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Lekwungen Then & Now ©1999

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Lekwungen Then & Now ©1999 Partnership between Songhees First Nation and Unit for Research and Education on the Convention on the Rights of the Child Transmission of Culture and Working with Elders The aboriginal peoples of this land, now called British Columbia, had a highly developed and organized society and culture prior to contact with the Europeans. The history, culture, teachings, and the skills needed to survive, the Elders transmitted these teachings orally. The Elders are our history books; the keepers of knowledge. Our youth need to be connected to our Elders in order to learn the teachings (cultural and spiritual) that are handed down. This has to take place early in the lives of our youth, otherwise a vacuum is created which becomes difficult to overcome with the passage of time. Our culture and names are attached to our traditional lands and our youth have to be well aware of this history in order to deal with the future. Chief Robert Sam / Haqualuck Songhees First Nation by the Songhees Youth Group This project is a partnership of the Songhees First Nation and the foreward .............................................. 1 acknowledgements ..................................... 2 UNIT FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION contents .............................................. 3 ON THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD flight of the thunderbird ................................. 4 School of Child• And Youth Care respect ............................................... 6 University of Victoria land .................................................. 8 PO Box 1700, Victoria, British Columbia Canada V8W 2Y2 canoe ................................................. 10 email [email protected] • www.uvic.ca/urecrc longhouse ............................................. 12 fax 250.721.7218 sports ................................................ 14 telephone 250.472.4762 food .................................................. 16 Editors: Natasha Blanchet-Cohen and Marcey Louie. about this booklet ...................................... 18 Design: Lis Erling Bailly, Porfolio Art Services. contributors ........................................... 20 Support for the booklet was provided by elder’s advise .......................................... 22 Human Resources Development Canada and Canadian Heritage. We would especially like to thank Noreen Campbell and Bruce Lund, also Ali Fernandez (Wayuu/Venezuela) for inspiring us with his booklet ‘Anun We’. • Archive photographs are courtesy of the Royal British Columbia Museum, Victoria, B.C. The illustrations and other photographs throughout this booklet are by members of the Songhees Youth Group. The illustration on the front cover was developed from a drawing by Songhees Youth Eileen Charlie, 15. Illustrations of the Thunderbirds and URECRC logo by Rita M.K. George-Greene © 1995. • ISBN #1-55058-200-3 Lekwungen Then & Now ©1999. All rights reserved worldwide. PRINTED IN CANADA Cynthia Malcolm, 15 2 3 Flight of the Thunderbird This booklet marks the culmination of the first stage in a journey undertaken by young In this booklet you will have the opportunity to discover something of the richness of the Indigenous people and their community, the Songhees Nation, and members of the Unit culture, the strength of the connection with the earth and the ancestors, and the impor- for Research and Education on the Convention on the Rights of the Child (URECRC) and tance of strong Elders in helping bridge these worlds. They are the most visible connection the Aboriginal Liaison Officer at the University of Victoria. The booklet also represents an with the traditions and gifts of the creator and the ancestors. Old people have consistently important collaboration connecting the United Nations Decade of the Worlds' Indigenous asked their families to 'Make their Minds Strong'. The youth belong to a very large Coast Peoples (1995-2004) and the near universal ratification of the United Nations Convention Salish family whose gifts are found in the Shaker Church and the Winterdance complex. on the Rights of the Child. We hope in reading these pages and in entering the world of the youth of Lekwungen, In these pages you will hear the voices of that you will enjoy the richness of their world and perhaps share with us the joy of mov- Aboriginal youth of today reflect on the ing our collective society a stage further in understanding the meaning of human rights. changes that have impacted their people dur- An understanding that stems from the reflection of what it is to be human in our creative ing the last hundred and fifty-six years since diversity. The combination of traditional strengths and the application of the Convention the first European traders arrived on this on the Rights of the Child has allowed the great Thunderbird to reinforce the process of magnificent coastline. You will hear the echo change, transformation and strength. This booklet is meant to honour the old people, of the