Summer 2014
Salish Sea
Summer
Guide
STOP K
INDER
MORG
PIPELI
AN
NE EXP
ANSION
Salish Sea Summer Gathering Aug 10
Tarsands Totem Tour Aug 17 - Sept 6
Nighthawk Festival Aug 28-Sept 1
Four Days of Action Sept 20-23
Spiritual Gathering Sept 22-23
FOLLOW @TWNSacredTrust
SUBSCRIBE www.twnsacredtrust.ca
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK
Published by the Friends of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation Sacred Trust
"Summer Gathering artwork by Ronnie Dean Harris"
Welcome
to the Salish Sea
Summer Guide
Summer is a time to celebrate and to enjoy the beautiful outdoors.
Friends of the Tsleil-Waututh Sacred
Trust is honoured to present a
program of events that bring together
arts and culture with the ongoing
efforts to preserve the coastal waters
and lands of these unceded First
Nations Territories.
,QWKLVJXLGH\RXZLOOƓQGWKHIXOO
program for the Salish Sea Summer
Gathering, a preview of the
Nighthawk Festival (August 28-31)
and four days of action to protect the
Salish Sea (September 20-23), as well
as articles on the traditions of the
Tsleil-Waututh Nation.
7KHVHHYHQWVDUHSDUWRIIXOƓOOLQJWKH
mandate of the Friends of the TsleilWaututh Sacred Trust. We believe that
in this Year of Reconciliation, words
must be matched by actions that
“Underlying all other truths spoken during the Year of Reconciliation is
the truth that the modern city of Vancouver was founded on the traditional
territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations and
that these territories were never ceded through treaty, war or surrenderG”
- Declaration of the City of Vancouver, June 25, 2014G
Join The Friends of
the Sacred Trust
Stand with the Tsleil-Waututh Nation
The Friends of the Sacred Trust (“The
Friends”) is an initiative of the TsleilWaututh Nation. It is mandated to bring
together Indigenous and nonIndigenous people who want to stop
the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain
pipeline and tankers project.
The Friends enables people to learn
about the Tsleil-Waututh Nation Sacred
Trust Initiative, to help advance it, to
engage in outreach activities and public
events.
The Friends is a way to demonstrate
support and stand with the TsleilWaututh Nation against the Kinder
Morgan expansion. The Friends helps
share and connect people to TsleilWaututh culture, heritage, rights, and
environmental stewardship practices.
The Friends is building a community of
people who want to stand together for
green energy alternatives and for crosscultural dialogue. Participating with The
Friends can be an act of reconciliation
towards better relations in the Coast
Salish region.
The Friends is an information network
to share information from many sources
and is presented without prejudice to
the efforts of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation
and the Sacred Trust Initiative.
Participation and engagement with
the Friends of the Sacred Trust is not a
type of legal or informal consultation
with the Tsleil-Waututh Nation or its
representatives.
The Friends of the Sacred Trust has
no direct or indirect involvement with
the National Energy Board or the
Government of Canada or any of its
agencies or representatives.
To join Friends of the Sacred Trust visit twnsacredtrustGca
Kinder Morgan
and the Salish Sea
A Clear and Present Danger
THE beautiful ocean coast that
everyone who lives here cherishes is
under an unprecedented threat from a
Texas-based, multinational corporation.
Kinder Morgan wants to expand
Vancouver into a major tar sands export
terminal. Their proposal, which is before
the National Energy Board, is to build
a second pipeline from Alberta to BC’s
south coast in order to increase diluted
bitumen exports from the tar sands.
This TransMountain pipeline would
bring hundreds of thousands of barrels
a day of diluted bitumen from the tar
sands, and it would mean hundreds
more tankers passing through our city’s
narrow harbour each year – for a total
of more than one giant tanker a day
navigating through the two narrows of
Vancouver’s harbour.
