First Nations

Tom Charles provides the Klallum name for the new protected area at Race Rocks,
March 1999

 

The Thirteen Moons Calendar

Marine resources, formed a fundamental component of traditional life ways, and today still remain important to First Nations people. The peoples of the Salish Sea recognized the close relationship between the land and the sea. They have witnessed first hand the impacts of development on the marine resources of the Strait of Georgia and Strait of Juan de Fuca. These impacts have directly and drastically altered their traditional life ways.

A link to all the posts on this log with the category First Nations

Interviews at Race Rocks in QuickTime Video with First Nations Elders on the Marine Resources used by the First Nations people of the Salish Sea.

 

 

 

anthrogroupsThe configuration of the rocks in several stone cairns at Race Rocks are suggestive of First Nations use of this area for Burial Mounds in the period -AD 500.

 

 

jimboatsAt Race Rocks we have an old dugout canoe which provides the focus on the way of life experienced by the First Nations people who lived in the Coastal Areas of the Pacific North West.

 

tom_ministerssCoast Salish Council representative on the Race Rocks Advisory Board, Tom Sampson meets the federal and provincial ministers at the official designation of the MPA before singing an opening prayer. He addressed the gathering in the Lecture Theatre at Lester Pearson College, speaking about the importance of the new MPA.

 

“Recommendations on Race Rocks reserve to be in minister’s hands by month’s end” . by Rachel Goldsworthy in the Goldstream News Gazette, March 15, 2000

 

 

beecherbayirs
The Beecher Bay burning ceremony which gave approval of the ancestors for the MPA process

 

 

minjss(RACE ROCKS) xwayensMarine Protected Area designated on Sept 14,2000

 

 

Tom Charles

Tom Charles

Link to a site for the KLALLUM language, and a story by the late Thomas Charles of Beecher Bay. The word xwayenswritten in the Klallum language means “fast flowing water”, the area around Race Rocks. This name was given to us in 1999 to use for the new Marine Protected Area by Tom Charles.

 

The late Thomas Charles of Beecher Bay First Nations provided this name for us in March of 1999. tcharlessIt was transcribed from the word written out in Klallum by his wife Mrs.Tom Charles . This is a copy of the words she wrote out for us.

 

Further references on First Nations and Race Rocks:

1. The First Nations of the North West Coast– Coast Salish; Connections to the Environment, Involvement in Conservation.
With a Case Study of, First Nations involvement in the development of a Marine Protected Area off Vancouver Island .

The First Nations People and Race Rocks.
from the Race Rocks Ecological Overview Workshop, April,1999.

First Nations Cooperative Management of Protected Areas in BC, Tools  and Foundation: The following excerpt presents the Te’Mexw Treaty Association assertion in response to the proposal for the  Race Rocks MPA in 1998.

The Beecher bay Burning Ceremony ,  February 23, 2000