Saanich people explained

The Saanich or W̱sáneć (Saanich: W̱SÁNEĆ, pronounced as /xʷˈsenət͡ʃ/, Xwsenəč) are indigenous nations from the north coast of the Gulf and San Juan Islands, southern Vancouver Island and the southern edge of the Lower Mainland in British Columbia.

The W̱SÁNEĆ (weh-saanich) peoples are represented by the Tsartlip (Sart-Lip), Pauquachin (Paw-Qua-Chin), Tsawout (Say-Out), Tseycum (Sigh-Come) and Malahat (Mal-a-hat) Nations.^[4] The W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council Society consists of three of theses Nations: Tsartlip, Tseycum and Tsawout.^[5] These W̱SÁNEĆ First Nations remain on their ancestral lands.

Saanich bands

• – Malahat First Nation
• – Pauquachin
• – Tsawout
• – Tsartlip
• – Tseycum First Nation^[6]

Leadership Council

On May 7, 2018, the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council was created as a representation of the W̱SÁNEĆ First Nations to the Government. The creation of this council not only brought three Indigenous groups together, but it also established a legal governing body. With this council, came many proposals and projects to benefit the W̱SÁNEĆ First Nations.

Includes:^[5]

• January 2018, the submission of a proposal for the Government of Canada to make the council a legal governing body (accepted).
• Submission of funding to the federal government's "National Rebuilding" program.
• Negotiations of a government to government project with the Capital Regional District.

Language

The W̱SÁNEĆ language or Saanich dialect is called SENĆOŦEN.^[7] This dialect was revitalized by the late John Elliot, an important member of the W̱SÁNEĆ community and peoples.

Tribal school

Four of the Saanich First Nations, Tsartlip, Pauquachin, Tseycum and Tsawout, created the Tribal School in 1989. It holds classes from preschool to grade 10, with classes for adults in the adult centre next door to the high school where, the language, and culture are taught along with the provincial curriculum. The school is also a venue for community events.^[8]

See also

• Coast Salish peoples

Further reading

• Bill, Adriane; Cayou, Roxanne; & Jim, Jacqueline. (2003). NET'̸'E NEḰA'̸' SḴELÁLṈEW'̲' [One green tree]. Victoria, B.C.: First Peoples' Cultural Foundation & L̵ÁU,WELṈEW̲ Tribal School. .
• Mithun, Marianne. (1999). The languages of Native North America. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. (hbk); .
• Montler, Timothy. (1996). Languages and dialects in Straits Salishan. Proceedings of the International Conference on Salish and Neighboring Languages, 31, 249–256.
• Montler, Timothy. (1999). Language and dialect variation in Straits Salishan. Anthropological linguistics, 41 (4), 462–502.
• YELḰÁTT̵E [Claxton, Earl, Sr.]; & STOLC̸EL̵ [Elliot, John, Sr.]. (1994). Reef Net Technology of the Saltwater People. Brentwood Bay, B.C.: Saanich Indian School Board.

External links

• An Outline of the Morphology and Phonology of Saanich, North Straits Salish (Timothy Montler's site)
• SENĆOŦEN Classified Word List
• SENĆOŦEN (Saanich, Northern Straits Salish) (Chris Harvey's Native Language, Font & Keyboard)
• Saanich Indian School Board website
• ȽÁU,WELṈEW̱ Tribal School website and photo

Notes and References

1. Web site: Á,LEṈENEȻ ȽTE – Our Homeland . W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council . W̱SÁNEĆ Nation . 7 November 2023.
2. Web site: SENĆOŦEN Survival School . W̱SÁNEĆ School Board . W̱SÁNEĆ Nation . 7 November 2023.
3. Book: W̱SÁNEĆ School Board . Swallow . Tye . Williams . ((Wanosts'a7 Lorna)) . Snively . Gloria . Knowing Home: Braiding Indigenous Science with Western Science, Book 2 . 30 November 2018 . ePublishing Services, University of Victoria Libraries . Chapter 9 – Learning from the Homeland: An Emerging Process for Indigenizing Education . ÁLEṈENEȻ means "homeland" in the SENĆOŦEN language..
4. Web site: Indigenous Relations . Saanich.ca . July 22, 2021.
5. Web site: W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council. W̱SÁNEĆ. December 10, 2020.
6. Web site: Board of Directors. Wsanecschoolboard.ca. 12 November 2017.
7. https://www.firstvoices.com/explore/FV/sections/Data/THE%20SEN%C4%86O%C5%A6EN%20LANGUAGE/SEN%C4%86O%C5%A6EN/SEN%C4%86O%C5%A6EN SENĆOŦEN
8. Web site: ȽÁU,WELṈEW̱ Tribal School. Fpcf.ca. 17 April 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20130102200344/http://www.fpcf.ca/SILS2005/tschool.htm. 2 January 2013.