 We were uplifted by the inspiring of Monique Gray Smith in her talk, Braiding Sweetgrass: Love is Medicine, at the QICS West Coast Elders' Conference in Courtenay, British Columbia.
She helped us remember to be kind to ourselves. To slow down. To accept the gifts that come our way. Hope. Graditude. Love. Kindness. Bounty. Self-care and Self-love. Love for our friends and families. Our communities. She is a gem and we are honoured that she came to us with her words of love to share with all of us! Monique is a mixed heritage woman of Cree, Lakota, and Scottish descent and is the proud Mom of twins. She is an award-winning author, speaker and sought-after consultant. Monique has been running her business, Little Drum Consulting since 1996. Her career has focused on fostering paradigm shifts that emphasize the strength and resiliency of the First Peoples in Canada. Monique’s first published novel, Tilly: A Story of Hope and Resilience won the 2014 Burt Award for First Nation, Métis and Inuit Literature and her first children’s book, My Heart Fills with Happiness won the 2017 Christie Harris BC Book Award for Children’s Literature. Her latest release, Speaking our Truth: A Journey of Reconciliation is currently being used across the country as a tool to educate the hearts and minds of both young and not so young readers. Monique has been sober and involved in her healing journey for over 26 years and is well known for her storytelling, spirit of generosity and focus on resilience. Gilakas'la, Monique. We were honoured to spend time with you. So many smiles. So uplifted. Mula. Our hearts are full!  Mark Your Calendars! Date Night! FREE, FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT: Friday, June 27th from 5 PM to 9 PM | Pulse Event w CV Arts & Downtown Courtenay BIA | K’ómoks Fusion Festival 5 PM - 9 PM 580 Duncan Avenue, Courtenay, between 5th & 6th Street by the CV Art Gallery.
QUENEESH PERFORMANCE STAGE FEATURING: Queneesh Stage featuring Kristi Lane Sinclair, Greg Wells, Darryl Mills & Special DJ on-site 🎶 Come shop the Queneesh Market for lovely local art, gifts and goodies for your home. We will be hosting a Fundraising BBQ with delicious Salmon Burgers & Bison Smokies on site! Workshops, face paint & more! This is a FREE PUBLIC Event. Bring your friends. Bring your neighbours & your family. This is an evening you will not want to miss! QUENEESH VENDOR MARKET Vendors can register on Eventbrite, The cost to vend is $50.00 for a 10x10’ outdoor space. There is no power or water available. Vendors to bring their own tables + tent. Vendors can register via Eventbrite. For more information, email: [email protected] #comox #courtenay #market #vendors #familyfriendlyo edit.  We were honoured to have waakiitusis Nitanis Desjarlais, the Indigenous Foodie Mamma share her wisdom of land and sea with all of us at the 2025 West Coast Elders' Conference, as we came together on the Traditional Territory of the K’ómoks First Nation in Comox, Vancouver Island.
Feasting from Land & Sea: Traditional Use of Plants for Food & Medicine and taste delicious Traditional Foods in Culturally Rooted in Wellness. Her knowledge of harvesting and preserving is vast and we were very lucky to get to try many of her offerings! From seaweed to seal blubber, she had it all! waakiitusis Nitanis Desjarlais, Indigenous Foodie Mamma, Northern Cree raised on the Northwest Coast and living and raising her family in Ahousaht Nation, Nuu-Chah-Nulth First Nation Traditional Territory. For those who joined us for the Queneesh Indigenous Fashion Gala & Feast, you'll also know she has a rocking singing voice and raised some amazingly talented offspring! Gilakas'la, Nitanis! It was an honour and such a pleasure to spend time with you!  Join K’ómoks First Nation and their community and cultural partners for a FREE day long celebration of First Nations, Métis and Inuit culture and resilience!
From 12 noon till 9 pm join us for live music, workshops, amazing art and crafts, workshops and demos, knowledge sharing, Tsolum River walks and more. Cultural Partners include Wachiay Friendship Society, MIKI'SIW Métis Association, Kumugwe Cultural Society, Queneesh Indigenous Community Society, Upper Island Women of Native Ancestry and others. Queneesh is hosting a Salmon BBQ with coleslaw for $12/plate from Noon to 6 PM — or until sold out! That's some delicious West Coast fare you will not want to miss!  What a delight to get to spend time with Dr. Nancy Turner — beautiful soul full of curiosity and wonder at the ways of our being with the world.
