Quamichan Middle School &Alexander Elementary School

Xe 'Xe 'Quamichan Middle SchoolAlexander Elementary School&

Xe'Xe' – sacredmemoriescoaxed cautiouslyheld gentlyspoken softlywith a silent pleatake care

Xe'Xe' – sacrednot merely wordsdreamsfearsjoytearschildhoodXe'Xe' – sacred

Denise Augustine swee'alt

Xe 'Xe '

Printed in Canada by Rhino Print solutions isBn: 978-0-9866363-2-5

this book has been produced and printed with generous financial support from:

Copyright © 2012 Cowichan Valley school District #79 and Wendy Morton

front cover and inside cover art: John Marston Qap'u'luq

cover photo: Ashley Marston Photography

student art throughout and on back cover: Red sun – Will ChambersWolf – isreal JoeHummingbird – Alicia HatcherLoon – Pannita ChavalwanKiller whale – Fraser FultonRed and orange sun – Jesse schiavonsalmon – Josh Jones

graphic design: Rhonda ganz

Xe 'Xe '

B eing interviewed as an elder was an interesting experience because i don’t consider myself an elder! the students amazed me with their ability to record the information

they were given during the interview process. it made me so very proud of them to witness the level of participation they each put forward. it became evident that there are poets in our midst who can easily become the shining stars in our future. What a legacy these students will leave behind this year in having had this experience! Working with poet Wendy Morton was an honour and a privilege, especially with the knowledge she shared in her own journey as a published author and poet. Who knows where this will lead for our students! A door has been swung wide open with this experience!

Debbie Modesteitinerant teacher, Abed sD#79suhiltanaut

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John Thomasi was born in the Cowichan Valley, raised by my aunt and uncle and parents.

We were taught to treat people how we wanted to be treated.

i loved sports: soccer, basketball, road hockey, lacrosse.We were never allowed to be bored.

We had to do housework. We had an outhouse, no indoor plumbing until the 70s.

i had one sister and eight brothers.i was born on the eighth day of the month, i was the eighth child.it’s my favorite number.

My saddest memories: the deaths of two of my brothers, my grandparents.And losing contact with my high school buddies; three have passed away.

My fondest memories: graduating from high school and the births of my son and daughter.

By ADAM sMitH

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Lisa Peteri was born in Duncan, grew up near the Big House and the river.

My house was small. Only two bedrooms for me, my parents and five sisters.We mostly ate fish and deer meat.

i went to day school at st. Catherine’s.the nuns were mean to First nations kids.

By AAROn PeteR

i have had many jobs: digging clams, delivery driver, taxi driver, bus driver.I worked in a fish plant.

i remember family dinners, giving birth to my son Andrew.

then the sad memories, when my mom and sisters passed away.

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Claudia Sylvester i was born in Duncan.Around the house were roses, berry fields, smoke houses.My grandparents raised me, my brother and three sisters.i had native and non-native friends.

At family gatherings, i helped cook, serve and clean.We had clams, fish, crabs, deer and elk meat, fried bread, berries.

My grandmother would say “Family is important. never forget where you came from. Respect one another.”

i never went to residential school. i had no problem with racism.

i’ve been a summer camp daycare and youth worker, receptionist, Aboriginal support worker, native plant and medicine trainee, cultural teaching assistant.

My greatest joy: the birth of my son, Moses.

KiRA JOe, AngeL seyMOuR-Wyse AnD nAtALie AntOine

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Dan Norrisi was born in Duncan, raised by parents, then my grandparents.i had eight brothers, eight sisters. My dad gave me his teachings.

We had a woodstove, a sawdust stove, outhouses, a smokehouse, a well.We had a one storey house, built high because of flooding.i went to Westholme Day school for six years,then to somenos Day school.i never had good experiences. i couldn’t talk to other students.

i had perfect teeth. then some “dentists” came and pulled them out. they were veterinary students practicing on us.

there was a lot of racism there.if you walked around by yourself, you’d be beaten up.

