​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.
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​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

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.

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.

When words, actions, and intentions align, something truly beautiful is born. Meet Tumtum Threads—where stories are woven, cultures are celebrated, and traditions come together in vibrant harmony.

At the heart of Tumtum Threads is the extraordinary vision of Bruce Alfred, a highly respected artist and a truly inspiring human being. Bruce’s creative genius bridges nations and generations, bringing to life Tumtum Threads: Weaving Stories & Weaving Cultures.

Tumtum Threads is more than a collection of textiles—it’s a tapestry of hope, unity, and collaboration. 

It’s where the proud First Nations families of the Kwakwaka'wakw people of the Pacific Northwest Coast join hands with the master Zapotec weavers of Oaxaca, Mexico. 

Together, they create handcrafted pieces that are as meaningful as they are beautiful.

In Teotitlán del Valle, a renowned Zapotec weaving village, families like Arnulfo Lazaro Bautista’s have passed down their artistry through generations. 

Using time-honored techniques and all-natural dyes, they create stunning cushions for Tumtum.

Their palette includes:

• Blue from indigo
• Red from the tiny but mighty cochinilla insect
• Black from the Zapote Negro fruit (a delicious plum flavor!)
• Grey from blending natural sheep wools—no dye needed

In Mitla, famous for its ancient ruins and breathtaking mosaics, Arturo Hernandez Quero’s family masterfully weaves Tumtum’s cotton and wool throws on traditional pedal looms. Every piece reflects centuries of Zapotec expertise and artistry.

But Tumtum is more than craftsmanship. It’s a celebration of cultures woven together—a powerful reminder that we are all connected, no matter where we come from. 

Their inaugural collection highlights the intricate artistry of Oaxaca blended beautifully with the bold, sacred designs of the 'Namgis.

Tumtum Threads offers an exquisite selection of handwoven blankets, throws, cushion covers, and tapestries, each piece carrying the spirit of family, heritage, and artistry. Every item is a timeless treasure—something to cherish today and pass down for generations to come.

Discover the beauty of collaboration, tradition, and artistry. Visit tumtumthreads.com and explore their collection. You can experience and purchase their pieces from the U'mista Cultrual Centre Gift Shop in 'Yalis, Alert Bay, Cormorant Island, British Columbia

​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.

A HUGE THANK YOU TO THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT CONTRIBUTED LOVE, HEART, KNOWLEDGE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPONSORSHIP TO THE K'ÓMOKS FESTIVAL 2023

All Elders and K’ómoks community & K’ómoks Elected Chief & Councillors and a special thank you to Hereditary Chief of the Pentlatch ‘NAMNAMAM and Hereditary Chief of the K’omoks Yax’nukwalas, Kerry Norman Frank—you are all amazing!

We are grateful to so many wonderful businesses, organization and community members who came together in time, energy and resources to create this community event.

The K’ómoks First Nation community and larger Courtenay and Comox Communities provided great feedback on the K’ómoks Festival held earlier in the day. 

It was uplifting to come together as a community to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day beside the Norman Frank Memorial Pole, 3535 Bayside Road, Courtenay, British Columbia on the Lands of the K’ómoks First Nation. 

The festival was a cultural feast with fluent speakers and dancers who have dedicated their lives to the traditions of our people. The event had more than 300 guests including vendors, sponsorship organizations and volunteers. 

The morning program, Welcome Ceremony and Keynote Address by Joanna Recalma were very moving. She gave an eloquent and heartfelt address speaking to the death of K’ómoks First Nation member Keisha Mayers who passed away in the Comox Valley Hospital. 

Joanna Recalma has offered to provide a copy of her Keynote to us to share on the K’ómoks Festival website once Keisha Mayer’s father’s permission is obtained.

Panikpak Letitia Pokiak shared a talk on Climate Change as part of our Knowledge Keeper Speaker Program in the morning Welcome Ceremony. Panikpak is from Tuktuuyaqtuuq located in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, of the Western Arctic, North West Territories. As an Inuvialuk, she was raised traditionally on Inuvialuit Nunangat, her Arctic homeland, which frames her lens and worldview. Her engaging talk was well attended.