Her research integrates the fields of botany and ecology with anthropology, geography and linguistics. We learned the names of many of the plants we know and love in the various tongues spoken by our cousins and delighted in the similarities and differences of the ways words and plants travel in trade, culture and time. We thank her deeply for spending time with all of us. It was so amazing to come together and share in her talk, From Taking to Tending: Looking after the Lands, Looking after the Plants at the 2025 West Coast Elders' Conference in Courtenay on the Traditional Territory of the K’ómoks First Nation. Gilakas'la mula, Nancy! You are a gem on this Earth! "It was a sparking week with family, friends & community, Namina, at the inaugeral West Coast Elderders Conference held on the K'ómox Traditional Territory & put on by the Queneesh Indigenous Community Society.
The theme of the conference was: Teachings from the past, shaping our future. Other than the incredible sense of community, a highlight was the presentation Braiding Sweetgrass: Love is Medicine from the amazing Monique Gray Smith, author of many incredible books including Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults. There was cedar weaving with good friend & respected Kwakwaka'wakw Master Cedar Weaver, Tiger Leonard Williams. As well Bruce Alfred, respected Kwakwaka'wakw artist & carver of the 'Namgis. Bruce shared his deep respect, knowledge & skill on making Brentwood boxes. We also learned about thr Ne'nagwa'nakwala Project investigating the former St. Michael's Indian Residential School in ‘Yalis, Alert Bay with Elder Ray Tony Charlie. Of course, featured artist Corrine Hunt was a favorite at the market ✨️ A Fashion Show with incredible fashion designers, including the conference Host Heidi Henderson, made our last night together ❤️🔥 Special shout out to Randy Frank & the amazing K'ómox catering group who served such delicious food 👌🏽 Like this wasn't enough for a beautiful week full of memories we eneded it with a night at the Tide Mark theater with a tribute concert for Tina Turner with the amazing Caroline Boral from South Africa 🎊🎶 In times like these, there is nothing like the opportunity to come together."🙏🏽 - Ang Davison  BEAUTIFUL HAND CARVED FIRST NATION ARTWORKS AND FLIGHTS TO HAIDA GWAII TO BE WON!
ENTER TO WIN: https://rafflebox.ca/raffle/qics / $20 per Ticket
 4 My Ancestors is a cultural empowerment company founded by Megan Isaac and Pewi
Alfred, rooted in a deep commitment to healing, identity, and Indigenous resilience. Inspired by their ancestral teachings and a profound connection to their lands and people, 4 My Ancestors was created as a platform to uplift Indigenous voices through cultural revitalization, traditional knowledge, and spiritual wellness, shared through fashion. The mission of 4 My Ancestors is to bring back balance, healing, and inspiration to Indigenous communities by promoting love, respect, and a deep understanding of our roots. Guided by Indigenous teachings, the company believes that true healing begins with self-love, cultural reconnection, and honoring who we are. Through traditional values and spiritual practices, 4 My Ancestors encourages a healthy lifestyle grounded in cultural identity and ancestral wisdom. Together, Megan and Pewi share a vision to create space for cultural medicine, kindness, and compassion as powerful tools for healing and transformation. Their work actively addresses the impacts of intergenerational trauma while empowering the next generation to reclaim their stories, traditions, and self-worth. Looking to the future, 4 My Ancestors is committed to expanding its impact in Indigenous fashion, wellness, and education. Every project, collaboration, and creation serves as a bridge between past and future, honoring the ancestors while inspiring future generations to walk in strength, pride, and cultural truth. We are proud to host them as featured designers at the QICS Indigenous Fashion Gala 2025 as part of the West Coast Elders' Conference in Courtenay, BC, May 28, 2025.  We look forward to hearing inspiring words from Monique Gray Smith in her talk, Braiding Sweetgrass: Love is Medicine, at the QICS West Coast Elders' Conference in Courtenay, British Columbia. She will bring words of love and hope to our Elders to bring back to share with our communities.
