National Parks Service 100th Centennial Anniversary
August 25, 2016
August 25, 2016
Whiteswan Environmental (WE) are the organizers for the Reef Net Captain Totem Pole & Salmon Storyboard Dedication on behalf of Lummi and Saanich Nation, the Coast Salish Youth Stewardship Programming and the vision keepers for a future Coast Salish Tribal Heritage Field Institute - restoration of village sites, camps, reef-net locations and 13 moons food sovereignty for 7th generation sustainability.
Whiteswan Environmental has been working on short to long-term restoration projects with the San Juan Islands National Historical Parks, San Juan Islands National Monument, FRIENDS of San Juans, San Juan Islands Conservation Corps, other non-government organizations; bio-regional universities and colleges and tribes to provide community healing through the natural, cultural and historical restoration to the Salish Sea for the next seven generations.
WE believes that by integrating and respecting our Schelangen (way of life) and the western science/STEAM curricula, there will be intergenerational indigenous education on the ecological health issues of the past, present and future, therefore creating a resurgence of the Keepers of the Tradition and Protectors of the Circle of Life, or next generation of historians and conservationists.
Whiteswan Environmental has been working on short to long-term restoration projects with the San Juan Islands National Historical Parks, San Juan Islands National Monument, FRIENDS of San Juans, San Juan Islands Conservation Corps, other non-government organizations; bio-regional universities and colleges and tribes to provide community healing through the natural, cultural and historical restoration to the Salish Sea for the next seven generations.
WE believes that by integrating and respecting our Schelangen (way of life) and the western science/STEAM curricula, there will be intergenerational indigenous education on the ecological health issues of the past, present and future, therefore creating a resurgence of the Keepers of the Tradition and Protectors of the Circle of Life, or next generation of historians and conservationists.
In the beginning
There were two brothers who were placed on earth in Somane. Finding no livelihood, the older brother moved to Melaxat (Saanich), but the younger brother, Swetan, continued to San Juan Island (Lummi), where he stopped to make a home. To both brothers the Creator gave the gift of the salmon, the spear, the reef-net (Sxwo’le), the suin and fire. (Excerpt from the Lummi Creation Story, Stern, 1934; Strait Salish History, Gary Morris, 2010)
The Reef Net Captain Totem Pole and Salmon Story Boards tell the story of the Chi'lange'lth, inherent birth rights, which were a sacred gift from the Creator. As respected elders have said, the Creator gave us the sacred responsibilities to the land, water, salmon, reef-net and language that belong to it and it if is not supported it is cultural spiritual genocide.
With "One Mind for the Purpose of the Work" we hosted over 400 people during this historical event to build intergenerational community knowledge, as well as understanding amongst cultures who share stewardship of Pe'pi'ow'elh and the 300,000+ annual site visitors. WE continue to hold our hands up in gratitude (hy'shqe) to all those who join us to support of community healing in the Salish Sea for we understand the profound impacts these events will have on our community.
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Whiteswan Environmental relies on donations from the community to make this vision a reality.
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