Kinder Morgan’s reckless plan puts
WKHHQWLUHVRXWKHUQ3DFLƓFFRDVWDW
risk: Burrard Inlet, English Bay and The
Strait of Georgia – waters that are part
RIWKH6DOLVK6HDQDPHGWRUHŴHFWWKH
traditional and unceded territory of the
First Nations of this land. The Salish Sea is
a network of coastal waterways located
between the southwestern tip of British
Columbia and the northwestern tip of
Washington State. It includes the Strait
of Juan de Fuca, the Strait of Georgia,
Puget Sound, and all of their connecting
channels and adjoining waters. Major
port cities on the Salish Sea include
Seattle, Vancouver BC, Olympia, Tacoma,
Bellingham, and Victoria.
Kinder Morgan’s export terminal,
located behind Burnaby Mountain
on the edge of Burrard Inlet, is
located on the traditional territory
of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, who
are part of a wall of First Nations,
environmentalists and civil society
opposed to these dangerous pipeline
plans.In addition to opposition from
the local First Nations – Tsleil-Waututh,
Squamish and Musqueam – the City
of Vancouver and Burnaby have come
out very strongly against Kinder
Morgan, and many municipalities -North Vancouver, Surrey, Richmond,
Langley and others – have voiced
concerns about the process and the
risks posed to their communities.
Kinder Morgan’s reckless
plan puts the entire southern
Pacific coast at riskG
This Salish Sea Summer Guide will
introduce you to two months of exciting
programming aiming to build an
even stronger wall of opposition to
everything that threatens these lands.
and waters.
“Vancouverites are hugely concerned about Kinder Morgan’s
application and the prospect for 400 oil tankers a year in our
harbour, putting our city at great riskG I don’t think it is going to
happenG There is a major battle aheadG”
– Mayor Gregor RobertsonG
(Source: Vancouver Sun, DecG 26, 2013)
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions About the Kinder Morgan Pipeline
What is the Kinder Morgan
Pipeline?
The existing Kinder Morgan Pipeline
runs from Edmonton to the Westridge
Marine terminal in Burnaby. The Kinder
Morgan pipeline is also known as
the Trans Mountain pipeline, and has
serviced BC with oil since it was built
in 1953. In 2005, the pipeline was
bought by Kinder Morgan, Inc. Until
recently, the pipeline has typically carried conventional crude oil. But Kinder
Morgan has increasingly been using it
to transport diluted bitumen from the
tar sands, which is more corrosive than
regular oil. Kinder Morgan is proposing
to expand the pipeline by twinning the
existing Trans Mountain pipeline. This
would increase the amount of oil being
transported from 300,000 to 890,000
barrels per day.
When it comes to oil spills,
it’s a matter of WHEN not IF
Who is Kinder Morgan?
Kinder Morgan is the biggest pipeline
company in the United States. Richard
Kinder and Bill Morgan are ex-Enron
Executives. Enron is the corporation that famously swindled its own
shareholders out of approximately 11
billion dollars. The Wall Street Journal
called Richard Kinder the “luckiest exEnron employee”.
What is crude oil?
Crude oil is unprocessed oil found underground—in this case, in the Alberta
tar sands. It is thicker and heavier then
UHƓQHGJDVSURGXFWVVRLWGRHVQRW
ŴRDWDQGGRHVQRWHDVLO\HYDSRUDWH
Crude oil is toxic to marine life: The
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in
FUXGHRLODUHYHU\GLIƓFXOWWRFOHDQ
up and last for decades in water, on
beaches, in sediment, and affects the
entire marine environment.
Have their been spills from the
current pipeline?
Well, yes. Quite a few. In fact, just in
the past decade, there have been spills
recorded in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2012,
plus two alone in June, 2013. And with
this new pipeline Kinder Morgan plans
to ship much more of an even more
toxic product.
If a spill occurs, how much will
it cost to clean up?
,WLVHVWLPDWHGWKDWWKHƓQDQFLDOGDPDJH
caused by a potential large-scale oil
spill in the Burrard Inlet could cost approximately $40 billion. That $40 billion
includes clean-up costs, resident evacuations, tourism loss, losses to the BC
ƓVKLQJLQGXVWU\KHDOWKFRVWVDQGSRUW
losses in annual wages and salaries.
But of course, the cost of an oil spill to
our natural ecosystem is incalculable.
