Cedar-planting event in B.C.'s Cowichan Valley honours residential school victims, survivors

A cedar-planting event in British Columbia's Cowichan Valley honoured residential school victims and survivors and their families on Sunday, and also aimed to educate about the history of the schools. 

The family planting day, put on by the Quw'utsun Cultural Connections Society, commemorated survivors of the former St. Mary's Indian Residential School in Mission, B.C., where some members of the Cowichan Tribes were sent. 

The Stó:lō Nation recently reported that it had identified 158 children who had died at, or because of their attendance at, three former residential schools in the Fraser Valley, including St. Mary's, and one former hospital there.

Cowichan elder Fred George said he was glad to see a large crowd gathered at Sandy Pool Regional Park on Sunday to plant cedars in memory of the victims and survivors. 

"It was good to see a good crowd here for a good project," said George, who said he attended St. Mary's for three years alongside several of his cousins and siblings.

"Lots of old friends here and lots of new friends." 

Elder Qwiyahwultuhw, George's brother and one of the event's organizers, said the event "really hit close to home."

"I was thinking of all my older siblings ... who attended that school," Qwiyahwultuhw said. 

It's the fourth cedar-planting event organized by the group, which has planted a total of about 500 trees over the past year.

It's part of a larger project that has a goal of planting 3,000 cedars to continue to educate on the legacy of residential schools. 

Qwiyahwultuhw says cedar, which is known as the elder of the forest, holds great cultural significance because of everything it is has provided for the Cowichan Tribes, having been used for clothing, transportation and medicine. 

He said community events like this are crucial to bringing survivors together and teaching younger generations about their nation's history. 

"It's a sad occasion but at the same time, I'm happy to see all the support come out," said Qwiyahwultuhw. "We're planting good memories here for everyone here today." 

He hopes those who planted trees will come back over the years to check on them. 

Community support

Cowichan elder Diana Elliot said even though her mother went to a residential school for 10 years, she didn't learn about the schools until she was an adult.

"My mom didn't necessarily want to talk about it," said Elliot. "Ten years in that school is basically her whole childhood."

Elliot — who was representing one of four generations of her family to attend the event, alongside her father, son and grandchildren — said she hopes to teach both this history and the significance of the cedar to her kids.  

She also says she was touched to see non-Indigenous people show up at the event. 

"I'm feeling that respect today," said Elliot. "It does warm my heart that the non-Indigenous community is here today. I really appreciate that."

Those who helped on Sunday included young Heaton Paygli, who attended with his parents and sister.

He said he had fun at the event, but still understands the importance of the day.

"We're planting trees today because of the people who died," he said, adding that he wants people to be careful around the new saplings and not step on them.

Michelle Staples, the mayor of Duncan, B.C., who worked with Qwiyahwultuhw on the project, said each event like this is "just another reminder of how this connects people back to the land."

"I think it's really important to understand ... the importance and value of cedar to culture, and how we can each be a part of trying to honour the vision and trying to ensure that there are really healthy places for cedar to thrive here for future generations," said Staples, who is also the executive director of Social Planning Cowichan.