Songhees Nation

Camas flowers in full bloom. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

Garry oaks, camas reveal agricultural impacts of colonialism on Vancouver Island

Lekwungen food expert Cheryl Bryce looks to raise awareness of traditional food systems

  • Sep 25, 2021

 

The Songhees Food Truck is only one of numerous innovations the Nation has launched in the last decade. (Facebook/Songhees Event and Catering)

Songhees Nation continues road of innovation, healing, success

Nation launched two cannabis stores so far this year, another expected

 

The interior of the Songhees Nation’s new Seed & Stone cannabis location at 901 Gordon St. (Photo by Jay Wallace)

Songhees Nation co-owned cannabis store opens in downtown Victoria

First Nation plans to take educational approach to cannabis retailing

 

Vancouver Island First Nations and others gathered near Victoria’s harbour and on the lawn of the legislature to honour the 215 children who never came home from a Kamloops residential school. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

Island First Nations canoe, drum, sing in Victoria to honour 215 residential school children

Memorial takes place in Victoria harbour and on B.C. legislature lawn

Vancouver Island First Nations and others gathered near Victoria’s harbour and on the lawn of the legislature to honour the 215 children who never came home from a Kamloops residential school. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
Chris Grzywacz, development agent for cannabis supplier Seed and Stone’s, holds products from the new Songhees Cannabis S + S store on April 20. (Jake Romphf/ News Staff)

First cannabis store opens on Songhees Nation, creates economic opportunity says chief

The Songhees Cannabis S + S had a soft launch at its 1502 Admirals Road location on April 20

Chris Grzywacz, development agent for cannabis supplier Seed and Stone’s, holds products from the new Songhees Cannabis S + S store on April 20. (Jake Romphf/ News Staff)
Willows Beach, which is also known as Sitchanalth, is one of many points in Oak Bay that have traditional Indigenous names. A plan to work with the Songhees and Esquimalt nations to add Lekwungen place names to frequently visited areas around the municipality was approved by Oak Bay council on Monday. (Black Press Media file photo)

Oak Bay looks to add Lekwungen place names

District will take guidance from Songhees, Esquimalt for potential place names

Willows Beach, which is also known as Sitchanalth, is one of many points in Oak Bay that have traditional Indigenous names. A plan to work with the Songhees and Esquimalt nations to add Lekwungen place names to frequently visited areas around the municipality was approved by Oak Bay council on Monday. (Black Press Media file photo)
Cecilia Dick, cultural tourism supervisor for the Songhees Nation, stands at the top of Beacon Hill Loop in Meeqan, one of 12 significant cultural sites along the new Songhees Indigenous Marine Trail. Nina Grossman/Victoria News photo

Songhees marine trail celebrates living history of Greater Victoria’s Indigenous people

Provincial funding boosts 12-stop marine tourism program set to open in 2022

Cecilia Dick, cultural tourism supervisor for the Songhees Nation, stands at the top of Beacon Hill Loop in Meeqan, one of 12 significant cultural sites along the new Songhees Indigenous Marine Trail. Nina Grossman/Victoria News photo
Cecilia Dick, cultural tourism supervisor for the Songhees Nation, stands at the top of Beacon Hill Loop in Meeqan, one of 12 significant cultural sites along the new Songhees Indigenous Marine Trail. (Nina Grossman/News Staff)

Songhees marine trail celebrates living history of Lekwungen people

Provincial funding boosts 12-stop marine tourism program set to open in 2022

Cecilia Dick, cultural tourism supervisor for the Songhees Nation, stands at the top of Beacon Hill Loop in Meeqan, one of 12 significant cultural sites along the new Songhees Indigenous Marine Trail. (Nina Grossman/News Staff)
Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Murray Rankin said the province has begun discussions with Esquimalt Nation after they’ve bought a $13 million piece of land in View Royal. B.C. plans to give back the land to support reconciliation. (Courtesy Murray Rankin)

Province buys $13 million piece of land to give back to Esquimalt Nation

Reconciliation agreement to take three to five years

Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Murray Rankin said the province has begun discussions with Esquimalt Nation after they’ve bought a $13 million piece of land in View Royal. B.C. plans to give back the land to support reconciliation. (Courtesy Murray Rankin)
Royal B.C. Museum conservator Megan Doxsey-Whitfield kneels next to a carved stone pillar believed to have significance as a First Nations cultural marker by local Indigenous people. The pillar was discovered on the beach at Dallas Road last summer. Museum curatorial staff have been working with Songhees and Esquimalt Nation representatives to gain a clearer picture of its use. (Photo courtesy Royal BC Museum)

Stone carving found on Victoria beach confirmed as Indigenous ritual pillar

Discussion underway with the Esquimalt and Songhees about suitable final home for the artifact