(Source: The Wilderness Committee)
Unceded
Land & Waters
Context of the Legal Case Against Kinder Morgan
By Eugene Kung, West Coast
Environment Law (WCEL)
Like most of British Columbia, the
traditional territory of Tsleil-Waututh
Nation (TWN) has never been ceded
by treaty or other means. In addition,
TWN has governed ourselves and our
territories since time immemorial with
legal traditions that have never been
extinguished. These inherent rights
pre-existed European contact and
DUHUHFRJQL]HGDQGDIƓUPHGE\WKH
Constitution of Canada, and section
35(1) in particular which protects
aboriginal and treaty rights.
Since the adoption of the Constitution
Act 1982, the Supreme Court of Canada
has considered aboriginal title and
aboriginal rights in numerous cases.
The unextinguished
Indigenous legal traditions
are an increasingly important
part of the current Canadian
legal landscapeG
In the landmark 1997 case
Delgamuukw, the Supreme Court of
Canada recognized that aboriginal
title arose from the prior occupation
of the land and that it is grounded, in
part, in indigenous systems of law. In
Sparrow (1990), the SCC discussed the
concept of the ‘honour of the crown’
as a central lens through which to view
the ‘unique historical relationship’
between the Canadian government
and the indigenous people who preexisted Canada.
In 2004, the Haida case expanded
on the concept of the ‘honour of
the crown’ and required meaningful
consultation where a strong aboriginal
right could be affected. Most recently,
the Tsilhqot’in decision (2014) made
establishing aboriginal title easier, and
made the test for infringing title harder:
moving the Crown’s bar from consulting
the affected First Nations to essentially
requiring consent.
The unextinguished Indigenous legal
traditions are an increasingly important
part of the current Canadian legal
landscape. Indigenous legal orders
such as the Coastal Tanker Ban and
the Save the Fraser Declaration have
banned tar sands related projects from
the territories of the signatories. TWN
and Squamish Nation are two of the
over 100 First Nations to have signed
the Save the Fraser Declaration.
Indigenous peoples all
throughout the country are
taking their battles to the courts
Today, tar sands expansion projects and related infrastructure are facing
an onslaught of litigation. Around the tar sands themselves, the Athabasca
Chipewyan First Nation, Lubicon Cree and Beaver Lake Cree Nations are
suing the government over permits and land use policies, and the Mikisew
Cree and Frog Lake First Nation are suing over the gutting of Canada’s
environmental assessment laws.
On the proposed pipelines from the tar sands, at least 9 lawsuits have
DOUHDG\EHHQƓOHGDJDLQVWWKHPDOLJQHG(QEULGJH1RUWKHUQ*DWHZD\
project through Kitimat by opposed First Nations. And here at home,
7:1KDVƓOHGDODZVXLWDJDLQVWWKH.LQGHU0RUJDQ7UDQV0RXQWDLQ
pipeline expansion through Burrard Inlet.
Indigenous peoples all throughout the country are taking their battles
WRWKHFRXUWVWRƓJKWDJDLQVWQDWXUDOUHVRXUFHGHYHORSPHQWFRPSDQLHV
threatening their traditional territories and ways of life. The legal battles
will continue into the future, and First Nations in British Columbia will stop
the proposed pipelines and tankers.
Federal Court of Appeal
Grants Tsleil-Waututh Nation
Permission to Proceed with
Kinder Morgan Legal Challenge
In July, the Federal Court of Appeal
granted permission to Tsleil-Waututh
Nation, the “People of the Inlet,” to
proceed with its legal challenge of the
National Energy Board’s (NEB) review
of the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain
pipeline and tanker expansion project.
If successful, the legal challenge could
require the NEB to restart its review of
the project.
protecting our territory.
“Our Nation is pleased that the Federal
Court of Appeal has seen the merit of
our legal challenge and has agreed to
hear us,” says Chief Maureen Thomas,
Tsleil-Waututh Nation. “ The Crown and
the NEB have entered into an unlawful
process, one that does not respect
Aboriginal Rights and Title.
1(%KDYHOHGWRDŴDZHGDQGXQODZIXO
We are still at the beginning of a long
ƓJKWEXWZHDUHGHHSO\FRPPLWWHGWR
We will use all legal means necessary to
defend it against NEB’s unilateral and
one-sided review process and Kinder
Morgan’s project.”