Monique is a mixed heritage woman of Cree, Lakota, and Scottish descent and is the proud Mom of twins. She is an award-winning author, speaker and sought-after consultant. Monique has been running her business, Little Drum Consulting since 1996. Her career has focused on fostering paradigm shifts that emphasize the strength and resiliency of the First Peoples in Canada. Monique’s first published novel, Tilly: A Story of Hope and Resilience won the 2014 Burt Award for First Nation, Métis and Inuit Literature and her first children’s book, My Heart Fills with Happiness won the 2017 Christie Harris BC Book Award for Children’s Literature. Her latest release, Speaking our Truth: A Journey of Reconciliation is currently being used across the country as a tool to educate the hearts and minds of both young and not so young readers. Monique has been sober and involved in her healing journey for over 26 years and is well known for her storytelling, spirit of generosity and focus on resilience. For more information, visit www.komoksfestival.com or search for the West Coast Elders' Conference on Eventbrite for full details on the conference and Monique's talk.  Calling all Cedar Weavers & Those Who Want to Learn!
We will be hosting a Traditional Cedar Hat Weaving Workshop with respected Kwakwaka'wakw Master Cedar Weaver, Tiger Leonard Williams, at the close of this year's West Coast Elders' Conference. This will be a chance to sit with a Master Weaver with everything prepared for you to Begin, Learn, Laugh and Finish a Cedar Hat following Kwakwaka'wakw This will be a chance to sit with a Master Weaver with everything prepared for you to begin, Learn, laugh and finish a Cedar Hat following Kwakwaka'wakw Tradition. We will share in laughter, learning and Kwak'wala language as we weave together to create works of wearable art you will be proud to wear. Traditional Weavers of the Northwest Coast each have their style, weaving techniques, designs, and practices. It is a skill passed down through generations, and Tiger Leonard Williams honours us with this gift. You will learn about the cultural and material significance of Cedar and gain hands-on experience. We have two workshops happening ongoing throughout the day: Our Cedar Hat Weaving Workshop runs from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with a Lunch Break from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. Our Bracelet Workshops run throughout the day. Drop in for bracelet times from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. You get to keep your bracelet and hat to enjoy for years to come. You will wear them with pride, knowing they were made by your hand! Note: the Queneesh Indigenous Society West Coast Elders' Conference is for First Nation, Métis and Inuit Elders Only. The Cedar Weaving Workshops on Thursday, May 29, 2025, are open to everyone. The workshops are held outside at the Crown Isle Resort in Courtenay, British Columbia. For more information, email [email protected]  Attention all Artisan Market Vendors. Join in for the QICS 'Hase Indigenous Artisan Market, Courtenay, BC, on May 29, 2025. This will be a market of talented artisans and those sharing information important to our communities.
To register your spot, follow the link below: https://www.eventbrite.ca/.../qics-hase-indigenous... #vendor #marketplace #courtenay #vendorswanted #artisan #queneesh #indigenous  LUSH Valley is a proud member of the Island Food Hubs, a group eight of food access organizations from all across Vancouver Island.
Recently, leaders from each organization, along with Public Health and Indigenous Dietitians gathered in Port Alberni to share challenges and opportunities, and discuss ways to collaboratively address food insecurity and promote the health of urban, rural, remote and Indigenous communities on Vancouver Island. They toured the Hupacasath First Nation Community Farm and The Dock Plus to learn more about local food initiatives in the Alberni Valley and left feeling incredibly inspired! Thanks to AV Food Society for hosting, and Grassroots for feeding everyone so well – it wouldn’t be a Food Hubs gathering without delicious, nourishing local food. Check out each of the Island Food Hubs to see the exciting and unique work being done in food security all across Vancouver Island, from Victoria to Port Hardy: @avfoodsociety Capital Region Fair @clayoquotbiosphere @cowichangreencommunity @greenwaystrust Kwakiutl Health Centre @lushvalleyfood @nanaimofoodshare The Queneesh Indigenous Community Society would like to thank Lush Valley for their ongoing commitment and support of all of our communities! Gilakas'la—we love you guys!  ʔuuʔatumin yaqckʷiimitqin in Nuu-chah-nulth which translates to Doing it for our Ancestors is a project led by Tseshaht First Nation working to heal and bring answers to those affected by the Alberni Indian Residential School (AIRS).
We welcome Andrea Pettigrew, Records Coordinator and Leanne Harding, Engagement Coordinator, members of the their team of supportive and caring individuals committed to researching AIRS history and reporting truthful findings will be on hand at the conference to share about their important work. To connect with them, visit https://tseshaht.com/airs-team/  We are thrilled to welcome waakiitusis Nitanis Desjarlais, the Indigeous Foodie Mamma to the West Coast Elders' Conference. She will be offering a workshop on Traditional Plants for Food and Medicine.