My saddest memories: losing my parents.My happiest memories: spending time with my grown children.

By FReD seyMOuR, LOuis MARtin, RiCHARD PeLKey

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Darlene Sylvester i was born in the states. Around the house were rose bushes, apple trees.

My parents raised me. no grandparents.We ate fish, deer, clams, crab, duck oysters.

six siblings. We had very little play time.

We came to Canada.At Canadian schools there was racism.

By tyLeR CAMPBeLL

i was told to be careful and treat others the way you wanted to be treated.

At eight years old, i started to knit pockets for Cowichan sweaters.

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Debbie Modeste i was born in the Cowichan Valley.

i was raised by my parents, had four sisters, one brother.

We had an outhouse. My sister and i had to bring water to our house, two or three buckets a day.

My mom fried up deer meat for soup, my dad hunted and fished.

the elders used to say, “respect one another.”

By PAtRiCK BOB

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Doreen Peter We lived in a house on stilts.All we had growing up was a woodstove and gas light.

Whatever mom said was a teaching. “i’m going to tell you once, so you better listen.” And “i’m going to show you once, so you’d better learn.”

My family: mom and dad, four brothers, six sisters.We learned to love one another and take care of each other.We ate at the family table.

i went to Kuper island and Mission City residential schools.i was homesick and lonely. i cried myself to sleep.

My first job was berry picking, then a secretary, receptionist, homemaker. now, i’m a community health worker.

My happiest memories: sitting at the table with my dad and mom and my siblings.

By MAnny AnD sHAne HORne

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Edna George (Auntie) Raised by my mom.A childhood both good and bad.

i had two sisters, three brothers.the house had three bedrooms, one level, 11 people.We ate fish, deer meat, soup, fried and baked bread.We played in the canoe.

i was told never to say, “i know,” to listen all the time.i was told the teachings over and over so they would get stuck in my head.

i didn’t go to residential school,i went to st. Catherine’s school.Then I went to Koksilah, started fighting.i got kicked out in grade 7.Didn’t work; did work experience.

saddest memories: Losing mom, and when siblings are not getting along.

Happiest memory: When my three nieces joined the shaker faith.

By ROseAnnA CHARLie

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Florence James Thiy'uas, Thi'yu'astunaat My parents raised me on galiano island.Childhood was so beautiful, i had freedom.

i had four sisters, three are passed away.We ate roasted duck, fish and deer meat.

i heard nothing but our language,its teachings and stories.

i went to public school from grades 1 to 7.i was taught to love myself and to care about others.

By CLAuDiA LOuie AnD ROsAnnA CHARLie18 | tHe eLDeRs sPeAK

My saddest memory was when i was strapped in school with a big leather strap.

My happiest memory, sleeping side by side with my grandmother.

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Gary Johnnyi spent a lot of time with my family:seven brothers and five sisters,my mom and dad.

Our house was a little run down.We lived near wildlife. I learned to hunt and fish with my brother.Ate fish, deer, seafood, frybread.

i am sad when i think of losing the people i loved.

By JAysOn JiM

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Grandma Judy Martin Mom always said respect the people around you,you have to listen to learn.

i had eight siblings. We played with wood blocks and pick up sticks with mom’s knitting needles.

there were fruit trees everywhere around the houses.We ate deer, fish, oysters, clams at family gatherings.

i went to day school on tzouhalem Road.they were mean and strict. i got my hair pulled, a pencil jabbed in my head because i was talking our language.

i hated day school.

My saddest memories: when my dad passed and my time at day school.

My happiest memories: family time, swimming, storytime with mom and dad.

By JAsOn eLLiOt

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Isaac Antoine i was born and raised in Duncan, raised by my grandma until she passed.then my dad raised me and my two brothers and sister.

We grew up with a wood stove.We were taught to respect the elders, take care of the little ones.

