About Suhunep Husmeen, Troy Olsen
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Watch and listen to how the spiritual essence of this work has been carried through to our saltwater salmon people in the videos here: Protecting Our Heritage (Lummi Nation) and To Fish as Formerly (Saanich Nation), as we return to our shared ancestral homelands.
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As memory is stored in DNA, Suhunep Husmeen is one of many QWENELYEN - reef-net captains in spirit.
Sunhunep is a traditional knowledge keeper who practices his inherent birthright of the Sxwo'le (reef-net). He also educates on the cultural, spiritual, political, economical, social and environmental values of this sacred gift as it is a measure of environmental protection that is embedded with the sacred teachings of peace, unity, balance and sustainability for the people and the environment. He has been spiritually guided to open the door for this work, so we can continue to practice responsible sovereignty and restoration in our shared homelands. His spiritual journey is very relative to this Creation Story: "In the beginning two brother were placed on the earth in Somane, finding no livelihood the older brother stopped at Saanich/Melaxat, Vancouver Island, but the younger brother, Swetan, continued on to San Juan Island, Lummi, where he stopped to make a home. To both brothers, Xelas, the Transformer, gifted -- the Salmon, the Reef net, the Spear, Suin, and Fire." (Stearn, 1934.) After 100 years of being forced out or outlawed from the ancient fishing technology originally known only by the salt water, salmon people, the two nations resurging this inherent technology are the Lummi and the Saanich. |
About Kusemaat, Shirley Williams, RN &
Seli7 etse Sxwo'le - Spirit of the Sxwo'le (reef-net)
Seli7 etse Sxwo'le - Spirit of the Sxwo'le (reef-net)
Kusemaat became a licensed nurse in 2002. Fifteen years were spent working within the scope of a western license. Now, like a salmon swimming upstream, she is focused on Indigenous Public Health. Her passion for holistic healthcare of ancient time began when she started to work for her own community, which is the federally recognized tribe of Lummi Nation, located in the upper most corner of the Pacific Northwest.
Today, because of Seli7 etse Sxwo’le – Spirit of the Sxwo’le (reef-net), Kusemaat addresses the root cause of trauma for Indigenous Peoples and Nature. She is bound to protecting the sovereignty of the Salish Sea for 7th generation sustainability. She envisions these ancestral homelands as a medical office based in nature, for without mother earth, we do not have our health.
Taking the guidance of her respected elders and the spiritual signs of her ancestors, she is guided by these words:
As Indigenous ways of knowing merge with modern science and research, she states, and as neuroscience, epigenetics, adverse childhood experience and resilience is now showing memory is stored in DNA.
Today, because of Seli7 etse Sxwo’le – Spirit of the Sxwo’le (reef-net), Kusemaat addresses the root cause of trauma for Indigenous Peoples and Nature. She is bound to protecting the sovereignty of the Salish Sea for 7th generation sustainability. She envisions these ancestral homelands as a medical office based in nature, for without mother earth, we do not have our health.
Taking the guidance of her respected elders and the spiritual signs of her ancestors, she is guided by these words:
- The Creator gave us the sacred responsibility to the land, water, salmon, reef-net and language that belongs to it and if it is not supported it is cultural spiritual genocide.
- The first part of any healing process is to know who you are and where you come from.
As Indigenous ways of knowing merge with modern science and research, she states, and as neuroscience, epigenetics, adverse childhood experience and resilience is now showing memory is stored in DNA.
About Kwastlmut, Sadie Olsen
In Kwastlmut there is hope that our culture will truly thrive once again. Today, Kwastlmut is a student at Northwest Indian College, pursuing her passion of Indigenous Environmental Studies and Global Change.
Kwastlmut is an advocate for community healing as she writes in her academic studies about how boarding schools, disconnect from sovereign territories, resources, and languages continue to contribute to the near genocide of her Native culture. Her goal is educate society by publishing her writing, as she works collectively with other scholars.