Nitanis’ ancestry stems from Northern Cree territory (Fort McMurray First Nation) and she was raised in the northwest coast (Tsimshian) territory. Nitanis has emerged as a gifted storyteller and videographer with many documentaries and artistic interpretations of indigenous issues and values. Her videos and films have been showcased internationally. Her current focus is placed upon her family and community within nuučaan̓uł territory. Nitanis avidly explores the diverse medicines and traditional foods. She shares teachings with a hands-on approach with communities and organizations and practices this craft with her children on a consistent basis as a way of life. waakiitusis Nitanis Desjarlais will be with us on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 for our afternoon workshops and programming. We look forward to learning, sharing and tasting her delicious fare! To learn more about her work, visit: https://nuuchahnulthlivingarchive.com/person/waakiitusis%E2%80%8B-nitanis-desjarlais  QICS NOTICE FOR ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
6:30 PM, May 14 2025 | K’ómoks Hall | 3330 Comox Road Queneesh Indigenous Community Society formed May 15, 2024 Please join us for a review of the past year, including Reports and Financials, and Updates on 2025 Events & upcoming Programs! Pizza, Snacks & Beverages will be available complimentary; doors open at 5.30 PM We hope you can attend! There will be a DOT survey happening throughout the AGM; this will provide QICS with important information on how to support community and interest in programs. This is your chance for input for local Indigenous programs and community support ~ WE NEED YOUR VOICES! Children Welcome ~ Child Minding will be on site for those participating in the AGM QUENEESH INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY SOCIETY MANDATE: 🌿 Host Indigenous cultural awareness and educational opportunities for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people through arts and language workshops and healing programs. 🌿 Share a safe space to network, expand and work together to create opportunity in culture, language and reconciliation. 🌿 Advancing Indigenous people through in Indigenous culture, health and economic prosperity. 🌿 Connect Indigenous people to services that create opportunity in culture. 🌿 Facilitate capacity building and awareness of programs and funding options available to access grants in infrastructure, environmental stewardship, artistic development, mentorship, cultural expression, language revitalisation and heritage 🌿 Foster a sense of pride in our shared heritage through mentorship and the transfer of traditional knowledge and culture. Thank you for your consideration & support! Please join us to help build additional community support! Gilakas'la ~ Emote ~ Marsii FMI | Kat Frank, Board Secretary | 250.650.7271 | [email protected]  2025 West Coast Elders' Conference Highlights: Nancy J. Turner, PhD, OC, OBC, FRSC, Emeritus Professor | Renowned Ethnobotanist | Advocate for Indigenous Knowledge Systems
From Taking to Tending: Looking after the Lands, Looking after the Plants – a Learning Journey Ethnobotanist Nancy Turner shares her understanding of how the First Nations in our region and beyond carefully tended and cultivated plants, animals and landscapes— not as “hunter-gatherers” as she had been taught in Anthropology. ........................................................................................... Nancy Turner is one of the world’s leading ethnobotanists, celebrated for her groundbreaking work at the intersection of botany, ecology, and Indigenous knowledge. For over five decades, she has collaborated with First Nations Elders and cultural knowledge holders in western Canada, working tirelessly to document, protect, and celebrate traditional knowledge about plants, environments, and land stewardship. Nancy’s research explores how Indigenous Peoples have long managed and cared for their lands, integrating deep cultural wisdom with sophisticated ecological practices. Her work illuminates the critical roles plants and animals play in traditional food systems, medicine, ceremonies, language, and belief systems. Through her collaborative approach, she has helped communities reclaim and sustain their rich cultural heritage, while also bringing Indigenous perspectives to the forefront of ecological policy and governance. In 2015, Nancy was awarded the prestigious Pierre Elliott Trudeau Fellowship. With this support, she led a landmark symposium—Affirming Indigenous Peoples’ Land Rights with Ethnoecology and Ethnobotany—bringing together leaders and scholars to explore strategies for advancing Indigenous land rights in Canada. This important work culminated in the edited volume Plants, People, and Places (McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2020), now recognized as a key resource in the field. A prolific author, Dr. Turner has written, co-written, or edited more than 30 books and over 150 scholarly publications. Her acclaimed two-volume work, Ancient Pathways, Ancestral Knowledge, synthesizes her life’s research and was honored with the Canada Prize in the Social Sciences. Other well-known titles include Plants of Haida Gwaii, The Earth’s Blanket, Saanich Ethnobotany, and “Keeping it Living”, among many others. Nancy’s contributions have been recognized with numerous awards and honors, including membership in the Order of British Columbia (1999) and the Order of Canada (2009), as well as honorary doctorates from Vancouver Island University, the University of British Columbia, the University of Northern British Columbia, and Simon Fraser University. With a lifelong commitment to bridging cultures and fostering respect for Indigenous knowledge and ecological wisdom, Nancy Turner’s legacy continues to inspire new generations of researchers, community leaders, and policy-makers. We are honoured to have Dr. Turner as a Featured Speaker sharing her wisdom at the 2025 West Coast Elders' Conference from 1:30 - 2:30 PM on May 27, 2025.  Coast Salish Elder Raymond Tony Charlie, Penelakut Tribe, is a deeply respected educator, artist, public speaker, author, and residential school survivor who pours his heart into holistic healing as a path toward true reconciliation.
