Defending Indigenous Tsawout
Donation protected
Support Tsawout Protectors legal battle
Stop desecration of sacred sites
Protect indigenous heritage
WSANEC -Tsawout, Vancouver Island, BC CANADA
Traditional Territory of Qwulumelwhut Family
“Our winter homes were in W̱SÁNEĆ meaning” emerging land”, or “ emerging people” (FirstVoices.com)
In October 2017, excavators plowed through a forest on Tsawout Reserve 2, for the construction of Ocean Winds RV Park, burial mounds, seasonal hunting and berry, cedar, and plant harvesting sites, medicinal plant gardens and unmapped aquifers were all damaged extensively. An endangered species, the white barn owl, was identified in the development area. Developers also damaged several other sacred sites still utilized for ceremony, with severe impacts to waterways, ancient family lodgings, wilderness refuges, migratory routes for birds and fish, on the Tsawout Reserve 2.
A civil claim was filed in November 2017 and in May 2018 to initiate consultation and protect the sensitive landscapes. The new development and excavation is on hold for now. We are attaining legal support and are seeking $5000 for inital payment.
WE MUST HONOUR OUR ANCESTORS, INDIGENOUS RIGHTS & PROTECT THIS SACRED LAND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS
Late Julia George/Paul Cowichan Penelakut, Ethel Underwood, Alice Kelly of Saanich
No Consent
There was no consent or consultation with the local community. The development projects are run by Tsawout Council members, as CP landholders, who approved these projects for their personal benefit. Most of the profit for these development projects goes to non-Indigenous developers with long-term leases, in this case the owner and operator of OCEAN WINDS RV PARK will benefit from developing the Tsawout Reserve. The United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) identifies the right “to free, informed consent in development that directly or indirectly affects” us. The Tsawout Landcode is suppose to offer “protection and regulation of heritage sites, cultural sites, traditional sites, spiritual sites and wildlife refuges.”
We have seen no consideration for future generations of Indigenous families, traditional economy or traditional sustenance, no sustainable initiatives or ethical economic practice.
Your donations will Help us protect and restore the landscape, endorse protocol, establish accountability, "call to potlatch", and celebrate our cultural heritage pre-contact:
“If we protect the women they will defend the land and so will their children for future generations ” (late Ethel Underwood) Kelly family descendant.
Gait, Darlene. Baby Boy. 2002. Acrylic on canvas
Stop desecration of sacred sites
Protect indigenous heritage
WSANEC -Tsawout, Vancouver Island, BC CANADATraditional Territory of Qwulumelwhut Family
“Our winter homes were in W̱SÁNEĆ meaning” emerging land”, or “ emerging people” (FirstVoices.com)
In October 2017, excavators plowed through a forest on Tsawout Reserve 2, for the construction of Ocean Winds RV Park, burial mounds, seasonal hunting and berry, cedar, and plant harvesting sites, medicinal plant gardens and unmapped aquifers were all damaged extensively. An endangered species, the white barn owl, was identified in the development area. Developers also damaged several other sacred sites still utilized for ceremony, with severe impacts to waterways, ancient family lodgings, wilderness refuges, migratory routes for birds and fish, on the Tsawout Reserve 2.
A civil claim was filed in November 2017 and in May 2018 to initiate consultation and protect the sensitive landscapes. The new development and excavation is on hold for now. We are attaining legal support and are seeking $5000 for inital payment.
WE MUST HONOUR OUR ANCESTORS, INDIGENOUS RIGHTS & PROTECT THIS SACRED LAND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS
Late Julia George/Paul Cowichan Penelakut, Ethel Underwood, Alice Kelly of SaanichNo Consent
There was no consent or consultation with the local community. The development projects are run by Tsawout Council members, as CP landholders, who approved these projects for their personal benefit. Most of the profit for these development projects goes to non-Indigenous developers with long-term leases, in this case the owner and operator of OCEAN WINDS RV PARK will benefit from developing the Tsawout Reserve. The United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) identifies the right “to free, informed consent in development that directly or indirectly affects” us. The Tsawout Landcode is suppose to offer “protection and regulation of heritage sites, cultural sites, traditional sites, spiritual sites and wildlife refuges.”
We have seen no consideration for future generations of Indigenous families, traditional economy or traditional sustenance, no sustainable initiatives or ethical economic practice.
Your donations will Help us protect and restore the landscape, endorse protocol, establish accountability, "call to potlatch", and celebrate our cultural heritage pre-contact:
“If we protect the women they will defend the land and so will their children for future generations ” (late Ethel Underwood) Kelly family descendant.
Gait, Darlene. Baby Boy. 2002. Acrylic on canvas
Organizer and beneficiary
Anne Qwulumelwhut
Organizer
Saanichton, BC
Vanessa Claxton
Beneficiary
