I am writing this from where I sit watching the late evening sun as a temporary visitor on the traditional lands of the Kaska people. Tonight after a long day's work with good, kind coworkers, I feel especially privileged to work on these lands.
I am excited to return home to Whitehorse in one week and to continue building memories with friends on the lands of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the Ta'an Kwäch'än Council.
Although I have lived in various cities across Canada, part of my heart will always remain in the coastal forests near my birthplace on the Saanich Peninsula. I was blessed to grow up on the coast, as a settler on the traditional territories of the W̱SÁNEĆ people, including the BOḰEĆEN (Pauquachin), W̱JOȽEȽP (Tsartip), SȾÁUTW̱ (Tsawout), and W̱SĺḴEM (Tseycum) First Nations.
My mother and I share the same birthplace and a deep connection to the coastal lands of southern Vancouver Island. On my mother's side I am English, Irish, and French. Her ancestors have lived as settlers in Canada for many generations. On my father's side, I am Irish. He chose to settle on the lands of the W̱SÁNEĆ people over 30 years ago.
I have not always felt a deep connection or a need to acknowledge the lands where I have lived, and am just starting this journey in building a relationship with the land. I hope to continue to develop these connections to the land and the cultural history of its first peoples.