2Q0D\WKH1DWLRQƓOHGOHJDO
materials with the Federal Court of
Appeal which asserted that serious legal
errors made by the federal Crown and
review process that puts Burrard Inlet
and all peoples who live there at risk.
7KHOHJDOFKDOOHQJHLVWKHƓUVWE\D)LUVW
Nation against Kinder Morgan’s new
pipeline and tanker proposal.
Photo below: May 2014 Press
Conference at Whey-ah-Wichen with
Chief Maureen Thomas, Rueben George
and Gabriel George
How to Stop a PipelineGGG
3rd Annual Salish Sea Summer Gathering
What role does a concert like the
Salish Sea Summer Gathering hosted
by the Tsleil Waututh Nation [link:
http://www.eventbrite.ca/e/3rdannual-salish-sea-summer-gatheringtickets-12180721867?aff=eorg] play
in stopping an oil pipeline? Bringing
together art, music and culture is
actually really important in the work
to protect our coast. FIrst Nations and
non native people working together
is not only important for healing
the wounds of history but also for
collectively plotting a course forward.
Stopping a multi-billion dollar megaproject is fundamentally a battle for
the hearts and minds of the majority
of people and a festival like this one
can go a long way towards building a
vitally important social movement and
spreading awareness. We will never
have as much money as Texas based
Kinder Morgan, run by billionaire
(and former Enron executive) Richard
Kinder, but we do have people power
on our side and to succeed it must
continue to grow.
Cates Park, or Whey-ah-Wichen, is the
perfect location to hold this Summer
Gathering. To get a sense of what’s at
stake, you just have to look out from
the park across to the Kinder Morgan
terminal behind Burnaby Mountain. It’s
these beautiful waters, which the TsleilWaututh have lived on for millennia,
that Kinder Morgan wants to put at risk
with up to 400 giant tankers per year
ƓOOHGZLWKWDUVDQGVGLOXWHGELWXPHQ
heading for export.
First Nations lawsuits based on
land and title rights are one of the
strongest tools that are being used
to stop pipeline projects. Building a
greater respect and understanding
within non-Native communities
regarding our contractual (Treaty) and
moral obligations to First Nations is
important. Concerts like this one play
a big role in helping facilitate that
process. As non-Native allies we have
a responsibility to help spread this
kind of understanding. A good way
to start is inviting your friends to the
Summer Gathering.
One of the most common questions
asked in regards to proposed oil
pipelines is, “Don’t we need the oil?”
Folks feel like hypocrites driving to
work in the morning and opposing
a pipeline at the end of the day. An
important part of this dialogue is
building an understanding that not
only is it essential that we phase out
our dependence on fossil fuels to
stop the destabilization of the climate
and the extreme weather events that
come with it, but that doing so actually
creates more jobs than the status quo.
The World Bank and International
Energy Agency have both clearly
with Music
stated that not only can we move
beyond fossil fuels using existing
technology, but the process of this
transition will create trillions of dollars
worth of new opportunities worldwide.
Thankfully, the Tsleil-Waututh Nation
are not just standing against this
dangerous Kinder Morgan plan;
they’re also on the leading edge
of advocating and implementing
positive alternatives, having invested
in their own wind turbine company
and installing solar panels on their
government buildings. The Nation has
been a leading advocate for energy
alternatives and solutions that create
good jobs everyone can be proud of.
FIrst Nations and non native
people working together is
not only important for healing
the wounds of history but
also for collectively plotting a
course forwardG
Of course it’s hard to talk about
pipelines without mentioning that the
reality right now is that we also have
WKHƓJKWRIDOLIHWLPHRQRXUKDQGV
against the Harper government in
Ottawa, which is doing everything
it can to push through tar sands
pipelines to the BC coast.
by Ben West, Forest Ethics Advocacy
The election in 2015 is a critical
moment to transform public
opposition in to political impact.
The next election is likely just over
a year away, and we can’t afford
for the Harper government and its
pro-pipeline agenda to win. People
in every corner of this province are
getting organized to make sure
our politicians are representative
of the huge public opposition to
both Enbridge and Kinder Morgan’s
pipelines. I hope you’ll join them.
