ṮEṮÁĆES Revitalization Project
Update and ĆELÁṈEN TŦE ṮEṮÁĆES
W̱SÁNEĆ Homelands Video Project Launch 

Living Labs is a core partner of the ṮEṮÁĆES Revitalization Project, which aims to build community relationships between the settler communities living on S,DÁYES (Pender Island), and the W̱SÁNEĆ People. The South Island Community Resource Centre and the W̱ SÁNEĆ School Board are core partners and funding was made possible via a $7k REFBC grant.

On August 17th, the ṮEṮÁĆES Project hosted the ĆELÁṈEN TŦE ṮEṮÁĆES: W̱SÁNEĆ Homelands video project premiere, with content inspired by “Whose Land is it?”. Living Lab Academic Director/ WSANEC community member Nicholas XEMŦOLTW̱ Claxton (UVic Child and Youth Care) and John Price, Professor Emeritus (UVic History), wrote this research project and paper. This documentary explores the long history of the W̱SÁNEĆ People in the Southern Gulf Islands – ṮEṮÁĆES which translates as their “Relatives of the Deep” in the SENĆOŦEN language.

Greater Victoria School District #61 Indigenous Education, the W̱SÁNEĆ School Board, Camosun College, the ṮEṮÁĆES Project, Western Washington University and Parks Canada are core leaders in this initiative, alongside several community and UVic campus leaders and departments.