Our Values
W̱JOȽEȽP TERRITORY
Twelve years ago a large group of elders from the South Island were brought together around establishing the vision, mission, and values of what would now become the South Island Indigenous Authority. The following value statements are what was distilled from the gathering and still guide our work today:
- Traditional language, song, dance, and ceremony are the root of our identity
- Our children are our treasures. All that we do is for our children, our children’s children, and those yet to come
- Children are gifts from the Creator and belong to all of us. It takes a whole multi-generational community to raise a child, whether in a city or on the reserve
- We are spiritual people who are grateful and believe in the traditional teachings and values of our ancestors
- To understand who they are and where they come from, children must have opportunities for Elders and parents to help guide them in traditional practices.
- We acknowledge and respect family, Elders, and ourselves. Most importantly we must especially respect our children.
- Respect for the land and the sea provides the foundation for who we are and how we conduct ourselves
- Communication and involvement, with Elders and community members are essential in any work with children
- Honoring Nations family history, and traditions are key to healing and to helping children understand where they come from and who they are
- It is important to support parents on their healing journey, so they can teach their children
- We acknowledge and respect all ages and stages of our growth and development (from birth to Elderhood)
Moreover, as SIIA supports Nations across a broad geographical area, we also uphold each and every one of them as holding the inherent teachings of how to do work in a good way upon their territories. These teachings continue to be passed down orally through community,
As a planning organization, SIIA strives to abide by these place-based values in the work we do within community and on these territories. The following is a list of values and teachings distilled from various sources that guide our work within community. This is an ever evolving list as community feedback will shape their expectations of how work is to be done on their territory.
W̱SÁNEĆ SKÁLS:
We hold our hands up in gratitude and acknowledge the work done by the W̱SÁNEĆ school board in articulating these values on their website (www.wsanecschoolboard.ca) and incorporating these values in the work they do with our people.
Songhees Values:
We hold our hands up in gratitude and acknowledge the work done by the Songhees Nation articulating these values on their website (www.songheesnation.ca) and incorporating these values in the work they do with our people.
Esquimalt Natural Laws:
We hold our hands up in gratitude and acknowledge the work done by the Esquimalt Nation articulating these values through their 2020 Comprehensive Community Plan and incorporating these values in the work they do with our people.