Congratulations to the ṮEṮÁĆES Revitalization Project (TRP) planning team for arranging and carrying out four very successful Achiever excursions and gatherings on S,DÁ,YES, S,ḴŦAḴ, and ṮEḴTEḴSEN that are an integral part of the TRP.  One of our primary project goals is to support reconnection of W̱SÁNEĆ Elders, youth and SENĆOŦEN teachers and cultural workers with the ṮELEṮÁĆES – the Relatives of the Deep.  For the four TRP excursions between July 16 and 26 the rough count is 5 Elders, 91 youth, and 7 teachers and cultural workers who have made an important connection to ÁLEṈENEȻ -Homeland.

In addition to the TRP there have been other youth focused projects that have included engagements with the islands including the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council’s Reef net team, PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱’s eco-restoration projects, Living Lab and Tsawout youth camp currently underway on S,DÁ,YES.

As SX̱EDŦELISIYE makes clear –  ÁȽE  ȽTE  U, TU,E  ÁȽE (The W̱SÁNEĆ are still here!). Videographers Tiffany Joseph and Alex Harris have gathered much valuable footage for producing the five educational videos that are the next phase in the ṮEṮÁĆES Revitalization Project.

A special thanks to Asta and her team and the Raincoast Conservation Foundation for sponsoring the Achiever excursions and to the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council, the W̱SÁNEĆ School Board, the Southern Gulf Islands Community Resources Society and other project partners for their valuable support.  And a very special thanks to the Real Estate Foundation of BC for the $75,000 matching grant that made this project possible.