Elections are of course only a small
part of democratic engagement. Real
leadership comes from the grassroots,
thats why its so important for us to
come together and this festival is a
great place to start.
We all have a role to play in stopping
these pipelines. It starts with getting
informed and getting involved. Talk to
your friends and family about it and
bring them to the summer gathering
and other events. Help the movement
grow. Think about what you like to do
and how you can help. A better world
is possible, now it’s up to us to make it
a reality. Let’s have fun doing it.
Enjoy the sunshine and this coastal
wonderland that is there for us all to
cherish and protect.
Bill Henderson from Chilliwack
SALISH
SEA
SUMMER GATHERING
SUNDAY, AUGUST 10 | 12PM - 8:30PM WHEY-AH-WICHEN / CATES PARK
The Salish Sea Summer Gathering is a special day to celebrate
and protect the Salish Sea, including traditional canoes, great
entertainment from many Juno-award winning artists, a salmon BBQ,
programming for kids, and indigenous and environmental activist
speakers.
The Salish Sea Summer Gathering includes three stages featuring 20
musical acts such as Canadian rock icons Chilliwack, Juno-winner Holly
McNarland, Vince Vaccaro, the Red, Gold & Green Machine, Children
of Takaya, Klash Akt, Nick Sherman, Enter-Tribal, Van Aleck, Beast
Van Cyphers, Charlie Mackenzie, and more. Speakers include Chief
Maureen Thomas, Rex Weyler, local Mayors and many more.
Our Second Stage features Singer-songwriter’s and musicians from
across Turtle Island. A Poetry Stage features literary artists reading the
words of Chief Dan George. A traditional canoe ceremony will start the
day plus, visual artists, Indigenous artisans, a community info fair and
children’s activities — providing hours of inspiring family-friendly fun.
Kinder Morgan wants to twin the Trans Mountain pipeline, which runs
between the tar sands and the Salish Sea putting up to 400 tankers
per year through our inlet. The Salish Summer Gathering is a day to
celebrate opposition and deepen our understanding of the issues.
The goal of this event is to celebrate positivity, bring people together
across cultures and promote the leadership of the Tsleil-Waututh
Nation in this effort.
"Summer Gathering artwork by Ronnie Dean Harris"
Mainstage
12:00
12:10
12:40
1:00
1:10
1:50
2:00
2:30
2:35
2:50
3:30
3:45
4:30
4:50
5:40
6:00
7:30
MC Welcome: Rueben George/Charlene Aleck
Canoe ceremony with representatives
Susan Skinner (School Trustee NVSD #44),
Pamela Goldsmith Jones, WCEL and others
Ta’kaiya Blaney
Carleen Thomas
Van Haleck
Leonard George
Children of Takaya
Burnaby Mayor Corrigan
Phil Vernon (Boundary Passage)
Vince Vaccaro
Rex Weyler
The Red, Gold & Green Machine (Vancouver)
Beau Dick
Holly McNarland
Chief Maureen Thomas
Chilliwack
Klash Akt
On Site
Traditional Canoe Paddles
Dragonfly Children’s Program
Electric Car Display
Solar-powered installations by EatArt
Artisans & Community Groups
2ndStage Festival
12:15
12:45
1:15
1:45
2:05
2:35
3:00
3:40
4:10
4:45
5:15
Mike Bertini
Candace Curr
Corinna Keeling
Sean Gunn
Beast Van Cyphers
Christina Rae Coolidge
Nick Sherman
Charlie Mackenzie
Sister Says
Enter Tribal
Take5
Chief Dan George
Poetry Stage
2:00
2:20
2:40
3:00
3:20
3:40
4:00
4:20
4:40
5:00
Stephen Collis
Christine Leclerc
Rita Wong
Jorden Abel
Wil George
Cecily Nicholson
Alex Leslie
Natalie Knight
Kevin Spenst
Rachelle George
Menu
While at the Salish Sea
Summer Gathering
enjoy our Chef-curated
& Indigenouslysourced food
concession.
All proceeds support
the Gathering so you’ll
enjoy it even more!
Mains $6
Salmon Burger
Venison & Sage
Sausage
on a bun
Jumbo Veggie Dog
Sides $3
Chilliwack Corn on
cob
Bannock
Foraged slaw
Drinks $3
Lemonade
Coast Salish Herbal Iced Tea
Coffee
Zack Embree Photo
Kate Webb, Metro News.