Opening Ceremony for Queneesh / Qʷənɛs House, designed and built by Hereditary Chief Yax’nukwalas, K'ómoks & Pentlatch Hereditary Chief Namnam’am, Kerry Norman Frank, was awe-inspiring. Charlie Joseph, “Boon,” was thanked for his significant contribution in transferring Kerry Norman Frank’s design and vision to the front of Queneesh House.

Hereditary Chief Dick Dick Dawson, Hereditary Chief Robert Williams and Hereditary Chief Dicky Joseph conducted the ceremonies on behalf of Hereditary Chief Kerry Norman Frank. The Historic Opening ceremony included dances by K'ómoks First Nation members and the Yisya̱’winux̱w Dancers.

The Featured Exhibition, Legends Behind the Masks, welcomed guests to witness artworks by some of the most celebrated First Nation Artists and Carvers on the West Coast including artwork by Henry Speck Sr., Dicky Joseph, newly appointed Director-At-Large, Tommy Hunt Jr., Waławidi, Wayne Alfred, Richard Hunt, the Late Beau Dick, Late Marcus Alfred, Late Douglas Cranmer, Geary Cranmer, Bruce Alfred—and, Rachelle Marie Antoine, newly appointed Director-At-Large and K'ómoks and Saik'uz First Nation Artist.

The Bentwood Box Workshop with Bruce Alfred, Cedar Hat Weaving Workshop with Leonard Williams, Weaving Workshop: Emily Recalma, 'Namgis & Pentlatch Weaving, and Tours of Kus-Kus-Sum Estuary with Dan Bowen and Caila Holbrook from Project Watershed were especially well attended.  

The K’ómoks Queneesh Under the Sun Community Art Mural designed by respected Kwakwaka'wakw ‘Namgis artist and carver, Bruce Alfred, from “Yalis, Alert Bay, Cormorant Island, British Columbia, was very popular with our young people and children from the Courtenay and Comox communities.

Many guests chose to explore the foreshore and participate in our Archaeologist for the Day where they joined members of the community on walking tours of the K’ómoks Shell Middens at Comox Harbour. Elders shared their history, and how stewardship and innovation have been applied in the past and live on today.​

It was an amazing day because of you! We look forward to coming together again in 2025 for many wonderful events with all of you! A very special thank you to Kat Frank and Heidi Henderson for having the inspiration, passion and drive to bring us all together.

On behalf of the Queneesh Indigenous Community Society and Comox Rocks, we are honoured, so honoured to know and count all of you as part of our vibrant community!

To each and every one of you, Gilakas'la!

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 this year's K'ómoks Festival.

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. Traditional Weavers of the Northwest Coast each have their own style, weaving techniques, designs and practice. 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 learn-by-doing. It is our longest workshop and runs 6-hours from 10AM to 5PM with a Lunch Break Noon to 1PM.

Tiger Leonard Williams has kindly offered to give a Cedar Bracelet Weaving Workshop from Noon to 1PM for those unable to attend the Cedar Hat Weaving Workshop.

To Register Visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/komoks-festival-vendor-registration-cedar-hat-weaving-workshop-tickets-878588591127?aff=oddtdtcreator

​You get to keep your hat and wear it with pride knowing it was made by your hand!

One of the now rare species of oysters in the Pacific Northwest is the Olympia oyster, Ostrea lurida, (Carpenter, 1864).  While rare today, these are British Columbia’s only native oyster. 

Had you been dining on their brethren in the 1800s or earlier, it would have been this species you were consuming. Middens from Port Hardy to California are built from Ostrea lurida.

These wonderful invertebrates bare their souls with every bite. Have they lived in cold water, deep beneath the sea, protected from the sun's rays and heat? Are they the rough and tumble beach denizens whose thick shells tell us of a life spent withstanding the relentless pounding of the sea? Is the oyster in your mouth thin and slimy having just done the nasty—spurred by the warming waters of Spring? 

