The Grand Motel

native peoples

by chaistarr

see my travelogue on the native americans of the area.

These people are Atapaskan, and speak a Saalish/ Cowichan dialect called hul'qumi'num. Only about 200 people speak this language, mostly elders.

DUNCAN---CITY OF TOTEMS

by LoriPori

"FIRST NATIONS HERITAGE"

On Tuesday, June 2, Hans and I stopped in DUNCAN which is the commercial centre of the Cowichan Valley.The CITY OF TOTEMS is proud of its First Nations Heritage. Yellow Footprints painted on the sidewalk, allow you to take a self-guided tour of the 41 Totem Poles erected around town. You can learn more about the culture of the area's First People, at the QUW'UTSUN Cultural and Conference Centre, which features totem pole carving and other crafts, theatrical presentations and mid-day Salmon BBQ'S. Another top Duncan attraction is the B.C. Forest Discovery Centre, a 40-Hectare park with hiking trails, forestry displays and a steam train. At the B.C. Forest Discovery Centre, located minutes north of Duncan, hike the forest trails, have a picnic and ride the train between exhibits. Bird watchers will also love the Somenos Marsh Wildlife Refuge, the home of more than 200 species of birds.

le'lum'el day care and native peoples

by chaistarr

the people are the same natives that are in southern alaska if I'm correct. They have a slight asian look. They live on reservations but unlike in USA where reservations are in the middle of an ugly nowhere, there reservations are often in towns. The people can mingle with whites but often stay to themselves to keep their culture strong. They have elders who teach the children folktales and history and the language, although most language is lost. they decorate totems. ther peoples last names are like Dave, Frank, Lucy because white people didnt like their native names and "white"ened their names by using white first names for last names.

i volunteered for 50 or what it 100...anyways..I volunteered for some hours at a Native Day Care from children age 2-5. Those that attend must be atleast 1/2 native (although few natives choose caucasian mates so most kids are full native blood.) they have to also live on the reservation. i had lots of fun here and learned some about their culture.