In 2012, he courageously offered his testimony during the Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings in Duncan, B.C. Elder Ray Tony’s passion for sharing knowledge and guiding meaningful dialogue has made him a beloved mentor on reconciliation. In June 2021, he joined fellow Coast Salish Elder Florence James for a Listening Circle hosted by POLIS, where their wisdom and perspectives helped participants deepen their understanding of what reconciliation calls us to do, here and now. Over the past several years, Elder Ray Tony embraced the monumental task of writing his personal story and healing journey—an honest testament to survival and resilience. His memoir, In the Shadow of the Red Brick Building, was published by Askew Creek Publishing in May 2022. On June 2, 2022, POLIS and the Centre for Global Studies honoured him with a special book launch event, recorded so that anyone eager to learn about the residential school system and reconciliation in Canada could benefit from his teachings. We are profoundly grateful to have Elder Ray Tony Charlie join us at the West Coast Elders' Conference. By generously sharing his experiences and insights, he continues to inspire hope and courage on our collective journey toward healing and reconciliation. Ray Tony Charlie will be with us on Wed, May 28, 2025, at the Crown Isle Resort and Golf Community from Noon to 3:30 PM. Link to purchase his book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/Shadow-Red-Brick.../dp/1999148118  We are honoured to share new possibilities for health with Heiltsuk physician, Dr. Don Wilson, in his inspiring talk on Food as Medicine.
Dr. Don Wilson is a member of the Heiltsuk Nation, with ancestral ties to the Haisla and Kitasoo-Xaixais Nations. He was born and raised in Bella Bella, British Columbia. He will share how healthy food can truly be medicine—nourishing our bodies and supporting our health. Supported by a grant from the Institute of Personalized Therapeutic Nutrition (IPTN), he will share how making thoughtful choices about ingredients and cooking methods can transform your wellbeing. As well as making this talk possible, IPTN, has sponsored free access to their Foundations Course for all interested conference attendees. IPTN is a not-for-profit collaboration between researchers, academics, practitioners, health decision-makers, and the patients we serve. As Canada’s first charitable organization dedicated to the advancement of evidence-based, personalized therapeutic nutrition, IPTN serves as a catalyst, rapidly moving new evidence from research to practice through training programs, professional leadership, and engagement. The adoption of food-based approaches to treat chronic diseases has the potential to reduce unnecessary suffering and health care costs, and dramatically improve health outcomes and quality of life for Canadians. They advocate for therapeutic nutrition as a fundamental and required aspect of patient care. We applaud their efforts and know that blending Indigenous ways of knowing with western medicine will strengthen our communities—and our health! To learn more about the work of IPTN, visit: https://www.therapeuticnutrition.org/about-iptn  The Queneesh Indigenous Community Society is thrilled to host Bruce Alfred – Master 'Namgis Kwakwaka’wakw Artist — for a Bentwood Box Making Workshop: Balancing Formline & Curving Wood.