Is this oyster a local or was it shipped to your current local and, if asked, would greet you with "Kon'nichiwa?" Not if the beauty on your plate is indeed Ostrea lurida. 

We have been cultivating, indeed maximizing the influx of invasive species to the cold waters of the Salish Sea for many years. 

But in the wild waters off the coast of British Columbia is the last natural abundant habitat of the tasty Ostrea lurida in the pristine waters of  Nootka Sound. 

The area is home to the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations who have consumed this species boiled or steamed for thousands of years. Here these ancient oysters not only survive but thrive — building reefs and providing habitat for crab, anemones and small marine animals. 

Oysters are in the family Ostreidae — the true oysters. Their lineage evolved in the Early Triassic — 251 - 247 million years ago. 

In Kwak'wala, an oyster is known as t̕łox̱t̕łox̱. Yes, that is quite a tongue twister but not to worry. We will have beautiful souls sharing their knowledge of both Coast Salish and Kwak'wala so you can learn how to say oyster, clam, whale and more. By any name they are delicious and we look forward to tasting some with you this year's K'ómoks Festival!

​Learn the Story of the 32 Ft Norman Frank Memorial Pole—carved by Tlingit Kwaguʼł Master Carver, Tommy Hunt Jr., raised in September 10, 2022 by Chief Kerry Frank & Family for his late father, Chief Norman Frank. The Memorial Pole now stands proudly along the Comox Foreshore. It speaks to the community's strength and ties to our Traditional Ways.

Norman Frank, who held the name Nim Nim um, was Hereditary, as well as, Elected Chief of the K’ómoks First Nation for over 30 years. He was a quiet man, generous to a fault and always willing to help others.

The Frank Memorial Pole was carved by Tommy Hunt Jr., to honour Chief Norman Frank and to build strength into and uplift the community. The potlatch was hosted by Hereditary Chief Yax’nukwalas, K'ómoks & Pentlatch Hereditary Chief Namnam’am, Kerry Norman Frank. He uplifted his family and friends, his community—a legacy that lives on into the next generation. It was a powerful day of mourning, healing and coming together that will be remembered for all time.

It is fitting that Tommy Hunt Jr. should be chosen to carve this work. His work is masterful and his close connection to the Frank family and the K'ómoks Community are reflected in this magnificent pole—at once public art and family legacy—that stands proudly at the Comox foreshore.

Tommy Hunt Jr., who holds the name Waławidi was born Thomas Daniel Hunt in 1964 to Hereditary Kwakwaka’wakw Chief George David Hunt (Born 1931) and Mary Susan (May) Hunt neé Henderson (1936-2022). His mother's parents were Sam Sr.  & May Henderson. His father's parents were Thomas (Tommy) Harris Hunt (1906-1983) & Emma (1912-1997) Hunt neé Billy.

​Waławidi is a father, mentor and respected community leader who we are honoured to know and call family.  ​You will want to plan time to look at all the fine carving and detail he poured into the Frank Memorial Pole. It is breathtaking to behold!

K’ómoks Festival is a free, family-friendly annual event honouring National Indigenous Peoples Day. Everyone is welcome. June 21, 2024, 9 AM to 7 PM, 3535 Bayside Road, Courtenay, British Columbia, Canada—with so much to explore! 

Spend time with our Indigenous Knowledge Keepers, and hear talks on Climate Change, Stewardship, and Traditional Indigenous Ways of Governing versus Western Law. Participate in Traditional Medicine, Plant & Food Workshops, Sacred Salmon Pit Cook Demonstration, and Hands-On Learning through Art for Children & Youth.

We welcome Hereditary Chief Dick Dick Dawson, Hereditary Chief Robert Williams and Hereditary Chief Dicky Joseph to conduct the ceremonies. These respected leaders have long standing relationships with Hereditary Chief Kerry Norman Frank and our families. We are honoured to have them with us. 