For fun we played tag, hide and seek, swam.i went to residential school.this was not an easy time.

My happiest memories: my marriage, the birth of my children.

By WALLy AntOine

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Kathy Martin My parents raised me until i was 10. they were strict. there were spankings and pulled hair.My dad passed away.

i was raised in Duncan.We had wood floors and outhouses, had to bring water in from a water pump.

My mom taught me respect.she said, “to get respect, you have to give respect.”

By LOuis MARtin

i went to st. Catherine’s day school.We couldn’t slouch or they poked our backs with a pencil.if we didn’t hold our pencils right, we’d be poked.they gave us dog biscuits and horrible powdered milk.they called us, “dirty little indians” and savages.

i worked as a dishwasher, a sunday school teacher.

My saddest memory is losing my parents.My happiest memory is crabbing with my dad.

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Xe'Xe' | 29 nAtALie AntOine AnD AngeL seyMOuR-Wyse

Katie Phillips (Chutopiye) there were six of us: three girls, three boys. We swam in the river. We had an old barn to play in. We had horses, Peggy and Billy.We had a wood stove in the living room, always blazing.

My mother taught me how to knit.A friend taught me to crochet.every sunday we had big family dinners.

growing up i heard, “Don’t be lazy” and “treat your elders with respect.”

i went to st. Catherine’s day school.i remember the nuns telling me the left hand was the hand of the Devil.When i used my left hand, i got hit with a ruler.i worked on a farm, planting and harvesting.i worked at a preschool.

My saddest memories: when my grandfather, dad and sister died, and when i got mistreated by the nuns.

My happiest memory: being dropped off in a field by a helicopter when I got married.

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Lawrence JoeMy parents and grandparents raised me.there was a pretty rough struggle between us.But we learned to respect one another.

When my mom died, when i was 11, that was the saddest time.

i went to Queen of Angels school.there was racism, bullying, religion, all together.

At home, i helped keep the house clean.We had good times at Christmas, thanksgiving.i always liked it when i got my allowance.

By KiRA BetH JOe

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Marilyn JohnnyWe had a house like all other houses.two stories and a garage, a big willow tree out front, flowers along the driveway.

We ate fish soup, fish eggs, fish heads, potatoes, fry bread.

i have three brothers, three sisters.i was raised in Duncan, by my grandparents.

i mostly heard our native language.i heard “stay near the house. Be respectful, helping, giving.”

By sHAWnA tHOMAs

Our family had get togethers at grandma’s house, pow wows, canoe races.At school i had fun, learned. i went to Cowichan secondary and to Malaspina.

i have lost my grandma, my brother, my daughter, my nephew.

i am proud of myself and my children, who continue to learn.

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Lucy Thomasthe house i grew up in had a kitchen and living room.it was cold, dark. there were no doors.We ate clams and crabs, oysters, deer, herring eggs.My grandma taught me how to knit.

i went to Mission Residential school.i became a secretary, a tutor, and worked at the employment centre.

My saddest moments: leaving my family every year to go to residential school.

My happiest moments: graduating from grade 12.

By RiCHARD PeLKey

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Luschiim: Arvid Charliei was born in Quamichan.All the elders raised me.i had 12 siblings, three are gone now.

growing up, we had a smoke house, lived close to the river.My house was big, not painted. Cold. Lots of room, lots of pictures.

At family gatherings I ate dried fish, clams, deer, apples, plums, blackberries, blackcaps, redcaps, salmon berries.

i went to st. Catherine’s day school, to st. Mary’s.i was slapped for speaking my language.the food was terrible.

i was a trucker for 10 years. A logger for 20 years.then i worked for the Cowichan tribes.

i am thankful for all the elders.i am sad when i lose them.

i was told to be respectful to everything, respect yourself.i was told the names of everything: all the fish and trees.

everything on earth sustains us.