Have you ever wondered how Indigenous artists craft those masterful works of artistry known as the Bentwood Box. How do they hold together? Is it glue, nails, or magic? In truth, it's none of the above. The box is formed from a single piece of wood, grooved, steamed and bent into its final shape using hand tools and pure, inspired talent. Join Bruce Alfred, respected Kwakwaka'wakw artist and carver of the 'Namgis for a special Bentwood Box Demonstration Workshop at this year's West Coast Elders' Conference. Bruce Alfred hails from "Yalis, Alert Bay on Cormorant Island off the north coast of Vancouver Island. His crests are Whale and Sun, Sisiutl, Raven, Thunderbird, and Kulus—the down-covered bird and younger sibling of Thunderbird. Bruce comes from a long line of some of the most talented artists on the West Coast. He has worked with and been mentored by many names you will know—Tony Hunt, Doug Cranmer, Richard Hunt, Beau Dick, Wayne Alfred, Bill Reid and his brother Harold Alfred. Each name holds our respect and that list taken together requires a deep breath to consider— the talent, mastery and knowledge held between them—we are awed. Bruce has produced many masterful works in his career and contributed greatly to many hugely significant projects—the replica building of a Haida village with Bill Reid and Doug Cranmer, his work in "Yalis, Alert Bay, including the restoration of the Mortuary Poles. We are hugely grateful to Bruce for his generosity is sharing his art, his stories, and his craft with all of us at his Bentwood Box Demonstration Workshop. It is an event not to be missed! Bentwood Workshop: 10 AM to 12:30 PM on Thursday, May 29, 2025, as part of the West Coast Elders' Conference in Courtenay, BC, at the Crown Isle Resort.  A huge gilakas'la to the First Credit Union for their Impact Donation towards the West Coast Elders' Conference. First Credit Union is a community owned, cooperative financial institution with branches in Powell River, Texada, Cumberland, Courtenay, Union Bay, Bowser and Bowen Island. Incorporated in 1939, they are the first credit union founded in British Columbia.
We have been more than thrilled with their services in helping Queneesh with our banking and are deeply honoured by their support of the conference! Their work helps individuals, businesses—and the environment! First Credit Union is a BC Green Certified Business. If you are looking for banking services, give them a call or visit them online at FirstCu.ca In the soft light of a winter morning, deep in the heart of his home, Secwépemc Knowledge Keeper Gerry Thomas sits in quiet ceremony. His hands, steady and weathered like old cedar, move with purpose. In this sacred space—his humble basement workshop—he brings to life a practice gifted by his ancestors: the weaving of cedar bark baskets.
The warmth of the wood stove hums, and a distant melody plays on the radio, but it is the ancestral songs carried in his spirit that truly guide him. As his hands braid the bark, he remembers the teachings of his grandmother Christine Allen and his mother, the late Elder Mary Thomas. Their voices live on in him, like whispers in the wind, telling stories not only of survival—but of deep reverence for the land, the seasons, and the sacred circle of life. This is no mere craft. This is a sacred act of remembering. Thousands of years ago, before the world was covered in roads and noise, the People—the Secwépemc—wove baskets with the same love and intention. Near the village of Pritchard, where the land still breathes the old songs, burial baskets have been found resting 15 to 20 feet beneath the Earth’s skin. Elders and archaeologists alike believe they are more than 8,000 years old. These baskets carried food, medicines, and sometimes, the bones of those returning to the Spirit World. Their very presence in the soil is proof: we have always been here. Even as the world rushes forward, this sacred tradition remains. The materials are gathered with prayer—cedar roots and birchbark from the forest, cherry bark to bring the Earth’s color and song to the sides. Each element is alive. Each carries a spirit. Each must be treated with respect. In the time of our ancestors, winter was for weaving. The kekulis—our winter homes dug into the earth—were warm sanctuaries shared by families of four to six. Outside, a smaller pit house kept the winter’s hunt and gathered roots safe. Inside, shelves held dried berries, fish, and dried meats—small offerings of nourishment for long nights spent storytelling and creating. While the cold winds howled above, inside, the heart of the people pulsed with life, laughter, and teachings. “Summer is for gathering,” Gerry remembers his mother saying. “The Earth gives us what we need when we walk with care.” The cedar roots used to stitch the baskets must be used the same year they are gathered. Their spirit is freshest then. In late fall, the people would hunt the male moose and deer, always leaving the females to walk freely—to carry the future in their wombs. This too was ceremony. This too was respect. The hides became drums that spoke the heartbeat of the land, and clothing that kept the people warm in long winters. All of it—basket, hide, root, drum—woven not only by hands, but by a way of seeing the world. A way that remembers all life is connected, all time is sacred, and every act done in respect is a prayer. Gerry Thomas does not just make baskets. He listens to the land. He remembers. He teaches through doing. And with every stitch of cedar, he honors the breath of the ones who came before. We are honoured to have Gerry Thomas with us at the 2025 West Coast Indigenous Elders' Conference in Courtenay, British Columbia, May 27-29, 2025.  We are honoured to have the team from the Ne'nagwa'nakwala Project with us at the West Coast Elder's Conference. Their work, undertaken by members from 'Namgis First Nation, is focused on investigating the potential burial sites and graves of former students at St. Michael's Indian Residential School in Alert Bay, British Columbia.