This will be a cultural feast with fluent speakers and dancers who have dedicated their lives to the traditions of our people. We will share what the blankets represent, the meaning behind the masks and the protocols of what you will witness. We are honoured to host you.

Bring a friend and come and enjoy the delicious Hase' Artisan Market. You will have a chance to see, taste, smell and purchase a wonderful assortment of foods, Traditional handmade delights and meet some wonderful people.

For this event, there is free parking onsite for those with mobility issues. There is additional parking for your use at 3330 Comox Road. You are also welcome to Take BC Transit to 3420 or 3330 Comox Road—or walk, bike, hike or kayak to this year's festival. A Festival Shuttle will be running between the Festival Parking areas and Festival site. There will be Washrooms & ATM onsite. 

We will have seating and shaded areas to rest. We have free food and non-alcoholic drinks available. Please ensure you keep yourself hydrated and comfortable on the day. We will have First Aid Staff onsite for any health concerns.

This is an open, community event with activities for everyone. We are so excited to share the day with all of you!   

​
Welcome guests at this year's festival will witness artworks on display by some of the most celebrated First Nation Artists and Carvers on the West Coast.
​
Learn the Legends Behind the Masks through interactive stories and the magnificent artwork of Henry Speck Sr., Dicky Joseph, Tommy Hunt Jr., Waławidi, Wayne Alfred, Richard Hunt, the Late Beau Dick, Late Marcus Alfred, Late Douglas Cranmer, Geary Cranmer, Bruce Alfred & Rachelle Antoine.

K’ómoks Festival is a free, family-friendly event anticipated to attract up to 300 visitors from Vancouver Island and beyond to witness the historic opening of Queneesh House, hear talks and presentations, view rare masterpieces in First Nation art and carvings, participate in tours, and attend workshops designed to provide a culturally rich experience.

Come as our guests from 9AM - 7PM, June 21, 2024 at 3535 Bayside Road, Courtenay, BC for National Indigenous Peoples Day!

Comox Rocks Brings on the Smiles—We are delighted to offer some amazing drop-in craft, workshops and special treats for Children & Youth at this year's K'ómoks Festival.

We'll have Kelly Everill working her creative magic transforming our Littles into Butterflies, Bears and more with her magnificent Face Painting. She will be offering Art Classes and Rock Painting for all to enjoy. 

Let's Get Messy—from 2 PM to 6 PM, the awesome team at Lake Park Society (look for their tent) will have drop-in art and activity classes for children and youth of all ages and abilities. All programs are free to participate in. Bring home a memory of the festival to hang on your fridge or frame for all time!

Let's create something amazing together! Guests of all ages are encouraged to participate in the 2024 K’ómoks Queneesh Under the Sun Community Art Mural Project, a large-scale mural celebrating Queneesh—and all of you! 

Come together to create Legacy Art where everyone contributes their smiles, creativity and a dab of paint! The theme for this year's festival is Queneesh Under the Sun—honouring Solstice and the Historic Opening of Queneesh House.

​The work will live onsite after the event and be viewed for years to come. You can tell folks that you were there and that wee dab bit of red, yellow, blue or green—that was you!

HISTORIC OPENING OF QUENEESH HOUSE BY HEREDITARY CHIEF YAX’NUKWALAS, K'ÓMOKS & PENTLATCH HEREDITARY CHIEF NAMNAM’AM, KERRY NORMAN FRANK, ON THE LANDS OF THE K'ÓMOKS FIRST NATION

Opening ceremonies will be held in conjunction with the K’ómoks Festival 2024 on June 21, 2024, honouring National Indigenous Peoples Day 

Hereditary Chief Yax’nukwalas, K'ómoks & Pentlatch Hereditary Chief Namnam’am, Kerry Norman Frank invites the community to witness the historic opening of Queneesh House on National Indigenous Peoples Day, June 21, 2024, on the Lands of the K’ómoks First Nation. The Welcome Ceremony will begin at 9AM and the Opening Ceremony will begin at 1PM.

