An Elder told me a story about how the world was created and the animals came out of a rainbow mist. He told me this story years ago on the shore in front of his house. The #hulquminum word for rainbow is thuqul’shunum. This rainbow is coming down right where he told me the story in Kulleet Bay. #Indigenous #language #VancouverIsland

We had our monthly board meeting of our non-profit which is always around a fire. Culturally, the smoke carries our words to the ancestors of this place. Today’s treat was that one of us had gathered oysters for our lunch. And I learned that the #hulquminum word for oysters means “hard hard”. Tluqw tluqw. #indigenous #language #pnw #VancouverIsland @vi

There is a Raven (spa:l) on the top of the tree next door talking away. Gathered on the branches below are at least two dozen smaller black birds listening. I’m imagining Raven is telling a story to them about how his ancestor brought light to the world. The smaller birds seem to be enjoying the story. #hulquminum #indigenous #language #pnw

This is a photo of my brother who spent much of his life on a fishing boat. Those in the #pnw will recognize the halibut on the deck beside him. There used to be large grandfathers like this swimming along the bottom along our west coast. For those not familiar, a large halibut now might be 4 feet long. In #hulquminum the word for halibut is stsa’tx. #BigFish #WestCoast #indigenous #language

Wow, there have been some kick-ass #SilentSunday photos in my tootsline today. Good work everyone. Uy syaays, mukw lhwayt. #indigenous #language #hulquminum #gratitude

Another productive day yesterday fishing at Porlier Pass in the #GulfIslands. Lost a cannon ball when we had a new wheelman who didn’t know about reading the sounder and letting us know we were too deep:). Came home with 5 coho. In #hulquminum coho is called the’wun (TEE wun). #Indigenous #language

The #ClamGardens #RestorationProject has reclaimed #W̱SÁNEĆ knowledge, improved #ecosystems and provided the W̱SÁNEĆ Nation with additional funding.

From 2014 to 2019, #ParksCanada, the #W̱SÁNEĆNation and the #Hulquminum #FirstNations participated in the Clam Garden Restoration project.

Clam gardens are #AncientSites along shorelines in W̱SÁNEĆ territory that #Indigenous people tended for thousands of years to enhance the production of #clams and related sea creatures. Clams were an important source of protein for W̱SÁNEĆ people. The Clam Restoration project spent 5 years working to restore clam gardens in W̱SÁNEĆ territory. In addition to improving the #ecology of two clam gardens, the project also aimed to reclaim W̱SÁNEĆ knowledge, practices and culture related to clam gardens.

Learn more & sign up to help out:
https://wsanec.com/the-clam-garden-restoration-project/

I’ve got a few little chores to take care of today but mostly tinkering with a new refinishing project. Repainted the patio furniture yesterday so maybe lunch outside if it gets warm enough. Sunrise here on southeast #VancouverIsland was soft and calm but clouds are slowly drifting in. Uy kwunus i lumnama (eye KWUN us ee lum NAH mah). It is good to see you. #pnw #indigenous #language #hulquminum

I’ve been busy with work and odd jobs for others for the past few weeks and today have absolutely nothing requiring my attention. KC-Detroit baseball on tv, book to read, dog asleep close by. It feels nice just sitting for a while. In hul’q’umi’num the word for work is syaays (see YAIZ) and good work is uy syaays (eye see YAIZ). Do good work when you can. #hulquminum #Indigenous #language

Yukw’akw’usthut (yuh kwah kwus thut) is well underway here. #hulquminum language is a gift from the land so the word for Spring refers to the time of year the frogs start to tilum (sing), not a specific date on a calendar. There is still a bit of snow on the local mountain so I’ll wait to the weekend to put tomatoes in the garden and seeds in the ground. #VancouverIsland #pnw #indigenous #language #land #gardening

Made it back home this morning from #ComoxValley. I love seeing the snow falling but driving in it is not my favourite. Luckily the snow was local and the rest of the drive was just rain. In #hulquminum we say e’ et yiyuq (eh et YEE yuck) It is snowing. Lalumuthut, mukw thwayt. Take care everyone. #indigenous #language #VancouverIsland #pnw

I was having lunch with some elders the other day and one of them used a phrase that was new to me, “lalumuthut syaays” (lah lum uh thut see eyes) to describe learning the #hulquminum #language. It can be loosely translated as “healing work” but, as usual, translating to English squeezes the life out of the words. Anyway, I thought it was beautiful. #Indigenous #VancouverIsland

Uy’ netulh, sumshathut. Uy’ kwunus i lumnala tunu kweyul. Good morning, sun. It’s good to see you today. #hulquminum #indigenous #language #VancouverIsland

While in #Vancouver at meetings this young crow was curious about my trail mix. Turns out he is a fan of the smarties. Q’uleeq’e’ (ku LEH kuh) is how you say his name in #hulquminum. #Indigenous #language

Three apple pies made and a small apple crisp. We’ve got enough apples to probably do 6 more pies tomorrow morning. In #hulquminum apple is ‘apul. #Indigenous #languages #pie

Tsaslulhp (broadleaf maple) had the tree trimming done today. Dead and dangerous pieces removed but much of the healthy branches and leaves left. Hopefully many years remaining for her. #hulquminum #Indigenous #language #land #VancouverIsland

I have this big old maple #tree in my back yard. Still provides lots of shade. We told stories, sang songs, ate meals under it. Kids climbed it, had a tree fort in it at one time. Now it has reached near its lifespan and despite love and care has large branches rotten and dangerous. Tree service comes tomorrow. Tsaslulhp is it’s #hulquminum name. #Indigenous #language #relative

I’m sitting on my back porch listening to the thunder off in the west. I can see the rain on the mountain. Slumuxw is the #hulquminum word for rain. I’m thankful when it rains even if inconvenient because it is such an integral part of this territory. I hope the lightning is minimal and the rain quenches the parts that need it. #rain #thunder #WetCoast #indigenous #language #VancouverIsland

Met this old relative (the cedar tree) on our walk along Stocking Creek on #VancouverIsland yesterday. It’s name in #hulquminum is xpey (h-pay) with the h sound made from the back of the throat. #indigenous #language #ThickTrunkTuesday