Kwastlmut is actively involved in many programs that prepare her to become a future leader who remembers a healthy future through the wisdom of the past. Through Whiteswan Environmental, she is involved with the Spirit of the Sxwo'le (SOS) Stewardship Corps and Whatcom Intergenerational High School. Such programs help her learn more about who she is and where she comes and how to preserve heritage through academic curricula development of today.
Kwastlmut is an advocate for community healing as she writes in her academic studies about how boarding schools, disconnect from sovereign territories, resources, and languages continue to contribute to the near genocide of her Native culture. Her goal is educate society by publishing her writing, as she works collectively with other scholars.
Kwastlmut is actively involved in many programs that prepare her to become a future leader who remembers a healthy future through the wisdom of the past. Through Whiteswan Environmental, she is involved with the Spirit of the Sxwo'le (SOS) Stewardship Corps and Whatcom Intergenerational High School. Such programs help her learn more about who she is and where she comes and how to preserve heritage through academic curricula development of today.
She also serves as the Secretary of the Tribal Youth Delegates at the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, Co-Convener for Community Engagement Fellows and served in the Youth Philanthropy Project (YPP). In 2018, she was employed as a Youth Worker for the Schelangen Department at the Lummi Indian Business Council (LIBC) where she worked with other youth and mentors to build curriculum around the traditional language, Xwlemi Chosen, and culture through field study. Together, the youth dreamed of, and are currently working towards, a Skylekshen Community Cultural Center on Smemiekw (Lummi Island). Kwastlmut has high hopes of turning that dream into a reality someday with funding and support!
The waters and universe remain pathways to express her energy as she engages in the annual competitive canoe races and tribal canoe journey. During tribal journey she practices her traditional song and dance with the Lummi Youth Canoe Family (LYCF) and the Samish Nation, in war canoe races with the Ultimate Warrior Canoe Club, and as a young child with the Morning Star Canoe Club.
Kwastlmut's commitment to her culture and environment comes naturally, as teachings have traveled through generations. She gives recognition to her father for restoring traditional practices, and passing on his social skills; her mother for carving out dreams in the physical world for everyone around her; her silé (grandma) and chómekw (great grandma and great great grandma) for the creativity that flows in her and familial love. On any given day, you will find Kwastlmut practicing her traditional language, visiting family, weaving cedar baskets, making regalia, knitting wool hats, crocheting, drawing, or working in her journal. Kwastlmut has been described as an old soul from the young age of 3, and it appears to be true, as she keeps her hands busy as her great, great, grandmother Sadie Celestine Jones would have taught her.
In the changing world, she has intentional efforts towards saving the bees, composting and recycling, and networking to create immense change in the world. Kwastlmut does not proclaim to be perfect by any means, and she is not afraid to ask for help or advocate for herself. She is also humble and gracious to receive recognition from her swim team to most likely BE MOTHER NATURE.
The waters and universe remain pathways to express her energy as she engages in the annual competitive canoe races and tribal canoe journey. During tribal journey she practices her traditional song and dance with the Lummi Youth Canoe Family (LYCF) and the Samish Nation, in war canoe races with the Ultimate Warrior Canoe Club, and as a young child with the Morning Star Canoe Club.
Kwastlmut's commitment to her culture and environment comes naturally, as teachings have traveled through generations. She gives recognition to her father for restoring traditional practices, and passing on his social skills; her mother for carving out dreams in the physical world for everyone around her; her silé (grandma) and chómekw (great grandma and great great grandma) for the creativity that flows in her and familial love. On any given day, you will find Kwastlmut practicing her traditional language, visiting family, weaving cedar baskets, making regalia, knitting wool hats, crocheting, drawing, or working in her journal. Kwastlmut has been described as an old soul from the young age of 3, and it appears to be true, as she keeps her hands busy as her great, great, grandmother Sadie Celestine Jones would have taught her.
In the changing world, she has intentional efforts towards saving the bees, composting and recycling, and networking to create immense change in the world. Kwastlmut does not proclaim to be perfect by any means, and she is not afraid to ask for help or advocate for herself. She is also humble and gracious to receive recognition from her swim team to most likely BE MOTHER NATURE.
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