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Created with Fabric.js 1.4.5 MY COMMUNITIES SALT SPRING ISLAND, B.C. VICTORIA, B.C. I recently moved to Victoria to attend university. This area of B.C. is the traditional territory of the WS'ANEC' (Saanich), Lkwungen (Songhees), Wyomilth (Esquimalt) peoples of the Coast Salish Nation. The culture of the Coast Salish peoples can be seen throughout Victoria. There are numerous cultural artifacts throughout the city and the newly built Songhees' Wellness Centre. The Victoria Native Friendship Centre is also a central hub for local Indigenouspeoples. Despite Coast Salish peoples' visible presence in the area, I knew very little about their culture until I started my MSW. I have since spoken with Elders, read about Indigenous cultures, and questioned my own ignorance/privilege. I am thankful for these experiences and feelprivileged to live/work on Indigenous lands. I recently moved to Victoria to attend university. This area of B.C. is the traditional territory of the WS'ANEC'(Saanich), Lkwungen (Songhees), Wyomilth (Esquimalt)peoples of the Coast Salish Nation. The culture of theCoast Salish peoples can be seen throughout Victoria. There are numerous cultural artifacts throughout the cityand the newly built Songhees' Wellness Centre. The Victoria Native Friendship Centre is also a central hubfor local Indigenous peoples. Despite Coast Salishpeoples' visible presence in the area, I knew very littleabout their culture until I started my MSW. I have since spoken with Elders, read about Indigenous cultures, and questioned my own ignorance/privilege. I am thankful for these experiences and feel privileged tolive/work on Indigenous lands. I was born and raised on Salt Spring Island. Salt Spring is part of the Gulf Islands and is located between Vancouver Island and the mainland. My family has lived on Salt Spring for five generations.I was told throughout my childhood that my family were the "firstsettlers" on Salt Spring but in actuality, Coast Salish peoples residedon the Island before anyone else.. My ancestors, African Americanpioneers, arrived on the Island in 1859 to escape mounting racismand oppression in California. In the subsequent generations my familyflourished. They farmed, worked as trades peoples, built homes, and began having families. Today, my Grandfather (Robert Wood) and GreatAunt (Nadine Sims) are island icons who can routinely be found in localcoffee shops telling stories about "the good old days." The last namesof my various relatives also live on as street names across the Island. I am proud that my ancestors escaped racism in the United States and Iwill forever consider Salt Spring to be home; however, my ancestors' experiences should not overshadow those that came before them. Thereare only a very small portion of Coast Salish peoples who continue to liveon Salt Spring. There is also very little evidence of these peoples' heritageon the Island beyond a few small monuments in local parks. Salt Spring is now a tourism destination with few local jobs and an extremely high cost of living. I recently moved to Victoria to attend university. This area of B.C. is the traditional territory of theWS'ANEC' (Saanich), Lkwungen (Songhees), Wyomilth (Esquimalt) peoples of the Coast SalishNation. The culture of the Coast Salish peoplescan be seen throughout Victoria. There are numerous cultural artifacts throughout the cityand the newly built Songhees' Wellness Centre.The Victoria Native Friendship Centre is also acentral hub for local Indigenous peoples. Despite Coast Salish peoples' visible presencein the area, I knew very little about their cultureuntil I started my MSW. I have since spoken withElders, read about Indigenous cultures, andquestioned my own ignorance/privilege. I amthankful for these experiences and feel privilegedto live/work on Indigenous lands.
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