“My Grandmother told me the Creator was here 10,000 years before you came to introduce him to us”. It all started at lunch, when Gwen, a young First Nations woman, told me the above. A Universal Spiritual Force or as Ina puts it, we are a part of everything, even connected to the tree outside.

Carl Olsen's drums are highly revered by all who understand and admire traditional Indigenous music and storytelling.

A global grassroots movement raising awareness, inspiring empathy and generosity and providing an opportunity for people to share the issues that are closest to their hearts.

The words “Salish” and “Sea”, used together, identify a very unique geographical feature. With this article, in order to further define the naming of the Salish Sea, I will consider the individual meaning of these two words.

Image: Redfish School of Change, 2017

The W̱SÁNEĆ 13 moon calendar, SḴÁU ȽTE, represents the natural laws of the W̱SÁNEĆ (Saanich) people. The calendar depicts the four seasons, the W̱SÁNEĆ 13 moons and the culturally important plants, food, medicines, animals and marine life and illustrates the flow of activities that occurred when W̱SÁNEĆ people lived a traditional life linked to nature.

Around the world, more and more laws are being passed recognizing that ecosystems — rivers, forests, mountains, and more — have legally enforceable rights. And if nature has rights, then humans have responsibilities.

In my pre-internet, pre-smartphone opinion, I'm not sure if this new program can replace the physical satisfaction of hearing coins drop and feeling that box around my neck, however, I'm very glad that Halloween can once again be about giving and not just looting. 

Did you know that the marine ecosystem that we now call the Salish Sea was recognized, and named something else, some 200+ years ago?

Have you heard of Saturna Island? It is one of the prettiest of the Gulf Islands that lie off the coast of British Columbia, and is the south-easternmost island in the Salish Sea within the Canadian border.