Culture

The shíshálh People have a distinct language and a unique world view. Our people have always maintained a strong connection to one another as people and to the land. We continue to practice our traditions such as harvesting and fishing. The Culture Department’s goal is to revitalize culture and language through cultural programing and activities.

The department’s goal is also to preserve, protect, and restore sacred, historical, archaeological, and culturally significant shishalh Nation sites. Its aim is to enhance Nation members’ knowledge of oral history through story-telling events and to work with Elders for the proper pronunciation of the shishalh Language.

Our History

The shíshálh Nation, is a Coast Salish people located on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, Canada. Historically, the shíshálh people lived in four main settlements: ḵalpilin (Pender Harbour), ts’unay (Deserted Bay), x̱enichen (Jervis Inlet), and tewankw near alhtulich (Porpoise Bay). The arrival of Europeans brought significant changes, including the devastating impact of diseases like smallpox, which drastically reduced the population.

In 1986, the shíshálh Nation achieved a milestone by becoming the first Indigenous government in Canada to regain self-government under the shíshálh Nation Self-Government Act.

This act established the shíshálh Nation Government District, allowing the Nation to enact laws, bylaws, and taxes, similar to other municipalities in British Columbia

Today, the shíshálh Nation continues to preserve and promote its culture, language, and traditions, with efforts to revive the she shashishalhem language and maintain a strong connection to their ancestral lands

Our Lands

The shíshálh Nation’s lands, known as swiya, encompass approximately 515,000 hectares stretching from Roberts Creek in the southeast to Jervis Inlet in the north and Lang Bay in the southwest. Historically, the shíshálh people lived in four main settlements: ḵalpilin (Pender Harbour), ts’unay (Deserted Bay), x̱enichen (Jervis Inlet), and tewankw near alhtulich (Porpoise Bay). These lands have been integral to the shíshálh people’s way of life, providing food, water, shelter, and spiritual sustenance for thousands of years.

Our Language

The she shashishalhem language is the traditional language spoken by the shíshálh Nation and is a Coast Salish dialect.

In the early 1970s, the Elders of the shíshálh Nation started efforts to revive the language with the assistance of Ron Beaumont, a linguist and professor from the University of British Columbia. Together, they created a 1000 page+ Sechelt Dictionary, published in 2011. They worked with the shíshálh Education Department to provide on-going translation for curriculum development that includes songs, dances, legends, prayers, and classroom instruction. The provincially approved curriculum is taught at mem7iman Child Development Centre, Kinnikinnick Elementary School, Chatelech Secondary School, and Capilano University.

The Nation has also been working closely with FirstVoices, a collaborative platform where Indigenous communities manage, curate, and share their languages. We are continuing to update it with our language, including pronunciation guides, games, and traditional stories and songs. The she shashishalhem section can be found here.