Session Title: 3 Tsawout Saturna Island Community Connections
Convenor: Priscilla
Note taker: Annie
Participants: Steve, Nancy, Jude, Ellen, Lorne Underwood, Charles, John, Ferron,
Summary of discussions:
Discussion of the ways in which communities connect
Talks have started re: bringing in student groups; there is an offer of funding from the School Board; this includes an invitation to older First Nations people
Possible collaboration between the Tribal School and Saturna School
Older First Nations people have offered story telling sessions
Reasons for wanting to improve connections:
There is something for us to learn from First Nations about how to commune with the sacred: with Nature and each other
Curiosity about the midden in Winter Cove
As Europeans we have been divorced from our history—want to regain a sense of place
Our relationship with the land is paying taxes; want to develop a deeper relationship
This place has been occupied for a very long time; it is a reminder that sustainability goes a long way back
As part of a land co-op I know we can talk and come through disagreements; would like to expand communication between the communities
Work together on preserve and protect
This is a ceremony bereft community
Looking for ways to develop and encourage a summer camp for children from the Tsawout community
Also a centre for Elders
Find ways to provide education during the summers—stimulate children with teachings about biology, ecology, marine ecology
This is a slow process—time and energy consuming
Need to understand the devastating effect of colonization, the impact of residential schools and the 1960’s taking of children into government care
The people are working through post traumatic stress—this is a long process
The Gulf Islands and Saanich are “Ground Zero” in the development of big houses, spending of millions of dollars for places that are mostly empty—how do we fit into this development without embracing it—preserving what we need; we are under the siege of development
Greed is rampant; people have infringed on First Nations lands and on grave sites
The Saturna community is willing to create relationships
Get people over here to remind them of their connection to the ecology—“feel the moss”
The First Nations community cannot afford to keep IR7 as parkland—need to realize economic benefit
Need for co-ordination with e.g., Parks Canada for the cost of firefighting
Find a way to put up a fire hall and water tower on reserve land
A suggestion for partnership re fire suppression has to come from Saturna residents
Suggestions re: school program
Develop a program on Saturna—start small, build the curriculum with the kids, explore what resources we have and what we can share
Invite the Tribal School to bring a class for camping—help find the funding
There is funding available for mental health services:
Develop short term camps for children (people are motivated to do something to help children)
Link up with Parks Canada
Ensure inclusivity; bring people together from both communities; include the Elders as teachers
A small eco lodge and cultural experience for tourists with live in Elders
Link up with Parks Canada for these programs
Look for a way to develop affordable housing
There is a desire and a money problem
What about finding a way to have the owners of all the empty houses take responsibility for taking the space—a payment in lieu of volunteerism
A cultural cost charge for development
| Funding
Provided by: |