By VeROniCA JACK

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Martina Joei was raised by my grandma and grandpa and Mary ellen Joe.When i was little, mom had her sewing machine on all the time.she had a spinning wheel and a carder.she used to bake blackberry upside down cake, pies and bread.When she wasn’t knitting, she canned berries, apples, pears, peaches, fish.

she would say, “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”

i learned to be nice to people, not to gossip. i learned to always keep busy and always help each other.I had all kinds of jobs: in coffee shops, worker at the casino, tour guide.

My happiest memories are family gatherings.My joy is Midnight Rose, my daughter.

By KiRA BetH JOe

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Mary Wilson (Grandma) i was born in Duncan, at King’s Daughters Hospital.i was raised by both parents.Later on, it was only my mom.i have six brothers, two of them are gone.

i was told to be kind to everyone and say prayers every day.My mom always liked to have family dinners.now i continue the family dinners.

i went to st. Catherine’s, Queen of Angels, Alexander, Kuper island Residential school, and st. Mary’s Mission Residential school.

My saddest memories are becoming an orphan, losing close friends, and losing my oldest son.

My happiest moments were with my late mom, going to garage sales or secondhand stores with her, having my four children and getting 18 grandchildren.

By FReD seyMOuR

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Ron Georgei was born in the berry trails.

As a child, the river was my pool, the mountains my playground.My brothers and sisters and I dived off the bridge, had competitions.

i have seven sisters, four brothers.

Our house had no electricity. it had two rooms.it was cold in the winter.

i was told, “you can be whatever you want to be” and, “the whole world is your stage.”

My saddest memories: being away from home, in that strange place, Kuper island Residential school.

i was raised by my parents and grandparents. My happiest memories, being with my family.

By FReD seyMOuR AnD MAnny HORne

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Ms. Jimmyi went to st. Catherine’s day school.When i started there i only spoke my language.i was treated bad. not allowed to speak my language.the teachers were nuns.if i skipped school, i got strapped.When we ate, we had to face the wall.those weren’t good days.

By HALey JOe

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W hen i was presented with the opportunity for our students at Quamichan Middle school and Alexander elementary school to produce another book in the elder Project series with master

poet Wendy Morton, my response was, “yes, yes, yes!”

the experience was amazing. students interviewed their elders and relatives, and, with the help of student mentors from Chemainus Secondary, support staff, and teachers, they transformed spoken stories into powerful works of poetry.

students were actively engaged in the lessons and interviews. Connections were strengthened through the process, deepening the understanding of family histories and relationships.

i was honoured to be a part of this project—to witness and share in the pride and joy the students felt in their successes. i would like to express my gratitude to all who worked so hard at making this book a success. Huy tseep q'u.

Helen Myhreteacher Quamichan Middle schoolCowichan Valley school District

AcknowledgmentsXe'Xe' is the fifth book in the Elder Project series. Students from Chemainus Secondary School who were in the first book were coaches to the students from Alexander Elementary and Quamichan Middle school. i would like to thank sebastian Jack, Dalton Louie, Brittany Brown, Larralee sam, David August, Ann-Marie Louie, Zach norris and garry norris for their assistance.

thanks to the invaluable assistance of Helen Myhre, Amie uzzell, trish Ryder, Darlene sylvester, Claudia Sylvester, Dan Norris, Debbie Modeste and Barb Stoochnoff.

Because Coast Capital savings, which has supported four of the elder Projects, believes that it is important for young people to hear the stories of their elders, they deserve special thanks, as does Denise Augustine, VP of Aboriginal education, sD79 Cowichan.

A special thanks to John Marston for allowing us to use his beautiful carvings for this book, to the students at Quamichan who shared their art, and to Rhonda ganz, who designed this lovely book.

And thanks to the elders who arrived at Quamichan Middle school to tell their stories, and to the children, who listened.

Wendy Morton

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Xe 'Xe ' Poems by the students of Quamichan Middle School and Alexander Elementary School