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Welcome
Camosun College serves the communities that are located in the Traditional Territories of the Lekwungen (Songhees and Esquimalt), Malahat, Pacheedaht, Scia’new, T’Sou-ke and WSÁNEĆ peoples.
We acknowledge our traditional hosts and honour their welcome and graciousness to the students and guests who seek knowledge here.
Welcome to Eyēʔ Sqȃ’lewen
Janice Simcoe, Former Executive Director, Eyē Sqậ’lewen
Boozhoo! (Greetings!)
Wáa sá iyatee? (How are you?)
Eyēʔ Sqȃ’lewen: the Centre for Indigenous Education & Community Connections is pleased to welcome all delegates and presenters to the 2024 S’TEṈISTOLW̱ conference. This is the third time we’ve had the honour of hosting this great gathering. The S’TEṈISTOLW̱ conference was originally designed to provide a meeting space for faculty who teach in adult Indigenous education, with the hope that those who do – across the province and wider – would be able to form a community of common purpose. S’TEṈISTOLW̱ has grown to become a place of learning and sharing for all who are engaged and interested in adult Indigenous education. We look forward to the opportunity for conversation and shared learning with you, and we continue to support a community of common purpose centering Indigenous education. We are glad you are attending the conference and look forward to seeing you all here in Victoria!
Welcome to Camosun College
From Dr Lane Trotter, President
It is my honour to welcome educators, administrators, scholars, knowledge keepers and allies to the S’TEṈISTOLW̱ Indigenous Adult and Post-Secondary Education Conference. The college is very proud to once again host the conference at Camosun College after the event was put on pause.
Camosun is recognized as a provincial leader in post-secondary Indigenous education, programming and services. Under the Honouring Indigenous Resurgence priority in our 2023-2028 Strategic Plan, the college is advancing work to honour Indigenization, decolonization, reconciliation and the rights of Indigenous peoples.
The goal of S’TEṈISTOLW̱ is to explore relationships, understanding, and to share knowledge and ideas to help us move forward in the field of Indigenous education. ÍY,ĆANEUEL OL is SENĆOŦEN for Doing Good Work Together, which is another priority in our 2023-2028 Strategic Plan. It is also applicable to the conference.
I would also like to acknowledge the work of Eyēʔ Sqȃ’lewen, the Centre for Indigenous Education and Community Connections to host the conference as part of its focus on enhancing Indigenous student success. A lot of planning has taken place behind the scenes.
Camosun has been a provincial leader in post-secondary Indigenous education, programming and services for over 25 years now with the longest running Indigenous Advisory Council in the province.
We have made great strides towards greater Indigenization. Still, there is much more to do. We need to remove barriers to post-secondary education for Indigenous students, incorporate the four R’s of Indigenous education, infuse Indigenous ways of being and doing into practices and spaces, develop more culturally-relevant programs, support Indigenous student retention and completion, support greater community connections, educate allies, explore Indigenous research possibilities and strengthen relationships with local Elders and knowledge keepers. These are just some of the areas of action we need to pursue.
I look forward to meeting you at S’TEṈISTOLW̱ and to many exciting, insightful and meaningful discussions on Indigenous education.
The Legend of Camossung
Photographs of Camossung in the Gorge Waterway are from the personal collection of Grant Keddie, Curator of Archaeology at the Royal BC Museum. Used with permission.
After the flood, the transformer, Haylas, was travelling with Raven and Mink teaching the people how things were to be done.
They found a young girl, named Camossung and her grandfather. She was crying, so Haylas asked her why. She answered, “My Father is angry with me and will not give me anything to eat.”
Haylas asked her if she liked sturgeon, and when she answered “no” he threw the sturgeon to the Fraser River. That is why there are sturgeon there and not here. He asked her if she liked cranberries and when she answered “no” he threw them to Shawnigan Lake. That is why there are cranberries there now.
She refused many things but duck, herring, coho, and oyster she accepted, and that is why these were plentiful on the Gorge waterway. Because she was greedy, Haylas told her she would look after the food resources for her people and he turned her and her grandfather into stone.
Camossung is still a guardian and sits in the Gorge near what is now Tillicum Road.
Welcome Ceremony
During the Pre-Conference and first day of the S’TEṈISTOLW̱ Conference, the Songhees Nation will welcome the delegates to the Territories in a good way. After the Welcome Ceremony on August 21, 2024, delegates will have the opportunity to sign-in, collect their packages, and mingle at an opening reception where refreshments will be served.