W̱SÁNEĆ NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS at OAK HAVEN PARK/SṈIDȻEȽ ŦIŦEȽ SṈÁNET

The arrival of a new year is often thought of as a time of new beginnings. A time to wipe the slate clean, start over, and become better versions of ourselves. Popular culture in this part of the world typically packages this idea in the form of aspirational goals, diets, workouts, and more efficient morning routines – all of which focus on you as the subject of an ongoing “self-improvement” project. However, the times when I most frequently hear people describing themselves as feeling deeply grounded or fulfilled is often during the moments of coming together in community, when people have a chance to connect with their neighbours and with the place they call home.  

This past Sunday, January 22nd 2023, marked the beginning of the W̱SÁNEĆ Lunar New Year. To celebrate this occasion, residents of W̱JOȽEȽP (Brentwood Bay) joined team members from Habitat Acquisition Trust and Special Bird Service out at SṈIDȻEȽ ŦIŦEȽ SṈÁNET (colonially known as Oak Haven Park) to spend time learning on the land and to come together in community.  

This first new moon of the W̱SÁNEĆ lunar calendar is ṈIṈENE, the moon of the child. ṈIṈENE signifies the gradual emergence from the winter sleep. In our region we can see this change vividly unfolding before our eyes as the days start to grow longer, the weather becomes warmer, and the many plants around us are reborn as they awaken from their winter dormancy.  

Arriving at SṈIDȻEȽ ŦIŦEȽ SṈÁNET first thing in the morning, attendees were greeted by the frost covered mossy rock outcrops running along the park’s perimeter. As people warmed up with some hot coffees, the frozen ground thawed as it was warmed by the sun shining through the crisp blue skies above. Warm beverages in hand the event began with a round of introductions lead by ŚW̱,XELOSELWET Tiffany Joseph. Tiffany then shared with the group the meaning and significance of ṈIṈENE, the lunar calendar, and its connection to W̱SÁNEĆ culture and to working on the land.  

As a group we hiked up to the summit where we took in the beautiful panoramic views together. From there you can take in views of the entire surrounding area from the Saanich Inlet, to the Salish Sea, as well as the sprawling farmlands that we see today. It is here that we learn that this area used to be home to abundant cranberry bogs, and was a wetland before European settler populations drained this ecosystem in order to expand agricultural production. Overlooking this altered landscape, we are standing in the middle of one of the few remaining examples of a relatively large, intact native Oak and Prairie ecosystem in our area; highlighting just how important it is to protect these ecosystems, and how much has been lost. 

We then turn our ears and eyes skyward as members of the Special Bird Service team lead our group in a bird survey, encouraging folks to break off into groups and to listen quietly to the various calls travelling through the air.  

Having built up an appetite birding, our party then paused for lunch as HAT and SBS staff fired up the grills, and cooked up an assortment of hot dogs and burgers (beef and beyond) for everyone to enjoy.  

After taking a moment recharge and enjoy some BBQ in the open air, we then turned our attention to a large patch of invasive Daphne Laurel. With loppers in hand, the team rolled up their sleeves and set about removing the plants. In no time we had removed 3 cubic meters of Daphne, opening up a large section of ground to become habitat for native plant species.  

The day came to an end the way that it had begun, with our group forming a circle. We went around with folks having a chance to share their feelings having just spent time working on the land, sharing a meal together, and having the opportunity to be still together outside and to listen. As we went around feelings of gratitude, fulfillment, and a kind of calm contentment were universally felt.   

HÍSW̱ḴE to everyone who came out to join us for the celebrations! 

Our XEUES SĆELÁNEṈ (New Year) celebration was hosted collaboratively with Special Bird Service (SBS), a wonderful organization working to provide greater access to natural spaces and nature-centered activities to BIPOC community members. To learn more, check out: https://specialbirdservice.wixsite.com