The First Nation

Black and white photograph of a sandstone boulder carved with the stylised two dimensional sideways-outline of a mythical creature with triangular head consisting of a long snout, prominent teeth, large eye and pointed ear connected to a circular body from which protrudes a stylised front leg and an erect pointed tail at the back.

Sea Wolf petroglyph on shoreline boulder at Kulleet Bay.

The Stz’uminus First Nation, a Coast Salish people speaking a Coast Salish language, Hul’qumi’num, have occupied the area in and around Ladysmith Harbour for several thousand years.

Two photographs of canoes racing, one above the other: on top a black and white image of five first nation canoes. Below is a colour photograph showing six canoes. In both photographs the water around the canoes is churned by the intense activity of the paddlers.

Stz’uminus canoe races over 100 years apart.

Stz’uminus traditional territory spans the Salish Sea between Vancouver Island and the British Columbia Lower Mainland, includes much of southern Vancouver Island and extends up the valley of the Fraser River from Vancouver to Yale. Occupying winter villages on the sunny south-facing east shore of the harbour at Thuq’min (the English name of which is Shell Beach) and at nearby Q’ul’its’ (Kulleet Bay), the people paddled in dugout cedar canoes from Vancouver Island across the Salish Sea to visit relatives and to harvest the seasonal Fraser River salmon runs. The nation has a strong cultural connection to the sea from which much traditional food comes; fishing and clam gathering are particularly important traditional activities.

Map showing southeastern Vancouver Island and adjacent mainland in green with sea in blue overlain with the boundary of the traditional territory of the Coast Salish Stz’uminus First Nation outlined in brown.

Stz’uminus First Nation traditional territory.

Map showing Ladysmith Harbour area, land in green and sea in blue with place names in Hul'qumi'num and English translation where available.

Hul’qumi’num place names, Ladysmith Harbour and area.

Music plays important spiritual and social roles in Stz’uminus culture. Their songs reflect a deep connection to a maritime way of life, the natural and the spirit worlds, celebrate life events, and also can be for fun! Traditionally, hand drumming on deer hide is accompanied by singing or chanting by a single person or multiple persons in unison. Some songs belong to individual families and are used for private ceremonial purposes; others are widely sung. Songs in Hul’qumi’num continue to be composed today and reflect the continuation of an age-old cultural tradition of music.

Canoe Song was performed and explained by Clinton Charlie on how it was used to introduce travellers going through different territories to other First Nation bands. Interview starts at 1m.49s. (captions are available in English and French). Enjoy this video with a transcript (EN)

The 1300 members of the Stz’uminus First Nation welcome you on your virtual visit to their traditional territory.

Colour photograph of a street scene showing three clusters of modern commercial buildings.

Oyster Bay Village commercial development.

Uy’ skweyul si’em nu sye’yu ‘uy’ kwunus ‘i’lumnamu.

Good day my respected friend, It is good to see you.

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