We welcome Hereditary Chief Dick Dick Dawson, Hereditary Chief Robert Williams and Hereditary Chief Dicky Joseph to conduct the ceremonies. These respected leaders have long standing relationships with Hereditary Chief Kerry Norman Frank and our families. We are honoured to have them with us. 

This will be a cultural feast with fluent speakers and dancers who have dedicated their lives to the traditions of our people.

Queneesh House is built in the old style and incorporates designs from our ancestors from K’ómoks and Kelsey Bay. It is named for the beautiful glacier of legend who watches over it. We call the Comox Glacier, Qʷənɛs (kwun-ees). It is also the K'ómoks word for whale. The two are closely tied together in history and legend.

Our ancestors lived along these shorelines, rivers and estuaries, close to and in synch with the rhythm of the seasons and the tides. Queneesh House stands proudly on these shores and reaches back in time to call to them. 
​
Her walls and wood feel the caress of the wind and salt off the sea. As we stand within them we will feel it, too, and smell the smoke from the fire, the fresh salt air of a new season—the bounty of sacred salmon in the Pit Cook. We will hear the drums, bare feet on the ground, voices rising and know that we celebrate just as our ancestors did in the time of Queneesh. 

We invite you to join us as we mark the Solstice—sharing our culture, stories, and our communities' pride in National Indigenous Peoples Day—as we welcome a new season of life. 

We will honour and open Queneesh House on this historic occasion through blessings, dancing and ceremony. There is a full day of activities to mark this momentous day as part of the K’ómoks Festival 2024.

The event will feature celebrated First Nation Artists, Carvers, Yisya̱’winux̱w Dancers, Singers & Knowledge Keepers sharing their cultural gifts with all of us. 

The K’ómoks Festival 2024 feature exhibition is Legends Behind the Masks, an exhibition of some of the finest examples of West Coast First Nations art and carvings. 

Learn the Story of the Frank Memorial Pole—Carved by Tlingit Kwaguʼł Master Carver, Tommy Hunt Jr., Waławidi & Feature Exhibition—Legends Behind the Masks. 

Guests will witness artworks on display by some of the most celebrated First Nation Artists and Carvers on the West Coast including artwork by Henry Speck Sr., Dicky Joseph, Tommy Hunt Jr., Waławidi, Wayne Alfred, Richard Hunt, the Late Beau Dick, Late Marcus Alfred, Late Douglas Cranmer, Geary Cranmer, Bruce Alfred & Rachelle Antoine.

Workshops include Bentwood Box Demonstrations with respected Kwakwaka'wakw artist and carver, Bruce Alfred, of the 'Namgis from “Yalis, Alert Bay, Cormorant Island, British Columbia. 

Those interested in being an Archaeologist for the Day to join us on walking tours of the K’ómoks Fish Weirs and Middens along the foreshore at Comox Harbour to learn their history, and how stewardship and innovation have been applied in the past and lives on today. 

We will share the work and offer Tours of Kus-Kus-Sum—a project to help restore balance and harmony to the land on the northern riverside of the Courtenay River at the confluence of the river and the K’ómoks Estuary with our community partners including Project Watershed, Interfor and the City of Courtenay. Dan Bowen, member, and Caila Holbrook, Manager of Education and Outreach, Comox Valley Project Watershed Society, with be guiding the tour.​

Spend time with our Indigenous Knowledge Keepers, and hear talks on Climate Change, Stewardship, and Traditional Indigenous Ways of Governing versus Western Law. Participate in Traditional Medicine, Plant & Food Workshops, Sacred Salmon Pit Cook Demonstration, and Hands-On Learning through Art for Children & Youth—plus enjoy the delicious food and vendor market. 

