Project Team

Elders

 

Wayne Charlie

Wayne Charlie, Pulxwuletse’, is from Kwa’mutsun, where he was raised by his grandmother Celetsine Jimmy, Kwulkwulxumaat. Wayne is a longhouse speaker, a carver, and a language and culture mentor. He was a canoe puller for many years starting in 1970 as a youth on the Thundercloud, then the St. Michael, and other canoes. For many years Wayne and his older brother Arvid Charlie were a winning doubles team. He shares his knowledge on behalf of the younger coaches and pullers to help them along in their careers.

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Wayne Charlie

Wayne Charlie

Delores Louie

Delores Louie Swustanulwut was raised speaking Hul’q’umi’num’ in Quamichan. She has lived in Stz’uminus First Nations since marrying her late husband Percy Louie. She was an Elder in Residence at Vancouver Island University as well as a teacher in the SFU Hul’q’umi’num’ language program. She was a researcher on several projects, including the traditional use of plants, while actively engaged in producing Hul’q’umi’num’ language learning materials for the future generation of teachers.

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Delores Louie

Delores Louie

Ruby Peter

Ruby Peter Sti’tum’at was from Quamichan. Growing up speaking Hul’q’umi’num’, she worked as a translator, researcher, and teacher of her language for over seventy years. She worked on several research projects as well as teaching for Simon Fraser University and Cowichan Tribes. The author of many stories herself, as well as being an expert teller of traditional stories, she was very glad to mentor the Hul’q’umi’num’ language teachers in producing stories.

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Ruby Peter

Ruby Peter

George Seymour

George Wayne Seymour Sq’utxulenuxw is from Stz’uminus First Nation. He is a student in and teacher for SFU Hul’q’umi’num’ language courses, and he teaches language and culture for Cowichan Valley School District 79, when he’s not busily engaged in carving, smoking fish, and other traditional pursuits. He started pulling when he was ten or eleven as a Buckskin on the Snuneynuhw canoe of Chester Thomas, the Blue Bird. He paddled for thirty years on singles, doubles, mixed, six-man, and eleven man. He padded on the St. Andrew, the Crown, and the Mermaid from Shell Beach, and from Chemainus Bay, Kulleet I and II, Maria D, Charlene D, Lydia D, Morningstar, and Rainbow, and from Deer Point (s’ulqsun), Lady Christine, Shadow, and for Malahat, White Raven, Maple Leaf, and Salmon Arrow, and, for Duncan, Mount Prevost.

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George Seymour

George Seymour

Willie Seymour

Willie Seymour, Sxweltun, respected Elder, language expert (Photo KB 12/12) Thanks for sharing your expertise gained from a long and illustrious career as a canoe puller. Thanks for sharing your knowledge of the language.

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Willie Seymour

Willie Seymour

Team

 

Valerie Bob

Valerie N. Bob Suli’xwi’ye was from Hwtsusi, a part of the Penelakut Tribe. Her roots are from Sammy Bob (Old Bob) from what is now Penelakut Island. Her father Francis Bob was born at Quamichan. Valerie grew up at Hwtsusi and was the proud mother of three and grandmother of five. She was a teacher, artist, and musician, and was a PhD student at Simon Fraser University studying language and music.

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Valerie Bob

Valerie Bob

Joan Brown

Joan Brown Quwqumalwut is a project producer and language strategist. She is currently working at Coast Salish Employment and Training Society and finishing her MA in Language Revitalization at the University of Victoria.

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Joan Brown

Joan Brown

Donna Gerdts

Donna Gerdts, professor of linguistics at Simon Fraser University, has studied the Hul’q’umi’num’ language for forty years, and hopes her work honors the Elders who have shared their knowledge. She wears the honorary name Sp’aqw’um’ultunaat.

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Donna Gerdts

Donna Gerdts

Sally Hart

Sally Hart, a teacher for Cowichan Valley School District 79, lives beside Quamichan Lake with her husband Roger. Her father is Dodie (George) Barker from Pun’eluxutth’ and her mother the late Adelaide Lapp from the town of Chemainus. Sally is dedicated to her family and several grandchildren. Her on-going educational focus is the Hul’q’umi’num’ language and culture, and she especially enjoys creating art for stories and legends.

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Sally Hart

Sally Hart

Thomas Hukari

Thomas Hukari, honorarily named Sq'umq'umul'tun, linguist

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Thomas Hukari

Thomas Hukari

Gladys Joe

My name is Siyemi’l’iye (Gladys Joe) I am a Cowichan Tribes member from Comiaken (qw’umi’yiqun’). I Graduated from Cowichan Secondary School in 2010. I have volunteered with our community since I was little, My volunteer work began with our Elders, and continued to expand to the national level. I have a passion for working for our elders and community.

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Gladys Joe

Gladys Joe

Shannon Joe

My name is Quqtipiye’ (Shannen Joe), I am a Cowichan Tribes member. My parents are Adele (Sti’tum’atiye’) and Darcy Joe (Tsulhwulthw). My grandparents on my mother’s side are Ruby Peter (Sti’tum’at) and late Ron Peter. My grandparents on my father’s side are Bernard Joe (Tsulhwulthw) and late Pauline Joe. I graduated from Dwight Canada School in 2013. I am working on my Bachlor Arts degree at Vancouver Island University to become a a youth councilor. My hobbies include training for soccer and canoe paddling.

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Shannon Joe

Shannon Joe

Thomas Jones

Thomas Jones Sewit is from Snuneymuxw First Nations. He is currently active in the Coast Salish cultural community as a public speaker, artist, researcher, and teacher. His message to all: “yath ch ‘uw’ qwa’qwul’ tthun’ sqwal!”

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Thomas Jones

Thomas Jones

Leona Louie

 

 

My English name is Leona Louie. My Hul qul minum name is Stiit’iye. My great-grandmother is Ruby Peter — Sti’tum’at. My mother is Melissa Peter—Stumaat. I was born and raised on the Quamichan Reserve. I assist with many cultural events in the Cowichan community, especially during longhouse season. During the summers, you will find me playing sluhal’. I have been a research assistant with language and cultural projects for the last four years, and am continuing my studies at Vancouver Island University.

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Leona Louie

Leona Louie

Research Partners

Kathryn Gagnon, Cowichan Valley Museum and Archives

Sonya Bird, University of Victoria

Helene Demers, Vancouver Island University

Siomonn Pulla, Royal Roads University