Whey-ah-Wichen
Paddlers compete in traditional canoe races in July, 2012 off Whey-ah-Wichen with tanker
in background
Whey-ah-Wichen means “face the wind.” This part of Tsleil-Waututh’s traditional
WHUULWRU\KDVEHHQIURPWLPHRXWRIPLQGDQDUHDRIVLJQLƓFDQFHWRWKH7VOHLO:DXWXWK
people. Whey-ah-Wichen was one of the traditional villages where the TsleilWaututh gathered to share and steward seasonal harvests from the land and water.
Over many generations, Tsleil-Waututh men, women and children acquired an
intimate knowledge of their territory and its rich natural resources. In the traditional
yearly round of travel and activity, they harvested and preserved a great variety of
foods, maintained villages and camps, and administered complex trade networks.
The bounty of the territory and the ingenuity of the Tsleil-Waututh people created a
vital, dynamic and sustainable culture.
Tsleil-Waututh will continue to gather at Whey-ah-Wichen as they have for
generations, and as always will welcome our neighbours to celebrate and share this
special place.
Warrior Up!
Photo: Zack Embree
Ta’ah Amy George participates in the 2013 Tar Sands Healing Walk with Charlene Aleck and
many others. #healingwalk //zack embree 2013
Amy George is a 71-year-old Tsleil-Waututh elder and the daughter of Chief
Dan George. Known as Ta’ah, at many rallies she has called on her people and
their supporters to ‘warrior up!’ In an interview with the Vancouver Observer, she
explained her people’s opposition to the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion.
“[The government is] putting money ahead of the people, of all living things. When I
ZDVYHU\OLWWOHP\GDGVDLGWRPHŌ,I\RXWDNHƓVKRXWRIZDWHU\RXWDNHDOLIH,I\RX
chop down a tree, you take a life, so you be appreciative and use every bit of deer or
ƓVK\RXWDNH$QGEHDSSUHFLDWLYHRIWKDWOLIH
“We’ve always only taken what we’ve needed, and that was with respect for all living
things. The people who are in power in Canada have lost all touch with what it’s like
to be a human being. A human being has respect for all living things.”
“They don’t clean up after there’s an oil spill, it’s
up to the peopleG They move on to the next placeG
They should just get over their addiction to oilG”
Our Shared
Responsibility:
Totem Pole Tour 2013 & 2014
Indigenous peoples are facing similar
issues on both sides of the Canada86ERUGHUZKLFKDUWLƓFLDOO\GLYLGHV
them. There is growing awareness and
cooperation in the effort to protect the
Salish Sea, and defend all of their land
and waters.
Pipeline projects like Kinder Morgan
threaten oil spills in the waters all along
WKH3DFLƓFFRDVWDQGFRQWULEXWHWRWKH
expansion of the tar sands in northern
Alberta which is also endangering the
water and health of Indigenous peoples.
This summer, an historic Totem Pole
Journey is taking place to strengthen
these bonds of solidarity and to raise
awareness. The 2014 ‘Lummi-to-Alberta’
Totem Pole Journey will host departure
‘Blessing Ceremonies’ on Sunday, August
17, 2014, at the Lummi Tribal Center
beginning around 9:30am.
Honouring ‘Our Shared Responsibility:
the Land, the Waters and the Peoples,’
this Totem Pole Journey will cover over
6,000 miles, visiting local and tribal
communities from Lakota country to
the Salish Sea, Vancouver Island to the
tar sands in northern Alberta, Canada
where the Totem Pole will be raised in the
sacred territories of the Beaver Lake Cree
First Nation.
Photo: Rueben George of TWN at 2013 Totem Pole
Event with Lummi Nation
2013 tour
2014 Tarsands
Totem Pole Tour
$XJŘ/XPPL1DWLRQ:$
$XJŘ<DQNWRQ6LRX[6'
$XJŘ%LOOLQJV07
$XJŘ6SRNDQH:$
$XJŘ<DNDPD1DWLRQ
$XJŘ2O\PSLD:$
$XJŘ6HDWWOH:$
$XJŘ9LFWRULD%&
$XJŘ9DQFRXYHU%&
Nighthawk Festival,
Crab Park, 12-7pm
6HSWŘ7VOHLO:DXWXWK
Nation Ceremony &
Brunch Banquet
11-2pm All welcome!
