Stqeeye’ Learning Society has passed the halfway mark in raising funds for our new home at Xwaaqw’um (pronounced KHWOK-wum), the Hul’qumi’num name for the Burgoyne Valley. To celebrate we wanted to share a story about a video we made a year ago, but had to take down shortly after it was made, because it contained a name and an image that we wouldn’t be able to use for a year: Tousilum.
Prior to the arrival of settlers, the Cowichan village of Xwaaqw’um was rich in resources, including up to 5 long houses that were stewarded by a Cowichan Chief named Tousilum, and his family. With the arrival of settlers and a colonial government dedicated to solving the so-called “Indian problem”, Tousilum and his family were forced to leave the lands they had stewarded since time immemorial.
In our culture hereditary names are passed down over the generations; the names tie us to the lands, resources and ceremonies we belong to. In following with that tradition, the name was passed down to Tousilum’s great-great grandson, Ron George, a founding member and Board president of Stqeeye’. It was always Ron’s vision - Tousilum’s vision - to return to the land of his ancestors and once again have a home here.
In 2023, Stqeeye’ was offered a 10-acre property in the Xwaaqw’um valley. This video was the first one we made to help build awareness of Stqeeye’s work, so we could raise funds for the purchase, but shortly after it was finished Tousilum passed away. Following the passing of someone from our community, their name cannot be spoken nor their image shown for a year. And so we took the video down, and made another that did not mention Tousilum.
In the months that followed, the Salt Spring Community stepped up, and with the support of many generous islanders (and a loan), the 10-acre property was secured in December of last year. In May of this year, Tousilum’s wife, Sulsameethl, moved to the property and now lives to bring to life her late husband’s vision. But the miracle that Salt Springers have helped create hasn’t stopped there.
Renovations are being done to the home on the property, including a much-needed addition that will add new office space. A nursery that will grow thousands of native plants for the restoration of wetlands and forests in Xwaaqw’um has been planted. Plans are in place to build a campground for the Youth on the Land program, which will finally have a safe space for ceremony and expansion to welcome more children in need. More miracles, with many more to come. We could not have come this far without you, and all who have contributed.
And now that the year of mourning has passed, we are finally able to show you Tousilum’s story, as told by his granddaughter Sulatiye’ (Maiya Modeste). We raise our hands to you in gratitude as we go into this second winter without Tousilum, and hope you will join us as we begin the final leg of our journey to find and build a home on Salt Spring…at last.
Learn more and donate at https://www.stqeeye.ca/land