About K’ómoks Festival 2024: 
K’ómoks Festival is a free, family-friendly annual event honouring National Indigenous Peoples Day. Everyone is welcome. June 21, 2024, 9 AM to 7 PM, 3535 Bayside Road, Courtenay, British Columbia, Canada

Come Celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day on the Lands of the K'ómoks First Nation from 9AM to 7PM on June 21, 2024. Enjoy the Traditional Sacred Salmon Pit Cook on the Beach. Learn how the Pit Cook is built and how the salmon is harvested. Oh, the smell of salmon smoking. Delish!

Come Celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day on the Lands of the K'ómoks First Nation. Hereditary Chief Yax’nukwalas, K'ómoks & Pentlatch Hereditary Chief Namnam’am, Kerry Norman Frank Invites You to Witness the Historic Opening of Queneesh House.

The first of many ceremonies will be held on June 21, 2024, to honour and open the space named for the beautiful glacier of legend who watches over it. We call the Comox Glacier, Qʷənɛs (kwun-ees), which is also the K'ómoks word for whale. The two are closely tied together in history and legend.

For many years, our ancestors lived along the shoreline, rivers and estuaries, close to and in synch with the rhythm of the seasons and the tides. Queneesh House now stands on these shores. Her walls and wood feel the caress of the wind and salt off the sea.

As we stand together on June 21st, we will feel it, too. We'll smell the smoke from the fire, the fresh salt air of a new season—the bounty of salmon in the Pit Cook. We'll hear the drums, bare feet on ground, voices rising and know that we celebrate just as our ancestors did in the time of Queneesh. 

We invite you to join us as we mark the Solstice—sharing our culture, our stories, our communities pride in National Indigenous Peoples Day—and welcome a new season of life.

Come learn the legend of Queneesh, the inspiration that led to this building's creation in the old style. We look forward to being with you on this historical occasion and very special day!

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 K'ómoks Festival.

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!

You're invited to be an Archaeologist for the Day at this year's K’ómoks Festival. Join us for a walking tour of the K’ómoks Fish Weirs along the river mouth along the foreshore at Comox Harbour from 11AM to 2PM on June 21, 2024. 

A fish weir is a series of stakes set out in a pattern to trap fish. They are used in estuaries, rivers and streams to harvest the sea's bounty.

Fish weirs are fences built to let water flow through and gently direct and guide fish to a place where they can be captured and harvested. It is a wonderfully efficient system that allows for the capture of this resource when the fish are at their most plentiful.   

After noticing the thousands of wood stakes in the intertidal zone along the shoreline, an intrigued archaeologist began to explore the site, count the stakes and make some heart pounding conclusions.

Community Archaeologist Nancy Greene and her team mapped more than 13,600 Cedar and Fir tree stakes from an estimated 300 fish traps! 

The scale of the endeavor is awe-inspiring and so is the age. The weirs are a technology that dates back 1,300 years to the 8th century. When Nancy reached out to Elders from the K’ómoks Nation to share their knowledge of the stakes, she learned that some had been told by their grandparents the stakes were used as weirs.

And for their age, the stakes are in remarkable shape. The preservation allowed the team to look closely at their design and notice subtle changes. The younger stakes were originally designed and placed to harvest the herring we see along the east coast of Vancouver Island in early Spring each year. 

Herring and herring roe are still harvested each year. Both are delicious and an excellent source of protein, Vitamin A & D, iron, zinc and other nutrients. You may have seen the frothy roe along the shores last month. It is gathered on cedar branches and eaten fresh, dried or rehydrated. Dried herring roe is especially tasty if you mix it with oil and salmonberry shoots.

Outside of our enjoying them, herring are important to our ecosystems and feed the many animals we are blessed to call neighbours—and relatives!

Up the coast in the Great Bear Rainforest, millions of birds and thousands and thousands of seals and sea lions gather to feast on them each year. They are joined by Humpback and Gray Whales in a frenzied all-you-can-eat herring buffet!

The early fish traps on the beach were built to allow for the scooping up of herring from the water during a declining tide with baskets, dip nets, or using spears and long-handled rakes. 
Later, the traps were altered to take in the bounty of larger fish—chum, pink, coho, chinook and sockeye salmon. It would have been an epic system to have seen in use. 

