The Healing Canoe Program

Uy’ skweyul friends,

We invite you and your students to experience the Healing Canoe Program, a 7 month Land-based cultural program developed and delivered by Coast Salish Knowledge Keepers based on Coast Salish teachings of respect, accountability, commitment, sacrifice, honour, generosity, and above all, love and belonging. Over the course of the school year (October-May), you and your students will witness and participate in the transformation of x’pey (cedar) into a traditional dug-out canoe.

Your class will join Coast Salish canoe carver Beau Wagner and Stz'uminus hereditary man George Seymour to learn through carving, forest walks, x'pey bark weaving, songs, stories and ceremony. Hul'qumi'num language teachings based on Dr. Luschiim Arvid Charlie and Dr. Nancy Turner's book 'Luschiim's Plants-Traditional Indigenous Food, Materials and Medicines' are woven throughout. This project is based on knowledge from the Land and is delivered by people who live on the Land and whose ancestors have done so since time immemorial.

Beginning with teachers gathering for a blessing and brushing off ceremony in October, your class will then embark on 4 class field trips to Wildwood throughout the year (3 x 3 hour long experiential workshops and 1 canoe steaming ceremony). You will have access to Hul'qumi'num teaching resources and video updates keeping your students connected with the progress of the canoe from start to finish and culminating in a canoe launch, naming and gifting ceremony in the spring. This program meets a range of BC curriculum connections available here as well the First Peoples Principles of Learning.

For more information about the next application period begins in 2024, please contact: info@beauwagner.ca

Huy tseep q’u