6HSWŘ6WROR)LUVW1DWLRQ
6HSWŘ&DOJDU\$OEHUWD
6HSWŘ(GPRQWRQ$OEHUWD
6HSWŘ%HDYHU/DNH&UHH
(Final Destination)
These events are FREE
www.totempolejourney.com
Standing 22 feet tall, the 300-year-old Western red cedar was carved by the Lummi Nation’s
House of Tears. It travelled on a 2600 km journey and arrived on Tsleil-Waututh territory on
September 29, 2013. It includes images of the salmon and the wolf, of the harvest moon, and
a Tsleil-Waututh elder inciting her people to stand up and defend the environment.
RSVP for our Sept 1st Totem Tour brunch! Spend Labour Day Monday with Friends of the
Sacred Trust and members of the Lummi Nation’s House of Tears Carvers enroute up the
Kinder Morgan route to the tarsands and the Beaver Lake Cree Nation.
Please register for free: http://totembrunch.eventbrite.ca
Takaya Tours
FIRST NATION CANOE & KAYAK ADVENTURES
Tour the calm and scenic waters of Indian Arm by canoe or kayak and
experience the culture, tradition and history of the Tsleil-Waututh First
Nation. Our 25 foot traditional style ocean-going canoes will safely take
you on an unforgettable journey across our waters and back through
time. While you explore the rich marine coastlines of Indian Arm, our
experienced guides will share legends, songs, and stories that will help
you to create memories that will last a lifetime!
For more information see www.takayatours.com
Land is Culture
Traditionally, the Tsleil-Waututh
SHRSOHKXQWHGƓVKHG
gathered, travelled and raised
families on the land and in the
water in an area that extends
approximately from the vicinity
of Mount Garibaldi in the
north, to the 49th parallel
and beyond to the south, and
west to Gibsons and east to
Coquitlam Lake.
As part of its Year of
Reconciliation, the City of
Vancouver has recently taken
WKHVWHSRIRIƓFLDOO\UHFRJQL]HG
that it is located on the unceded
territories of the Musqueam,
Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh.
7KLVLVDV\PEROLFEXWVLJQLƓFDQW
step in the right direction, but
concrete steps are needed.
Reconciliation requires justice
and redress, not just symbolic
action, and the Friends of the
Sacred Trust are committed to
practise that helps return control and decision-making powers to the peoples of
this land.
Colonialism took away more than just land; it attempted to take away traditional
language and cultural and economic practices. In the case of the Tsleil-Waututh,
their traditional hunting and harvesting was greatly impacted. Today, new
generations are reclaiming these traditions.
Earlier this year, Tsleil-Waututh were able to carry out an elk hunt in the area of
,QGLDQ$UPIRUWKHƓUVWWLPHLQ\HDUV
ŏ7REHDEOHWRKXQWIRURXUFRPPXQLW\DJDLQLWōVDQKRQRXU,WōVGHƓQLWHO\VRPHthing good for the community to go back to the old ways. There was a sense of
pride, for the community, and for everybody involved.”
– Peter Waugh (Source: CBC.ca, April 14, 2014)
Poetry in Honour of
Chief Dan George
The Tsleil-Waututh Nation Sacred Trust
presents a series of literary events to
honour and celebrate the writings of
Chief Dan George, the Salish Sea, and
his impact on the cultural life of the
people who live around it.
Chief Dan George (1899 – 1981) was
a chief of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation,
as well as an author, poet and worldfamous actor.
These events feature celebrated writers
reading Chief Dan George’s works—
paired with their own poetry.
Salish Sea Summer Gathering,
Aug 10, 2-5pm
Wil George, Stephen Collis, Christine
Leclerc, Rita Wong, Jordan Abel, Cecily
Nicholson, Rachelle George, Alex Leslie,
Natalie Knight, Kevin Spenst.