Test your fish weir stake spotting skills as we celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day on the longest day of the year. As you walk along, see how many of the fish weir stakes you can count.
Are you up for the challenge? Can you count them all? We'll have a place for you to drop your name and contact number your count from the day. Your final total is based on an honours system. The highest count will win a prize.

ARCHAEOLOGIST FOR THE DAY / FISH WEIRS ON THE FORESHORE 11AM - 2PM
(Free Family-Friendly Event for the Community)

You are welcome to come to 3535 Bayside Road, Comox to participate in the festival and this Archaeologist for the Day Workshop. There is no need to register.

Plants and animals have many names in many languages. During the tour, we will share resources to name some of the living species you will see along the shoreline in both Coast Salish and Kwak'wala. 

Low Tide is Noon. Dress for the weather and know that the rocks can be slippery! For any cuts, bangs or bruises, know that we have trained First Aid attendants onsite. 

This is a family-friendly festival and experiential workshop. School groups are welcome with accompanying supervision. This program is from 11AM - 2PM.

Before, after or instead of this program, you can join in the fun at various Children and Youth Workshops under the Tents on the festival grounds. These run continuously from 11AM - 6PM.

Stroll up, join in and enjoy the day! 

Rachel Jannati, a Traditional Knowledge Keeper shares how each of us can live in harmony with nature and enjoy the benefits of Traditional plant medicines. Her passion has led to the creation of a unique line of skin care products that uses all native plants harvested from K'ómoks First Nation territory. 

4 Sacred's Indigenous skin care brings the very best to soothe, hydrate and rejuvenate our bodies while honouring our Cultural Traditions. Her line features Sage, Stinging Nettle, Wild Rose, Snow Mushroom, Cedarwood and Devil's Club—all harvested through the sacred practice is steeped in the respectful tradition of taking only what is needed and thanking the Earth for the bounty received.

4 Sacred follows Indigenous protocols around harvesting in their sustainable harvesting model and apply an ethical picking practice—utilizing just 20% of a crop area so plants will reproduce naturally and be available for all year after year. Her products have a positive impact on the community by keeping Traditional Medicine alive and teaching people about the Traditional uses of each of the plants. 

Rachel will be hosting a Devil's Club Workshop at this year's festival. We are excited to learn what she has to share and to spend time absorbing her extensive knowledge of our sacred plants. ​This is knowledge passed down from generation to generation—and now to all of you!

We wanted to share with each of you the story of the development of Kus-kus-sum—a project to revitalize the land on the northern riverside of the Courtenay River at the confluence of the river and the K’ómoks Estuary.

Kus-kus-sum was the name of a First Nation village near where the Courtenay Airpark sits today. The name means very slippery—a nod to the algae that grows along the shoreline of the old village site. 
The northern side of the river—and likely the current Kus-kus-sum site—held mortuary trees and were burial grounds for our ancestors of the Kus-kus-sum village. 

K’ómoks First Nation named this area Kus-kus-sum in 2017. The name honours the memory of this ancient village and those who lived, loved and were buried in the trees and grounds of this sacred land.

Back in the 1930s, the site was tidally influenced by the forested riverside and riparian habitat, a vital contributor to the health of local riverine and estuarine creatures. 

If you head over to Hollyhock Flats you can see what the area used to look like—and may do so again. In the 1940s, the site was logged and cleared to install a sawmill and the marshy areas became home to environmentally harmful debris from that enterprise. 

Fines were paid, and apologies were made. The site was bought and sold over the years and a new restoration plan began. 

That new beginning was the collaboration of Interfor Corporation and Project Watershed. Instead of selling off the property for a profit, Interfor chose to work on a conservation plan to return the site to its former pristine glory.

Through fundraising efforts, education and conservation work, teams of sponsors and volunteers, the site is being rewilded. Native plants that once flourished here are being replanted. Today you can see their work in the flourishing displays of Nootka Rose, willows, alder, Douglas fir, red flowering currants and Salmonberry bushes that are reclaiming the land. Those inviting plants are bringing back insects, birds and animals who now call this area home. 

