Paddling

A member of the Tsleil Waututh Nation shares his family connection to the canoe.

3 minutes 29 seconds

By Ernest Ignatius Nicholas George II

"Iggy" as he is know to his friends is also known as the Hereditary Chief Sla-holt. 

A Proud Lineage

Squamish Nation Elder describes her unique family history and shares memories of Vancouver.
2 minutes 9 seconds


By Slawiya Andrea Jacobs 
I have been married for 54 years to Paitsmauk, I have 5 children, 13 grand children and 12 great grand children. I am retired but very active in my community by sitting on several committees and helping our Elders Center and longhouse. I enjoy crafting and travelling and I am very proud of my heritage. 

Encroaching Vancouver

Squamish Nation member and lifelong resident of traditional Squamish territory shares memories of family gatherings and of the bounty of the land.
1 minute 43 seconds

By Paitsmauk Dave Jacobs 
Paitsmauk is a historian and storyteller of his people. He graciously shares his family and cultural knowledge and ensures that it is passed down to the younger generations. 

Oppenheimer Park

Vancouver resident recounts growing up in Oppenheimer Park and how it has shaped him into the person he is today.

1 minute 41 seconds

By Eddie Taylor

Eddie has a family with two young sons and gives back to his community by working with Aboriginal youth in a program called BladeRunners.

Steel Cleats and Chaperones

Growing up with lessons of self-respect, pride and good parenting.

2 minutes 10 seconds

by Rose Point

Rose Point is Thompson and Stalo who grew up living mostly with her Aunt and Uncle, on Seabird Island Reserve. She attended St. Mary's Residential School near Agassiz as a day student. She raised her children on the Musqueam Reserve with her husband Cagney Point. She is an early-childhood educator, BCIT's Aboriginal Elder-Advisor and is the family archivist. 

Strongmen of the Docks

Memories of working on the docks.

3 minutes 16 seconds

by Delbert Guerin

Delbert Guerin, a Musqueam elder, began his 40-year career on the Vancouver waterfront at a time of great change, when the throngs of men loading and unloading ships were about to be replaced by forklifts, cranes and trucks. He visits the huge gantry cranes on the docks that he operated in the last decade or so before he retired, and remembers a childhood memory that began his fascination with the waterfront.

Parade

The parade of pride down Commercial Drive.

3 minutes 12 seconds

By Gerda and Rocky Mathias

Gerda has been working with the elders on the Capilano Reserve for almost 10 years. She enjoys this because she is happy to look after and care for her people and she will continue to do so

Rocky grew up learning how to carve by watching his grandfather and dad carve. He was a carpenter for 20 years for the Squamish people, building houses from the bottom up. He is one of the Squamish artists and continues to carve today.

Finding Identity

Exploring cultural identity through art and community

3 minutes 17 seconds

By Karlene Harvey

Karlene is Chilcotin, Carrier and Okanagan First Nations.  She is an artist and illustrator and loves making zines.  Her work in the First Nations Community has influenced her art, as well as helping her find mentors to foster her own identity in Vancouver.  After living in almost every neighbourhood in Vancouver, she know lives downtown near Stanley Park and loves it.  Karlene also does roller derby!

The Last Family

Born is 1955, Henry spent his early years living in a heavily wooded area of the UBC endowment lands with his parents and 10 siblings.
1 minute 52 seconds

By Henry Charles
Today Henry is a husband, father, grandfather, Musqueam Speaker, Native Historian, Aboriginal Greeter, and the First Nations Storyteller.  He is pleased to welcome those that come to visit Vancouver – the traditional Musqueam territory.

I Sing

Rodney shares his voice and his story about how he maintains his sense of self and culture while living in Vancouver.
2 minutes 52 Seconds


By Rodney Victor
Rodney Victor is 30 years old, but nobody would ever guess that.  He works painting lines on roads all over the lower mainland.  Rodney enjoy hiking and swimming and making art.

Piecing Together History

An exciting discovery about Stanley Park.

2 minutes 40 seconds

By Doug Baker

Doug grew up all around Stanley park: first on the Capilano Reserve,  then North Vancouver and he now lives in Vancouver. He has been a carver for 31 years and he works for the Parks Board teaching Native wood carving. In particular Coal Harbour is a great place to teach since he can look out the window at his ancestral lands! Just 10 years ago he learned that his family originated from Stanley Park. Now that he knows about the old homestead he visits it more often!