Thunderbird, the Coast Salish, supernat- the young, and collaboration. ural being that brings change, transformation, and in conjunction with the teachings of the old people, strength. These echoes are found By Dr. Philip Cook, in the descriptions of the bighouse, canoe, Director, URECRC and strong connection with the land that School of Child and Youth Care, continues to nurture young and old. You will and also hear the echo of these wings of change. Bill White / Xelimuxw-Kasalid, Aboriginal Liaison Officer Listen to the hardship facing many Aboriginal University of Victoria youth living on reserve, brought about by forced removal from ancestral lands, and the resulting challenge of learning to walk in the two worlds of their own people and the dom- inant society. When the great Thunderbird prepares to fly, thunder is heard and light- ning is spread across the land, the voices of the old people ready themselves to sing and 4 to pray. 5 “Xeeun-Na. Listen is what I would tell the young people today. They would be lost if there wasn’t the elders to pass down the teachings.” David Malcolm Respect We learned how to make paddles with sincerely, Sammy Sam and Barney George. Songhees Youth Group When somebody is talking you should listen. Royal British Columbia Museum PN 4816 British Columbia Royal Respect No name calling or putdowns. Skomiax Chief of the Songhees tribe, No hitting. Victoria Harbour (1867-70) Don’t put yourself down. “Respect in our culture is a big thing. Take care of yourself. If you don’t have respect This day we were learning the prayer song No swearing. in front of the Tribal School in Saanich. you are going to have a bad name Alison Malcolm, 12 You’ve got to give respect to get respect. or no name. Respect other people’s feelings. You have to give respect to earn respect.” Respect yourself by eating healthy foods. Alex George Get lots of sleep. Don’t drink and Drive. Don’t smoke. Sa-ulth LOVE YOURSELF. 6 7 New Songhees Reserve The people occupied what With the arrival Lekwungen (after 1911) is now the city of Victoria for over 4000 years. of the Europeans Over the centuries, the Songhees ancestors occupied village sites and seasonal camps in the 1800’s, Esquimalt from Albert Head, to Cadboro Bay, and to San Juan Islands. Reserve They were divided into families... the territory of Songhees Reserve (until 1911) Chekonein, Chilcowitch, Kosampson, Teechamitsa, the Lekwungen Swengwung and Whymolith. was reconfigured and drastically reduced. The traditional Ta-new way of life was Traditions and destroyed. practices are intimately linked to the land. Shortly after the James Douglas Treaty in 1850, Many locations have the Songhees village along the west side traditional names that Territories of the of the Inner Harbour became a reserve. Lekwungen The Lekwungen people were named the Songhees. describe their history In 1911, the Songhees were once more moved to and their legends. the outskirts of Victoria northwest of Esquimalt. This is where the Songhees Beacon Hill was known as youth live today. Meegan - ‘warmed by the sun’. In early summer, the families would collect camas bulbs, a starchy food staple Other traditional locations and sacred places Land that is much like potato. include the point rock at the entrance of Victoria Harbour called Pallatsis - ’place of cradle’. “I loved Goldstream, it was beautiful and peaceful, a good place to gather thoughts. The group was fun and we respected one After a child had learned to walk, their cradle would be placed another. It is also a traditional place, part of our culture. “ along the point to ensure a long life. Lucy-Rose George, 18. Arrowroot 8 9 Canoe “ I wish that we can keep going on with our culture, our native language. It gives us something to share with our children Royal British Columbia Museum PN 6886 British Columbia Royal in the future.” This photo was taken in 1910-11. Doug George, 15 In the 1970’s canoes were mostly used for races. I got my racing canoe in 1992. It takes a long time to repair the canoe, depending on what is wrong with it. You might have to sand it down and fill it with glue. We were paddling back from our camping trip in Chatham Island, part of our traditional territory. Let it dry. Sand and paint over. James Sam, 14 Back in the olden days, canoes were used for hunting fish,whales and crabs, and to other lands. sna-wulth transportation The canoes were made out of red cedar and the paddles were made out of yellow cedar. David Malcolm 10 11 The bighouse is a place I would call home! Longhouse A place that has a lot of sacred meaning; It’s not only just a big building. A home of harmony and no worries; “The longhouse is It’s home to our ancestors and A place to learn to walk as in the helping me a lot. also to the ones that need healing, that need help. footprints of our ancestors and elders. It’s one of the ways to turn. In a way it keeps me To change your lifestlye and be reborn again! Marina George, 18 out of trouble, And start a new life clean and with a good heart and soul! It’s a place for celebrating, ceremonies, welcoming visitors, and relatives.
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