Royal B.C. Museum conservator Megan Doxsey-Whitfield kneels next to a carved stone pillar believed to have significance as a First Nations cultural marker by local Indigenous people. The pillar was discovered on the beach at Dallas Road last summer. Museum curatorial staff have been working with Songhees and Esquimalt Nation representatives to gain a clearer picture of its use. (Photo courtesy Royal BC Museum)
A Seed and Stone rendering for White Rock, B.C. (Seed and Stone rendering)

Songhees Nation to open two Victoria cannabis stores spring 2021

Seed and Stone stores will open on Gordon Street and in the Bay Centre

A Seed and Stone rendering for White Rock, B.C. (Seed and Stone rendering)
A food truck operated by the Songhees Nation is out of commission after it was vandalism in downtown Victoria’s Inner Harbour on Thursday night. (Facebook/Songhees Event and Catering)

Songhees food truck vandalized in downtown Victoria

Passenger window smashed, artwork keyed on one side of vehicle

A food truck operated by the Songhees Nation is out of commission after it was vandalism in downtown Victoria’s Inner Harbour on Thursday night. (Facebook/Songhees Event and Catering)
View Royal Fire Chief Paul Hurst says an early morning fire serves as a reminder to check smoke detectors. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz)

Bedridden elderly woman rescued from burning home on Songhees Nation

View Royal fire chief says fire is a reminder to check smoke alarms

View Royal Fire Chief Paul Hurst says an early morning fire serves as a reminder to check smoke detectors. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz)
(Black Press Media file photo)

Unattended cooking causes fire in Songhees Nation home

Two people treated for injuries, one transported to hospital Monday evening

(Black Press Media file photo)
Two homes were damaged by fire late Oct. 23 in Songhee Nation on Middle Road. (Keili Bartlett/News staff)

RCMP still investigating Songhees Nation fire

Two homes caught on fire on Middle Road on Oct. 23

Two homes were damaged by fire late Oct. 23 in Songhee Nation on Middle Road. (Keili Bartlett/News staff)
Allan Cahoon, Royal Roads University president and vice-chancellor, and Songhees Nation Chief Ron Sam signed a framework agreement Tuesday that outlines some objectives for the Colwood site. (Katherine Engqvist/News Gazette staff)

Songhees Nation, Royal Roads plan for future of Colwood site

Framework agreement outlines objectives for DND site if ownership is passed to Songhees Nation

Allan Cahoon, Royal Roads University president and vice-chancellor, and Songhees Nation Chief Ron Sam signed a framework agreement Tuesday that outlines some objectives for the Colwood site. (Katherine Engqvist/News Gazette staff)
Esquimalt Mayor Barbara Desjardins, Esquimalt Elder Mary Ann Thomas and Songhees Chief Ron Sam cut the ribbon at the grand opening. Nicole Crescenzi/ VICTORIA NEWS

Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations open new RV Park

Both Nations excited about new economic venture

Esquimalt Mayor Barbara Desjardins, Esquimalt Elder Mary Ann Thomas and Songhees Chief Ron Sam cut the ribbon at the grand opening. Nicole Crescenzi/ VICTORIA NEWS
Songhees Nation councillor Gary Sam joins Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training, Melanie Mark, to sign an agreement securing $655,000 in funding to launch a culinary, hospitality and tourism program on Songhees Nation, in partnership with Camosun College. Kristyn Anthony/VICTORIA NEWS

Province to kickstart Songhees culinary program

In partnership with Camosun College, two-year plan provides $655,000 for education, reconciliation

Songhees Nation councillor Gary Sam joins Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training, Melanie Mark, to sign an agreement securing $655,000 in funding to launch a culinary, hospitality and tourism program on Songhees Nation, in partnership with Camosun College. Kristyn Anthony/VICTORIA NEWS
Jordyn Hrenyk, of Animikii Inidgenous Technology, a software company based out of the Songhess Wellness Centre, chats with Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Navdeep Bains after he announced $93,410 in funding, on behalf of the federal government, to invest in Indigenous businesses. Kristyn Anthony/VICTORIA NEWS

Songhees Nation receives federal funding to grow Indigenous businesses

Government to invest $93,000 to expand Songhees Innovation Centre resources

Jordyn Hrenyk, of Animikii Inidgenous Technology, a software company based out of the Songhess Wellness Centre, chats with Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Navdeep Bains after he announced $93,410 in funding, on behalf of the federal government, to invest in Indigenous businesses. Kristyn Anthony/VICTORIA NEWS
Coach Alex Nelson, flanked by dancer/athlete Gary Sam, speaks about the importance of athleticism, identity and teamwork for youth competing in the North American Indigenous Games. Kristyn Anthony/VICTORIA NEWS

Songhees Nation officially bids to host 2020 North American Indigenous Games

Greater Victoria last welcomed athletes to compete on traditional lands in 1997

Coach Alex Nelson, flanked by dancer/athlete Gary Sam, speaks about the importance of athleticism, identity and teamwork for youth competing in the North American Indigenous Games. Kristyn Anthony/VICTORIA NEWS