The project and its important work aims to locate missing students and address the ongoing legacy of the school. They are working to address the legacy of St. Michael's Residential School and locate missing students and their burial sites. The project involves searching for and investigating potential burial grounds and graves associated with the former school.  The Queneesh Indigenous Community Society (QICS) would like to thank tThe Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) for their ongoing support of our initatives, workshops, festivals and West Coast Elders' Conference.
The CVRD has named Indigenous Relations as one of four strategic drivers, through which CVRD services are being delivered. To support Indigenous Relations as a driver, the CVRD adopted a framework in September 2019 to deliver core services with an Indigenous Relations lens and promote greater cultural awareness. Their work continues to uplift our communities enhancing the knowledge and understanding of Indigenous culture and history, including the modern day legacy of colonial history; building capacity of all elected officials and staff to be engaged in collaborative work with Indigenous communities and people; and responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and the United Nation’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The CVRD is committed to building its relationship with First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples and advancing reconciliation. At its first meeting of 2021, the Board of Directors adopted a statement of reconciliation that will continue to guide the CVRD’s work with Indigenous peoples. QICS would like to recognize the work and commitment of all of their employees, with a very special thank you to Christianne Wile, Senior Manager of Strategic Initiatives, for her counsel, dedication and tireless work building strength between our two organizations. To read more about their work and their Advancing Reconciliation Statement, visit: https://www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/indigenousrelations  Gilakas'la! We are excited to announce the West Coast Indigenous Elders Conference will be held May 27 - 29, 2025 at the Crown Isle Resort, 399 Clubhouse Drive, Courtenay, Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
The 2025 West Coast Indigenous Elders Conference will bring together our Elders to share, learn, create and celebrate our rich diversity of Indigenous cultures through a variety of events and activities. The Queneesh Indigenous Community Society is seeking sponsorship to help make this three-day event a hugely enjoyable and transformative experience for our First Nation, Inuit and Métis 50+ years young attendees who will be coming together on the Traditional Territory of the K’ómoks First Nation. Thank you for supporting this impactful event and the gifts your contribution to this conference will bring to our Elders and communities throughout British Columbia and western Canada. Feel free to email [email protected] or [email protected] for details on how to get involved. |
NUSANusa is the Kwak'wala word for sharing a myth, story or legend. Here we will share about the many stories of those coming together for our annual celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day each June 21st 
EXPLORE & SHOP THE HASE' MARKET
FIRST NATION MASKS, PHOTOGRAPHY, CARDS, TIE-DYED CLOTHING, HANDMADE POTTERY, JEWELRY, UP-CYCLED CLOTHING, UP-CYCLED JEWELRY, INDIGENOUS ART PRINTS, FIRST NATIONS ORIGINAL ART, PHOTOGRAPHY, SHAWLS, T-SHIRTS, TANK TOPS, INDIGENOUS EARRINGS, BRACELETS, LEATHER EARRINGS, STERLING PENDANTS & NECKLACES, NATURAL LOTIONS, LIP BALMS, BODY BUTTER, NATIVE PLANT SEEDS, TRADITIONAL MEDICINE PRODUCTS, BAGS, SCARVES, GIFTS, CARDS, DELICIOUS FOODS—SMOKED SALMON, SEAFOOD CHOWDER, SOCKEYE, FRIED BREAD, BANNOCK, HOT SAUCE, FRESH FRUIT & VEGGIES, DARK CHOCOLATE CARAMEL APPLES, CARAMEL POPCORN, CHOCOLATE GRIZZLY PAWS, FUDGE, MINI-DONUTS—ALL MADE WITH LOVE! SO MANY CHOICES! WHAT'S ON YOUR LIST? 
Art GalleryMagnificent First Nation Carvings, Masks, Boxes, Blankets, Regalia, Headdresses, Aprons, Rattles, Whistles, Paintings & Bowls
Legends of the Masks
Tum Tum Threads
Conscious designs handmade by Zapotec in Oaxaca and Kwakwaka'wakw from the Great Bear Rainforest 
DUCHESS BANNOCK
2023 LOGO WINNER
Artist Craig Simon
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