mi tse’ t’akw’
Coming home.
“I just want to come home”
These simple words, spoken by our late Elder and leader Tousilum, inspired this Land Back campaign. Although he passed away just before we were able to return to Xwaaqw’um, his spirit and vision continue to guide us every day.
Coming Home has made it possible for our Quw’utsun (Cowichan) People to return to Xwaaqw’um (Burgoyne Bay), our ancestral home, and renew our role as stewards of the land.
The Salt Spring Island and wider community came together to support the Stqeeye’ Learning Society’s acquisition of an extraordinary 10-acre property in Xwaaqw’um. This special place now serves as a home for restoration work, the Youth on the Land program, and efforts to advance Indigenous food security and food sovereignty. Here, young people are reconnecting with the land, culture, language, and traditional knowledge of their ancestors.
Coming Home is about more than returning to a place. It is about renewing our relationship with the land. As native plants and Indigenous food systems are restored, so too are opportunities for learning, belonging, and a thriving future for generations to come.
The Campaign
Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, $1.2 million of our $2 million goal has been raised, securing the land and funding important property improvements. We are now seeking the remaining $800,000 to retire the mortgage and create a self-sustaining home for restoration, learning, and Indigenous cultural renewal for generations yet to come.
Support Stqeeye’s vision
The goal is to raise $2,000,000 to acquire and develop a 10-acre property in Xwaaqw’um, where we will create the vision of a self-sustaining place to live, work and grow on ancestral land.
These funds will cover the following:
$985,175 Purchase price incl. equipment/tools on property (per landowner), closing costs and surveys
$326,000 Construction/upgrade structures and services
$93,000 Equipment/Materials for greenhouse, plant nursery
$145,000 Site plan research and development
$186,473 Property management/Maintenance technician/Bookkeeper
$66,000 Indigenous Youth Internship
$103,000 Operating costs/startup phase Incl insurance, utilities, etc.
$95,352 Campaign Expenses/staff & campaign management, original indigenous art & design, events
The land
We have been seeking a permanent home and base for our work at Xwaaqw’um for several years. A place for all generations to connect to the land and find their identity in it.
As you enter the property, you can feel the peace. Bird sounds, frogs croaking, the smell of tsuw’nulhp (cottonwood), bees buzzing by and the ocean breezes drifting over the expansive fields that are just waiting for nurturing hands.
The land has been lovingly stewarded to support diverse wildlife, abundant water sources, and gentle walks down paths among native plants.
Situated on agricultural land, there are already spaces for inspiration everywhere – decks, paths, greenhouses, gardens, sheds, wetlands, forest and a home. One of the ponds is filled with stth’e’qun (cattails) used for weaving, habitat for blue herons and endangered red-legged frogs. It is a place to feel safe, secure and inspired.
Stqeeye’s vision
The purchase of the land will allow it to become a home for our people who guide our work. Careful site planning will give rise to additional residences for staff.
A home for our people
Stqeeye’ base of operations
The land will be a gathering and learning place, providing much- needed meeting, storage and growing spaces. With the autonomy to develop the land, Stqeeye’ board and staff will shape programming and facilities to meet the needs of the organization.
This acquisition will provide a safe and private space for hosting our Youth on the Land programs. Our youth thrive in a land-based learning environment, guided by Elders, Knowledge Keepers and Youth Mentors.
Youth on the land
A third of the land is bottom land pasture, the perfect location for our future native plant nursery. The nursery will grow the over 80,000 plants needed for our restoration projects in Xwaaqw’um and provide opportunities for Youth to learn from the Elders about how to successfully grow and transplant native plant species.
Native plant nursery
The acquisition will enable us to have full autonomy over the design, planning and production of food systems to meet the needs of our growing community. We will reintroduce traditional food cultivation, harvesting and processing practices and provide for our Elders, Youth and families.
Food security and sovereignty
Our plan
Immediate (year 1-3)
Renovate existing residence
Develop site plan and raise funds for implementation
Begin development of gardens and plant nursery
Develop facilities for land-based education programing: Youth camps, professional development for educators, corporate retreats
Intermediate (year 4-7)
Host Youth camps
Build staff housing
Pilot social enterprise plan
Complete development of Youth camp facilities and plant nursery
Identify/purchase additional park adjacent property for continued protection and restoration
Long term (year 8-10)
Continue to develop our educational programming with the aim of creating a language nest and early learning centre
Complete staff housing
Producing traditional foods and medicines to meet the needs of our Quw’utsun community
Coming home
This is a homecoming that will ripple out to the island and beyond, as traditional knowledge spreads about how to restore watersheds, mitigate climate change and improve food security.
Together, we will expand our restoration and learning programs, raise food, and once again tend to the land in the traditions of our ancestors. This land just needs able hands and love to help it heal.
And the funds to support that work as we begin.
mi tse’ t’akw’
This land acquisition will allow 600 generations of wisdom and knowledge to return to the land.
The return of the Quw’utsun People to their traditional territory brings many things back into balance. It re-connects our people to the land they were born to steward. It creates a base of operations for the essential work we are doing to restore, sustain and nurture the health of the land, while feeding our people.
The Youth will have a place to stop in for a visit, sit with their Elders and listen to stories of our people. They will regain a deep sense of purpose and belonging as they learn from the generations before them about who they are and how they are meant to live.
mi tse’ t’akw’
Coming home.
Artwork by Arianna Augustine Hul’q’umi’num artist, filmmaker, and graphic designer. Co-owner of Keywork Productions.
Ways to donate
For donations over $1,000 please consider payment by e-transfer or cheque and request a charitable tax receipt.
Cheque mailed to: Stqeeye’ Learning Society
PO Box 407
Salt Spring Island, BC V8K 2W1Securities: contact admin@stqeeye.ca
E-transfer: admin@stqeeye.ca; specify “Coming Home Campaign” and request for charitable tax receipt in note
Canada Helps: Credit, Paypal, Google Pay, Gift Card
Note: with this method you will receive a charitable tax receipt from Canada Helps.CRA Charity number: 808394555 RR0001
