tasi:a), what’s now commonly known as Mount Benson is more than just a place to take the dog for a walk and enjoy the view. To her, Mount Benson … Read More

Klahoose expands global repatriation efforts with database, app

This winter, Klahoose Elder Kenny Hanuse led a procession of band members from the nation’s main office to the community’s cemetary in Squirrel Cove for the burial of two ancestors returning home. 

Klahoose youth Brandon Harry and Chief Kevin Peacey carried small cedar boxes containing the remains of the ancestors, recently repatriated from the Royal B.C. Museum. 

As the … Read More

Confronting reconciliation myths: Kwul’a’sul’tun speaks at VIU

Photo: VIU

By Julie Chadwick

Years ago, Doug White III (Kwul’a’sul’tun) asked his late grandmother Dr. Ellen White (Kwulasulwut) what would be lost when there was no longer a number of people who could fluently speak their language.

What she … Read More

Artist brings ‘feminine Coast Salish’ style to Stanley Park studio

Photo and story by Cara McKenna 

It’s a shadowy, black night near Second Beach in Vancouver’s Stanley Park, but a warm light emanates from the window of Chrystal Sparrow’s art studio. 

Inside, the Musqueam artist’s temporary workshop is cozy, scattered with her flowy Coast Salish pieces and carvings by her … Read More

Digital weaving: Online tool teaches math using Tla’amin basket designs

SFU math professors Veselin Jungic, left, and Cedric Chauve at Tla’amin Nation. Submitted photo.

By Cara McKenna 

A new interactive online tool uses basket weaving patterns from Tla’amin Nation to teach mathematics. 

The application will allow students of all ages to digitally … Read More

Tribal X plays hard rock with Indigenous edge

Above: Andrew Campbell of Homalco and Musqueam belts it out during a Tribal X practice in Maple Ridge.

By Cara McKenna 

On an Autumn night at their jam space in Maple Ridge, Indigenous hard rock band Tribal X are playing a … Read More

Snuneymuxw leases former public school for programs

Snuneymuxw is leasing a former public elementary school site as a place to offer programs and services to its members.

The nation will be using the Woodbank Primary School site for youth and elder programming, support groups, culture camps, soccer … Read More

Blanketing the city

By Cara McKenna

Musqueam artist Debra Sparrow (θəliχʷəlʷət) has been saying for two decades that she won’t stop until the City of Vancouver is blanketed in Coast Salish designs.

Mostly, Sparrow has meant the statement as a challenge to increase … Read More

Entrepreneurs attend training at Tla’amin

By Edith Moore, NmTC communications liaison

For one month, six entrepreneurs from Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council member nations attended a workshop to help take their ideas to the next level.

The Sharing Circle Mentorship Entrepreneurship Program was held on weekends … Read More