A huge thank you to the City of Courtenay, Interfor, Project Watershed, K’ómoks Milestone Joint Venture, Streamside Native Plants, Chinook Forest Products and Grow Tree Care—plus dozens of amazing volunteers. Your work betters our world today—the City of Courtenay and Lands of the K’ómoks for future generations. 

During this year's festival, Dan Bowen, member, and Caila Holbrook, Manager of Education and Outreach, Comox Valley Project Watershed Society, with be guiding the tour of the estuary.

It is our hope to provide the same love and care in rewilding the K’ómoks Foreshore with native plants to help teach Traditional Medicine and foraging practices and for the beauty they will create.

Salmonberry: The glorious berries you see here are the ripe fruit of the Salmonberry, a delicious member of the Rose Family. For generations, we have enjoyed both the berries and the new sprouts each Spring. If you pick them and peel them, they are delicious raw (we sometimes dip them in sugar. Shhhh). You can steam the bright green, bendy stems as a "vegetable" side dish.

Look for them in May and June in shaded swamps, beside our estuary, along the roadside and along the shoreline. So good!

Rubus spectabilis (Pursh); Rosaceae / In Kwak'wala we call Salmonberry: 'kamdzakw ('Kum-zook) and Salmonberry Sprouts: k'wa'lam (Quat-sum)

Learn to eat like a local at this year's ​Kʼómoks Festival. Did you know that the Clover you see as you walk around the community has delicious roots enjoyed as a vegetable for many Coastal First Nations in British Columbia?

For generations, we have not only harvested them but kept clover patches groomed and cared for so that our families and many relations could collected the tap-roots of this beautiful and tasty herbaceous perennial. The largest of these are harvested in early Spring, leaving the smaller ones cleared of rock and debris to grow strong and lush.

Sometimes, the clover roots were wrapped in cleaned Skunk Cabbage leaves and buried deep in the cooking fire's hot ashes to roast. They can be also stacked on a cedarwood plank in a kettle, covered with damp cedar bank and boiled or steamed. For a larger feast with many guests, the tap-roots are steamed in big cedar boxes. It fills the air with the most delicious aroma!

​Look for them as you visit the beach and on your walks around town. They love soft-sandy soil like the type we find in our coastal dunes, estuaries and tidal meadows—so they love Kʼómoks Territory.

In Kwak'wala, we call them ‘ta’gwanu (pronounced tag-wanu). 

We are honoured to showcase the art of Wayne Alfred, a highly respected Kwakwaka'wakw artist, singer, dancer and Knowledge Keeper from 'Yalis, Alert Bay, British Columbia. 

Wayne has learned from and worked with many of the most renowned First Nations on the West Coast including the Late Henry Hunt, Charlie George Xalxidi, the Late Beau Dick, the Late Benjamin (Blackie) Dick (Sr), the Late Russell Smith Ye-Ku-tla-las—to give all—and the Late 'Namgis Chief Pal'nakwala Wakas and Kesu' Doug Cranmer. Great Masters all.

His work reflects the Traditional culture of the 'Namgis and the oral and written traditions of his respected mentors and family. Wayne's work has earned him respect and a reputation as an artist to watch. His work is meticulous, dramatic—mixing Traditional and contemporary elements to create something new, fresh and compelling. 

​He has gifted us all through his paintings and carvings of poles, boxes, masks, bowls, frontlets and rattles. The original painting above, Chief Maker, is his work from 1994. The image is at once powerful and engaging. His work earned him the British Columbia Creative Achievement Award for First Nations Art in 2012.

Beyond his carvings and paintings, he is an engaging historian and sublime First Nations dancer. He fills his words and his dance with heart and honest reflection. He can regale you with tales of his fishing exploits humbly knowing his works sit in places of honour in First Nation households, communities and museums around the globe.

​We are honoured to showcase him and celebrate Wayne's gifts to us all.