Tewanee Joseph impressed the world as the Executive Director for the Four Host First Nations Secretariat, when he gained recognition for Canada’s aboriginals on the international stage.  Joseph not only brought together the Lil’wat, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh peoples, but also other First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples across Canada, to ensure a prominent place for aboriginal culture at the Olympics.

Through his leadership, for the first time in Olympic history, a third brand was allowed on official Olympic communications:  the brand of the Four Host Nations Society.

As the Executive Director for the Four Host First Nations Secretariat, Tewanee worked with VANOC and its partners to develop meaningful Aboriginal participation in the planning, hosting and staging of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.  He has collaborated extensively with First Nations in the area of community consensus building and provided advisory services to the private sector and local, provincial and federal governments.

Tewanee Joseph will be in Thunder Bay June 11 speaking at a conference of the Ontario Association of Community Futures Development Corporations (OACFDC).

Please click to see the full article in Net News Ledger

Totem Hall is the center point of community life in the Squamish Valley.  Recreation at Totem Hall aims to raise awareness in health and fitness through participation.  Diabetes has been running rampant within the band community similar to everywhere in North America, and the band office has been proactively countering the trend through recreation over the past three years.

“A healthy lifestyle begins with adults and grown-ups, because they serve as role models for their kids,” says Mara Williams the Recreations Director at Totem Hall.  “We’ve seen noticeable change in the community as more people become aware of the importance of recreation, and what that does for their kids’ well being.”

Mara walked us through how building a health conscious culture starts young, “Work begins with moms and babies who go to the pool to start their kids young in aquatics.”  A variety of fitness classes and hiking classes make it fun for both kids and adult to live a health conscious lifestyle.  Every spring, a health challenge keeps track of people’s activity levels and encourages participation.  Prizes are given out to reward those who meet their personal goals.

The variety of evening recreational programming includes: basketball, adult floor hockey, children floor hockey and indoor soccer which runs three nights a week.  Fitness classes during the day caters to the homemakers and the retired.  The after school program serves our children by picking them up from school, and by serving them a program and a snack before sending them home.  Family-oriented programs runs once a week, where parents attend with their kids.

Totem Hall is open six days a week and closed on Sundays.  The place is bustling from after school to 10PM almost everyday.  For a detailed overview of classes and events, please call Totem Hall at 604-892-5166 or email squamishrecreation@squamish.net to find out more.

North Vancouver band members can contact Les Harry @ Chief Joe Mathias Center at 604-980-6338 or email rec@squamish.net for more information on recreation initiatives.

Further to the recent posting on The Kitsilano (Senakw) Project Moving Forward, while commenting on the band’s intent for the property development in an interviewed by CTV News, Chief Gibby charted out his forward looking vision for Squamish Nation as a whole:

“We have 3,600 citizens of the Squamish Nation. Sixty per cent are under 25. In the next 20 to 25 years our population will double. Our own source revenue from leases and our businesses has pretty much plateaued. If we don’t develop, what we’re setting up for our future is not a very good scenario.”

For a culture like Squamish Nation, in fact any culture to sustain itself, the birth rate must be greater than 2.  The next two decades will mark a decisive time in the succession of our history, and to embrace the transition fully prepared is a calling of leadership.

Specifically to The Kitsilano (Senakw) Project, Chief Gibby stated the business mandate goes hand-in-hand with our corporate responsibility:

“What we’re looking at is the highest and best use for that piece of property.  Basically our mandate is to look at the best return for the use of the land….  We’re not going to go in there and be bad neighbors.  We will certainly take into account the voices of the municipal government.”

To see the CTV interview, please go to CTV News

As part of an initiative by Tourism Squamish to promote Squamish, BC as “the Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada”, a Spirit of Squamish video collection has been produced early this year.  Chief Ian Campbell is featured in one episode introducing the Squamish Nation.

The Squamish Nation is comprised of descendants of the Coast Salish Aboriginal peoples who lived in the present day Greater Vancouver area; Gibsons landing and Squamish River watershed. The Squamish Nation have occupied and governed their territory since beyond recorded history. Total area of Squamish Nation Traditional Territory is 6,732 sq. km. (673,540 hectares).

To see the entire collection, visit the Spirit of Squamish YouTube channel

To find out more about about the tourism initiative, please visit http://www.TourismSquamish.com

Shortly before the Olympics, we visited the Elder’s Lounge at Totem Hall and sat down with Gwen, one of our Elders, for a morning of storytelling and inspiration. In her younger days, Gwen presided on Council for 12 years. She started the Totem Nursery School, and much of her passion and involvement was devoted to education. Gwen’s eyes lit up telling us stories of the band, and how proud she was of the progress made within the last 50 years.

