ṮEṮÁĆES Restoration Initiative

ṮEṮÁĆES Restoration Initiative

The latest Reconcili-action project from the ṮEṮÁĆES Team is called the ṮEṮÁĆES Restoration Initiative. It follows up on the   ṮEṮÁĆES Climate Action and ṮEṮÁĆES Revitalization Projects. ṮEṮÁĆES means “Relatives of the Deep” and is the SENĆOŦEN word for the Gulf Islands.

The ṮEṮÁĆES Restoration Initiative is a signage project and will enhance cultural understanding by installing signage and educational artwork at key locations on S,DÁ,YES (Pender Island) that hold significance for the W̱SÁNEĆ people. Each installation will feature place names in SENĆOŦEN and English, explain its traditional significance, and include a QR code linking to educational content about its importance to the W̱SÁNEĆ people. Rose Spahan from Tsartlip Nation is curating the project and engaging W̱SÁNEĆ artists.  Read More about this exciting Project.

The first of these installations was unveiled on August 8th at the ancient  W̱SÁNEĆ  village site of QENEN,IW̱, located at the site that Poets Cove Resort now occupies
The unveiling was accompanied by traditional dancing and signing and featured W̱SÁNEĆ Elders, including Hereditary Chief Eric Pelkey (W̱IĆKINEM) and Belinda Claxton (SELILIYE). The instillation is adjacent to the pre-existing W̱SÁNEĆ 13 moon calendar created by MENEŦIYE.  The installation recognizes the long presence of the W̱SÁNEĆ in Bedwell Harbour and their Reef Net Fishery site there.