A short introduction to the Hul’qumi’num and WSÁNEĆ Peoples. Closely connected to each other through shared land, resources, culture, languages, and history, the Hul’qumi’num and WSÁNEĆ First Nations have been living in harmony with these lands since creation, despite horrific attempts of erasure from the colonial government and church. If you’re unfamiliar with this dark section of Canada’s past, there are a ton of great Indigenous-created resources out there - including podcasts, documentaries, and books.

The Southern Gulf Islands are located in the serene waters of the Salish Sea, between the southeastern coast of Vancouver Island and the mainland of British Columbia. To the south, lay the Olympic Mountain Range in Washington State. The five islands, Salt Spring, Galiano, Saturna, Mayne and Pender, create what seems like an impenetrable wall off the coast of Vancouver Island, with cool, protected waters rich with abundant life surrounding them.

The Southern Gulf Islands are part of the larger traditional territories of the Hul’qumi’num (notably, Salt Spring Island and Penelakut Island) and WSÁNEĆ Peoples, which also covers much of Southern Vancouver Island.

Oral histories from both the Hul’qumi’num and WSÁNEĆ First Nations tie their people to these lands and their neighbouring Coast Salish communities through time immemorial. They are descendents of the people in those creation stories. You can read the Hul’qumi’num story about the creator Xeel here, and The Legend of LAWELNEW on the WSÁNEĆ Leadership Council’s website.

While visiting the Southern Gulf Islands, it is important to educate yourself on the history of colonization in the area and to respect culturally significant areas. With some quick research, you’ll discover many ways you can support Indigenous-owned or businesses and initiatives in the area. Remember to look at local community centres, event boards, or museums to see if there are any Indigenous-focused events while you’re in the area!

Prior to colonial laws that restricted the use of their traditional lands, it was common for local First Nations to have both summer and winter villages, between which they would move the entire village every year. These villages were on both Vancouver Island and the Southern Gulf Islands, strategically located based on which resources were available in each season.

Indigenous communities thrived off of the abundant natural resources in the area, maintaining a sustainable relationship with the ecosystems around them. Their system of close-knit families and communities created complex inter-village relationships, with each family and community having access to certain resources and land. Frequent trading between the communities kept the inter-village relationships strong.

Hul’q’umi’num is the shared language of the Hul’qumi’num First Nations, while the WSÁNEĆ Nations are SENĆOTEN-speaking peoples.

The traditional Hul’q’umi’num’ name for Burgoyne Bay Provincial Park (located on Salt Spring Island) is Xwaaqw’um, or female merganser duck place, specifically the red-breasted merganser which congregates there year-round. This place name signifies the highly valued food source available at this location, a good example of how Hul’q’umi’num’ place names reflect the importance or use of a site. Xwaaqw’um has always been an important source of food and medicine, as well as culturally significant for ceremonial purposes.

TheStqeeye’ Learning Society is an Indigenous-led non-profit organization based on Salt Spring Island, BC in the traditional territory of the Quw’utsun (Cowichan) Peoples. They work to restore and preserve the lands and waters within Xwaaqw’um (Burgoyne Bay Provincial Park). In the mi tse’ t’akw’ project (‘Coming Home’ which involves re-introducing native plants and Indigenous food systems), the Stqeeye’ Learning Society acquired a 10-acre property in Xwaaqw’um, allowing them to expand on their other projects, such as Youth on the Land (which reconnects youth with the land), and their wetlands restoration work.