Whale Panel

Face

Steel Salmon

ḰELSET Thunderbird Canoe

ḰELSET Thunderbird Canoe

ḰELSET

ḰELSET Podium Plaque

Pulling Together

Cedar XPȺ, is very Important and sacred to the W̱SÁNEĆ people. The cedar tree has many important roles in W̱SÁNEĆ culture and ways of being. When we learned that we had to remove a cedar tree from the ground here it was important that we honoured the tree and found a way to breathe new life into the fallen tree.

The cedar tree was carved into a canoe by W̱ENÁM, Curtis Henry a carver from Pauquachin First Nation. Curtis is a Coast Salish carver and paddle maker who often works with students to transform cedar into canoes and paddles while weaving local teachings, history and culture into the learning for all students in Saanich Schools

The Saanich School District is fully committed to the important work in Indigenous Education and this canoe symbolizes all partner groups and stakeholders as a collective paddling together in a canoe towards our Indigenous Education goals and vision for the future.

The unveiling and blessing of this Canoe was led by Tsartlip Elders Skip and May Sam and took place on December 19, 2018 at the Saanich School District Office on the traditional territory of the W̱SÁNEĆ people.

Coast Salish Geese

Weaving by Sheila Austin