ELDER ADVISORY COUNCIL
WE - ONE MIND FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE WORK
Honorary Tsilixw William James was the Hereditary Chief of Lummi Nation. He will always be our respected Siam, our respected elder. He helped guide the work of Whiteswan Environmental, WE. If it wasn't for Tsilixw's teachings and guidance, none of this work would have manifested. WE are eternally grateful to Tsilixw.
"The first part of any healing process is to know who you are and where you come from." Tsilixw
"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 genocide," says J,SIṈSET. Tsilixw adds, "...and remember it is spiritual genocide."
Find Tsilixw here: An Essential List of Influential People of the Last Decade, Seattle Times, Jan. 1, 2020 Sunrise 10/20/44 Sunset 06/01/20
"The first part of any healing process is to know who you are and where you come from." Tsilixw
"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 genocide," says J,SIṈSET. Tsilixw adds, "...and remember it is spiritual genocide."
Find Tsilixw here: An Essential List of Influential People of the Last Decade, Seattle Times, Jan. 1, 2020 Sunrise 10/20/44 Sunset 06/01/20
Sasayatha Mary Wagner is a respected Elder of the W̱SÁNEĆ Nation. She was born in a longhouse at W̱SÁNEĆ Nation, BC. She regularly traveled to the San Juan Islands with her father when she was a little girl and lived on the islands for half the year. WE are honored that Sasayatha travels with our youth and generously shares her stories and wisdom with us. WE are forever grateful to Sasayatha. This photo was taken at the San Juan Island National Parks Service 100th Centennial.
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J,SIṈSET (STOLȻEȽ) John Elliott is a respected Elder of the W̱SÁNEĆ Nation. STOLȻEȽ is the name that belongs to the San Juan Islands. He has descendancy to Clallam, Lummi and Mitchell Bay Band of the San Juan Islands. His father David Elliott, author of the Saltwater People wanted his children to remember who they are and where they come from and to remember their inherent birth rights to the land, water, salmon, reef-net and language that belongs to it before the borders.
J,SIṈSET received two honorary PhDs for carrying his father's legacy work forward to preserve the SENĆOŦEN language. He has been a teacher at the ȽÁU,WELṈEW Tribal School in Saanich for over 30 years. He co-founded FirstVoices, and teaches evenings at Camosun College. The Reef Net Captain storyboard that now stands in PKAEWEL, English Camp, San Juan Island National Historical Park was designed by J,SIṈSET and carved by his brother TEMOSEṈŦET, Charles Elliott. |
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ZIȻOT Christine Talitha Bloomfield (French) was born and raised in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island living on long held family land near Mitchell Bay. Christine is an enrolled member of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe and a descendant of both the W̱SÁNEĆ and Lummi Nations. Christine is a traditional and Indigenous historical knowledge holder. She received her BA from Western Washington University being the first in her family to earn a college degree. Christine is now retired after serving long careers in Native Health Care and K-12 Indian Education. She is a proud grandmother and great-grandmother.
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William John is a member of the Lummi Nation who served at the Ferndale High School as a Xwelemi Chosen traditional language teacher. Today, he volunteers at Whatcom Intergenerational High School. WE are honored to receive support from our eldest language speaker who was mentored by our late Hereditary Chief. Hy'shqe Siam!
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Here’s how you can support our mission and vision today:
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