The Elders are active in the spiritual leadership of the band, and they give directional and leadership support to Council. The Elders receive support from Council, and Gwen sees that as a beautiful cross generational bond. “Council usually come to see us and they seek for our wisdom and blessing.“ One particular wall in the Elder’s Lounge is proudly decorated with history of Elders who have gone before us. The wall tell of the band’s story and our contribution to the great society of Vancouver.

Gwen reiterated the importance of the tradition in circle gatherings, which are held every few months. A circle is a powerful gathering to facilitate those who come with very strong feelings, and those with words of love. Within this circle of trust, it always manages to balance itself in settling differences and resolving even the toughest issues. A feather is passed around the circle, and whoever has the feather owns the floor. The Elders have even held circle gatherings with the RCMP on community matters of importance.

When asked what words of wisdom she has for the succeeding generation of Squamish members, Gwen genuinely expressed, “I hope to see unity and mutual respect for each and every area of the band. Respect needs to be reciprocated for the succession of Squamish Nation.”

[View with PicLens]

The Kitsilano (Senakw) project is one of the key projects being incubated at our Project Negotiations & Land Development department.  Just under 10 acres of Squamish Nation reserve land in Vancouver was considered by membership in April 2010 to lease over 1.8 million square feet of commercial and residential space.

This project would include acceptance by membership to accommodate leasing, with construction of the leasehold space to be build over a phased period spanning 7 years.  Benefits to membership would include leasehold revenue, after construction costs, of over $3 million annually.  On April 8, band members voted 991-196 in favor of designating the 8.67-acre parcel for lease and development.

As Bob Mackin reports in 24 Hours, Mayor Gregor Robertson signed an “historic” agreement with the Squamish Nation Monday May 17 at city hall.  The memorandum of understanding and protocol agreement will cover economic and environmental issues to the band’s desire to capitalize on land it owns around the south end of the Burrard Bridge.

“They’ve got big plans for development,” Robertson told 24 hours. “We’ll take that as it comes. This is about committing to a stronger partnership … to work through issues like development.

To read Bob Mackin’s article in 24 Hours click here

The Memorandum of Understanding can be viewed at the City of Vancouver website

Below are two videos explaining the Senakw Designation Vote posted July 2009:

Enjoy these photos of the Regalia Preparation on January 8, 2010 and the finished works of fine craftsmanship by clicking below!

[View with PicLens]

The Eco Spirit Terrasphere is a commercial closed-loop farming technology project the Nation has acquired a license to operate.  The purpose of the project is to grow and sell eco-conscious produce.

“Terrasphere provides a highly efficient, technologically innovative way to grow plants,” said Chief Gibby. “It is a way to feed the people.  For the Squamish Nation becoming leaders at the forefront of technological innovation is something that we embrace and encourage for our young people, and future generations.”

Choices Markets have been steadfast suppliers of local and organic produce to the B.C. community for nearly 20 years.  Mark Vickars, Choices Markets CEO, states, “Choices’ focus remains on supplying our communities with natural, organic foods, and our venture into this partnership is in line with our principles.  The first Eco Spirit Terrasphere facility is scheduled to produce its first crop in March 2010, and produce will be available for purchase from Choices foods in April 2010.

Thus far, the Squamish Nation has supplied us with impressive crops of fresh basil.  Without a doubt, it’s a product we’re proud to carry at Choices Markets.”

For further reading on a Pique article reprint, click here

For more information on Terrasphere technology, visit  Terrasphere Systems

Reprinted from Pique

Chances Gaming Center, operated by Boardwalk Gaming in partnership with Squamish Nation and the BC Lottery Coporation, officially opened its doors on Feb 1 in time for the Olympics.  Only three months later the facility is a success in many ways.

“There are a lot of nice (Chances) locations in B.C., but everyone who has come to see it has said it’s one of the nicest if not the nicest,” said General Manager D’Arcy Stuart.  He is pleased with the response to the center.

The level of business has allowed Chances to launch a program to support community non-profits on Wednesday nights.  The first community event was held on Wednesday, May 12 for the Relay for Life to benefit the Canadian Cancer Society.

To read the entire article by Andrew Mitchell, please go to PIQUE news magazine

Chances Gaming Centre Squamish Official website:  http://www.chances.ca/locations/Squamish/

Enjoy this gallery of the 2010 Winter Olympics Torch Relay on Feb 10 at Chief Joe Mathias Centre by clicking below!

[View with PicLens]

12►