Voices of Saanich Speaker Series RSVP now

Join us for the 5th Voices of Saanich event in a 5 part speaker series, on Tuesday June 5 for Indigenous Solutions to Environmental Violence, Grounded in Cultural Practice.

Connected to Land, Connected to Body Indigenous solutions to environmental violence, grounded in cultural practice When we explore the WSÁNEĆ peninsula and the waters around us, we are often in awe of the natural beauty of the place we call home. What happens when we begin to question the health of our lands, inlet and natural environment? An indigenous perspective might tell you that our waters are polluted, our beaches are contaminated and the lands are highly impacted. When we fully recognize these impacts, we can begin to explore deeper. How well are we?

At this presentation Beangka Elliott will draw on cultural knowledge and the use of native plants as food and medicines, incorporating these practices into daily life. You will also learn about the ways that indigenous youth in our community are resisting environmental violence through land based learning, community collaboration and restorative efforts.

Beangka, with family ties in WSÁNEĆ and Songhees nations, teaches cultural / ethnobotanical classes to a wide range of groups from as young as 5 through to post secondary, sharing her experiences with native plant restoration projects, including the SNIDCEL resiliency project and Project Reclaim: WSÁNEĆ youth food justice. Her vision and leadership are the foundation of Project Reclaim, a vitally needed way for Tsartlip youth to build strong, respectful relationships with each other, elders, and their community while developing a deeper connection to their lands. Project Reclaim is a youth-driven, land-based project that engages youth from the Tsartlip Nation to lead their community in healing from, resisting, and preventing violence. Beangka’s commitment to this work comes from her personal experience and deep devotion to her community.