RELAW: Revitalizing W̱SÁNEĆ Law through Stories
As part of a larger effort by the Tsawout First Nation and West Coast Environmental Law RELAW Project to revitalize W̱SÁNEĆ law, Shauna Johnson and Joshua James collected a series of W̱SÁNEĆ stories which Johnson and Kerry Sloan then distilled into a legal framework representing W̱SÁNEĆ’s core legal concepts.
The collection of stories – which was compiled from oral and written sources – includes 52 stories such as The Raven Story, Mink Goes Fishing, and The Flood Story. The legal synthesis addresses legal concepts including what rights and responsibilities exist under W̱SÁNEĆ law, what the W̱SÁNEĆ legal and decision-making processes entail, and more. As a next step, W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council intends to consult with community members regarding the conclusions in the legal synthesis.
The entire collection of stories and the legal synthesis report are available for review below. The stories and report are confidential documents and are not for distribution beyond W̱SÁNEĆ.
Schedule of upcoming community Engagement – W̱SÁNEĆ Marine and Land Use Plan
All Events to be held at the Saanich Fairgorunds, 1528 Stellys Cross Road, Juniper room
5-6pm dinner, 6-9pm engagement
January 2025
Monday January 20, 2025 – Open house – TOPIC: Education, Training and Capacity building
Tuesday January 21, 2025 – TBD Semi facilitated event – TOPIC: SENĆOŦEN revitalization
February 2025
Tuesday February 25, and Thursday February 27, 2025 – TBD Semi facilitated event -TOPIC: Economic Development
March 2025
Tuesday March 25, and Thursday March 27, 2025 – – TBD Semi facilitated event – TOPIC : Archaeological and Heritage
April 2025
Tuesday April 22, and Thursday April 24, 2025 – TBD Semi facilitated event – TOPIC: Douglas Treaty – Fisheries and Hunting
May 2025
Monday May 26, 2025 and Thursday May 29, 2024 – TBD Semi facilitated event – TOPIC: W̱SÁNEĆ Governance and Stewardship for Land and Sea
June 2025
Tuesday June 24, 2025 – TBD Semi facilitated event – TOPIC: Climate Change
Thursday June 26, 2025 – TBD Semi facilitated event – TOPIC: Cumulative effects of Marine Shipping