Unit Pitt Gallery, Aug 28, 8pm
As part of the Nighthawk Aboriginal
Arts Festival at the Unit Pitt Gallery, 236
E Pender St in Vancouver. Produced by
the Tsleil-Waututh Nation Sacred Trust
In association with the Unit Pitt Gallery.
Tickets: By donation (at door). Readings
from: Wil George, Rachelle George, Ray
Hsu, reg johanson, Jen Currin.
Note: The evening will start with a 45
minute book launch by Elder Fred John,
from Xaxlip Band, Lillooet First Nation.
My Heart Soars
by Chief Dan George
The beauty of the trees,
the softness of the air,
the fragrance
of the grass,
speaks to me.
The summit
of the mountain,
the thunder of the sky,
the rhythm of the sea,
speaks to me.
The faintness
of the stars,
the freshness of
the morning,
the dew drop
on the flower,
speaks to me.
The strength of fire,
the taste of salmon,
the trail of the sun,
and the life that
never goes away,
They speak to me.
And my heart soars.
Friends of the Sacred Trust Feast
Coast Salish Spiritual Gathering
September 22, 2014, 6pm Tsleil-Waututh Nation Community Centre
The Tsleil-Waututh Nation Sacred Trust
members and friends are invited to
recognize the work being done by
spiritual leaders to create an International Treaty to Protect the Sacredness
of the Salish Sea.
by other Coast Salish nations, and by
Initiated by the Sacred Trust, in association with Four Worlds and West Coast
Environmental Law, this is a Coast Salish
treaty on tarsands pipelines and tankers
in the Salish Sea.
day session at which spiritual leaders will
Leonard George (Tsleil-Waututh), Shane
Point (Musqueam) and Robert Nahanee (Squamish) have called upon our
spiritual leaders, and those leaders of
other nations, to bring their wisdom
together for the best ways to protect
our lands and waters from the pipeline
expansion.
We recognize that our nations are not
alone in facing this threat: it is shared
our relatives in the tarsands region who
are also put at risk by this expansion.
Political and spiritual leaders from impacted First Nations are attending a onebe invited to discuss how their peoples’
spiritual traditions and ancestral laws
can provide direction as we collectively
work to address these threats.
Following the day-long work, Sacred
Trust friends and allies are invited to a
dinner feast to recognize the process
and outcomes. Promptly at 6pm, there
will be food, a brief report-back, and
cultural presentations.
To register, join the Sacred Trust RSVP
at https://treatyfeast.eventbrite.ca
Four Days of Action:
September 20-23
In New York City, the largest climate
mobilization in history will take place
As part of these international days of action, people on both sides of the border
are encouraged to take part in four days of actions, ceremony and events to
celebrate and honour the International Treaty to Protect The Sacredness of the
Salish Sea.
The Coast Salish Nations are in the process of drafting the International Treaty
to Protect the Sacrednessof the Salish Sea. The International Treaty will
enable Coast Salish Nations and their allies to speak with one voice regarding
tankers, ports, and pipelines. Through the leadership of the Tsleil-Waututh
Nation,presentations have been made to over 30 Chiefs and a treaty signing is
being planned for September 22 and 23, 2014.
To mobilize cross-cultural and international action and heighten awareness
of the increased risks and threats to the Salish Sea from the proposed Kinder
Morgan Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion in British Columbia.
There will be a variety of actions in communities surrounding the Salish Sea. The
4 Days of Action coincide with the Peoples Climate March on September 20th and
21st in NYC being organized by 350.org.
Partner and Join the Days of Action
We welcome your participation to amplify the threats to the Salish Sea and
engage our communities in understanding the issues and possible solutions. We
are looking to educate the general public and the decision makers. There are
numerous ways to become involved.
Who is the Nawt-Sa-Maat Alliance NAWT-SA-MAAT ALLIANCE?
The alliance is a collaboration connecting the Indigenous Peoples of our region
with collaborators in British Columbia and Washington state. The Nawt-sa-maat
$OOLDQFHLVFDOOLQJIRUXQSUHFHGHQWHGXQLÀHGDFWLRQWRSURWHFWDQGUHVWRUHWKH
Salish Sea and the communities surrounding it.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Hereditary Chief Phil Lane Jr. [email protected]