Name change is now official
The name Salish Sea became official on July 15 following a day of ceremonies and celebrations.
A traditional Squi Squi naming ceremony hosted by Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations was held that morning at Songhees’ longhouse. Coast Salish leaders from BC and Washington attended along with all levels of non-native governments from the Salish Sea ecosystem.
The sacred mask dance was followed by other events that included: the landing protocol for the Tribal Journey canoes, canoe races and a feast of traditional foods. A public naming ceremony was held later in the afternoon.
Salish Sea is a collective name for the waters that includes the Straits of Georgia and Juan de Fuca and the Puget Sound.
Klahowya in Stanley Park
The name ‘Klahowya’ is suddenly being heard a lot more in Vancouver. It is not just because more people are reading this newspaper.
The Aboriginal Tourism Association of BC and the Vancouver Parks Board has created Klahowya Village in Stanley Park – “an authentic Aboriginal tourism experience like no other you've seen.
Tourists will be able to enjoy the Coast Salish culture through song, dance, art and food until Sept. 6. Features of Klahowya Village include:
• The Spirit Catcher Train ride, a 13-minute journey into the forest and Aboriginal history and culture;
• Three dance performances each day;
• Visits with artisans working on wood carving and weaving;
• Aboriginal foods from vendors;
• Aboriginal arts and crafts; and
• Visits to an Elders Area to speak with Elders about their experiences.
Meanwhile, The Fish House in Stanley Park restaurant is serving up what it calls its Klahowya menu this summer.
The three-course menu uses ingredients and cooking techniques of First Nations people. The $48 menu offers cold-smoked bison carpaccio (thin sliced and raw) with mountain cranberry compote and wild milkweed pods, cedar-planked wild sockeye salmon and elderberry swirl cheesecake with hazelnut crust.
"Many people are curious about eating locally and seasonally and about how they can reduce their carbon footprint," said executive chef Karen Barnaby. "First Nations people ate abundantly from what nature had to offer with great respect for their environment.
More info at: www.aboriginalbc.com
Economic development bursaries
Ten $1,000 bursaries are available to enroll in Simon Fraser University's certificate program in Community Economic Development. Staff and members of First Nation communities are especially encouraged to apply. The deadline for applications is July 30.
The program is made up of eight, intensive two-day courses and explores models and methods for building sustainable, local, robust economies.
More info at: www.sfu.ca/cscd/ced
Why pay? It’s free!
Don’t be fooled by companies selling directories on how to get government grants. That is the message from provincial and federal government agencies.
"In my opinion, they are of very little use," said Mark Eversfield of Small Business BC.
He said that internet-based companies are charging hundreds of dollars for the same information that can be found free on government websites.
More info at: www.smallbusinessbc.ca
Land Management
Up to 20 First Nations a year are expected to enroll in Canada’s reserve land and environment management program.
Thanks to an extra $9 million, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada will spend the money over the next four years to upgrade the pilot project to a fully expanded training and capacity building program. The new money will allow more First Nations to benefit from the program in addition to the 60 already enrolled.
The program is being offered to prepare First Nations for new responsibilities in terms of land, resource and environment management.
More info at: www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/ai/scr/qc/pm/infoenv/ITMar06_02-eng.asp
No Games next year
The North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) for 2011, scheduled for Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has been cancelled.
But BC’s Aboriginal Sports, Recreation and Physical Activity Partners Council, set up after the highly-successful NAIG at Cowichan in 2008, has promised replacement events for youth around the province.
The council will be launching new Aboriginal provincial championships in a variety of sports. Regional selection will be held this summer and through the winter. The council also hopes to identify alternative provincial, national and international events for Team BC to compete at during the summer of 2011.
More info at: www.bcaafc.com/initiatives/asrpa-partners-council
TRC hearings to head west
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada has BC on its priority list.
After holding its first national event in Winnipeg in June, the three TRC commissioners traveled to Iqaluit, Nunavut, to meet with residential school survivors.
But Ry Moran, the director of TRC’s statement gathering and research center, said BC gatherings are being planned.
“At this point, there are no immediate plans for events. However, the West Coast region is very much a priority for the commission and we hope to be out there very soon.
The TRC will now be focusing on community gatherings across Canada. A Community Event Criteria Guide and other information are available at: www.trc.ca
Award deadline nears
The deadline for nominations for the Ecotrust Indigenous Leadership Award is August 15.
According to Ecotrust, the awards are a recognition program for people “who demonstrate durable qualities of leadership for improvement of social, economic, political and environmental conditions in their homelands”.
Leah George-Wilson of Tsleil-Waututh Nation is one of the seven Aboriginal leaders from Canada and the USA who sit on the final jury panel for the award.
More info at: www.ecotrust.org/indigenousleaders
A Portal for Nations
There is a new place to go for information online.
The First Nations in BC Portal was created by the New Relationship Trust and the First Nations Technology Council to be a single window about First Nations in BC.
The web site includes job boards, an event calendar, discussion areas for technicians as well as information and resource areas.
More info at: http://fnbc.info
Gathering in September
The 2010 Coast Salish Gathering will be held Sept. 26–29 at Swinomish Indian Tribal Community.
The Gathering will host a working session for Coast Salish chiefs, chairman and their executive environmental staff. The Gathering’s purpose will be to discuss and develop a shared position report on the health of the Salish Sea ecosystem and the environmental impacts upon the human health and aboriginal and treaty rights to harvest natural resources.
More info at: www.coastsalishgathering.com
