Cultural sharing connects you to traditional ways
Camosun hosts a number of events intended to enhance and celebrate Indigenous student success and encourage community development and wellness.
National Aboriginal Day - June 21
Each year, IECC celebrates National Aboriginal Day. You will be encouraged to attend special cultural events either at the college or with Camosun's community partners.
2017 S’TEṈISTOLW̱ Conference - August 23-25
Hosted by Eyēʔ Sqȃ’lewen: The Centre for Indigenous Education & Community Connections, the 2017 S’TEṈISTOLW̱ Conference is a gathering for instructors/educators in Indigenous programs as well as leaders and allies in the field of Indigenous adult education. The goal is to build relationship and networks of reciprocity – to share, learn and exchange with each other.
S’TEṈISTOLW̱ is a SENĆOŦEN term referencing the concept of ‘moving forward’. This conference will focus on both the doing and being of Indigenous education. While they are inextricably intertwined, “doing” involves pedagogies and teaching practices. “Being” involves relationality, connections amongst educators, communities, students, cultures and lands and involves living our collective values. We proceed with the intent of Eyēʔ Sqâ’lewen (good heart, good mind, good spirit) and Na’tsa’maht, (unity and collective vision).
Welcome Feast - September 14 | 5:30 to 8:30pm | Songhees Wellness Centre
At the beginning of September, IECC welcomes new and returning students to a feast held at Songhees Nation. This is held on Thursday evening during the second week of classes. Students, their families, staff, faculty, college administrators and community members come together to cook, serve and share in food and conversation. Afterwards there are speeches, drumming and dancing. Elder Skip Dick (Songhees) says the gathering is "patterned after our way of doing things," and "there's great energy." The feast helps build strong community bonds and encourages respect, trust and collaboration.
Orange Shirt Day - September 29th | 12:30pm | Na’tsa’maht
Camosun students, employees and community supporters will wear orange shirts to show their commitment to the principle that every child matters and to show support for those who attended residential schools and their families.
Pit Cook Demonstration - October 19
Each year at Lansdowne campus, bright blue star-like camas flowers spatter the Garry oak meadow. Every year IECC, in partnership with Songhees Nation, hosts a pit cook to demonstrate how the Nations of this region use a fire-pit to cook the camas bulb between layers of locally harvested plants such as sword fern, salal or skunk cabbage. The pit cook demonstrates and promotes the traditional use of the camas, helps keep the teachings, and shows the younger people the traditional ways.
The camas harvest and pit cook "is part of who we are," says Cheryl Bryce (Songhees). "It helps with reinstating traditional First Nation roles, restoring the environment and ecosystem, and connecting with homelands."
