Newsletter and Blog

Past Newsletters
- Spring-Summer 2023 Edition of the Living Lab Newsletter! June 5, 2023
- Winter Edition of the Living Labs Newsletter! February 27, 2023
- Winter Edition of the Living Labs Newsletter! February 23, 2023
- Holiday Update from Living Lab Team | Dec 2022 December 19, 2022
- Welcome to our Fall Edition of the Living Labs Newsletter! December 19, 2022
- Welcome to our Fall Edition of the Living Labs Newsletter! November 16, 2022
COMMUNITY
Community-based activities, programs and research are a key component of the Living Lab Project. Through a number of partners within the CRD, we prioritize local community-based projects to inform and guide all aspects of our work.
IN THE CLASS
We collaborate with local teachers, traditional knowledge holders and researchers to facilitate educational events for youth in the CRD public school system.
ON THE SEA
We are grateful to be situated on the Salish Sea, which is integral to the cultural heritage and environmental health of our region. Here are some of projects that have taken place on the ocean.
ON THE LAND
On the land, we are engaged in a number of activities involving traditional foods, agriculture, education and more!
Latest from the Blog

Digital Scholarship Commons and Science Venture
ClassroomWe were able to spend the last part of our Science Camp with UVIC's Digital Scholarship Commons and Science Venture.
Dr Matt Huculak and his team introduced the youth to coding and circuit boarding.
Digital Scholarship Commons with Dr.…

Local History with Nick Claxton and John Lutz
ClassroomLocal History with Dr John Lutz and Dr Nick Claxton.
John showed the youth historical maps. He talked about the importance of maps and our right to fight for our traditional food systems. Nick taught us about the importance of bringing back…


School District #61 Lands Program Field School – June 2019
On the LandLiving Lab supported 16 Grades 10-12 indigenous youth from Esquimalt and Spectrum High school with teachers Emma Milliken and Rachel Trebilco to hold a three day outdoors Field School, based in Goldstream Park and focused on indigenous land…

Reefnet Fishery
On the SeaJOIN US for a Community Celebration highlighting the Reefnet Fishery - September 22, 2018
On August 9th, 2014, the W̱SÁNEĆ Nation went reef net fishing to reclaim a practice that the colonial government outlawed a hundred years…

Songhees Academic Youth Leadership Collecting Sand & Water Samples at Cadboro Bay
On the SeaSonghees Academic Youth Leadership had a 2-day Science Camp at the University of Victoria. Dr. John Taylor lined up a bunch of amazing mini-workshops for our youth.
SAYL working with the University of Victoria to collect sand and water samples…

Harvesting Traditional Foods with our Songhees Elders & Interviewing our Elders
On the SeaOur Songhees Youth interviewed our Elders in both Year 1 and Year 2 of the SAYL - Living Science Lab project.
CRD's Erich Kelch and Keir Cordner from First Nations Health Authority made this trip possible. Erich drove us out…

A Day in the Sun on T’liches with Songhees Community and UVIC staff
On the SeaEach year, Songhees Academic Youth Leadership goes to our islands to do some historical, biological and anthropological work with Songhees and UVIC experts.
Standing around an ancient longhouse foundation with Songhees youth,…

CENQALES – Tribal School Cultural Day – June 20th, 2019
On the SeaLiving Lab participated in National Aboriginal Day – LAU WEL NEW Tribal School’s Cultural Day sponsored by PEPAKEN HAUTW who have been leading the Reefnet – willow restoration project. Sharing a Clam Bar B Q – marine life tent with…

Living Lab Community of Practice: Team Day – Salish Sea, July 2019
On the SeaOn July 11th Living Lab team members Florence Dick and Darlene Joseph ( Songhees Nation) , Earl Claxton Jr, Nick Claxton and Tiffany Joseph ( WSANEC) along with John Lutz (UVic History), John Taylor ( Biology), Judith Lyn Arney ( PEPAKEN HAUT’W) …

Living Lab Eco-Culture and Science Camp – July 2019
Community
Living Lab’s 2019 Eco-Culture and Science Camp was our first regional effort, building on last year's 2 day Songhees Academic Youth Leadership (SAYL) - UVic Camp. 16 youth aged 11-18 from Songhees, WSANEC and other indigenous…