Snuneymuxw News is published bi-weekly.

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SNUNEYMUXW LEARNING

Volume 7 Issue 35, May 23, 2014

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Qwam Qwum Stuwixwulh News

We are moving into the final stretch! Wow, this year has flown by!

As it is getting warmer, please remember to put sunscreen on your child before they come to school. A light jack-

et is also helpful, as the weather changes quickly. This is especially important during Culture Week, when the

students will spend much of the week outside.

It’s a busy time—please see our list of important dates:

May 26 – May 30 – Culture Week

May 28—Canoeing (sunscreen, swimsuit required)

May 31—Beach Day (sunscreen, swimsuit required)

June 2-4 – School Assessors Visit Qwam Qwum for Recertification

June 9 – Grade 2/3 Class & PM Preschool – Year End trip to Greater Vancouver Zoo

June 10 & 11 – Grade 4/5 Year End Trip to Strathcona Park camp out

June 12 – QQS Year End Graduation Ceremony at the Snuneymuxw Community Kitchen

June 20 – Last Day of school for Preschool

June 25 – Last day of school (1/2 day for Kindergarten-Grade 5)

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Language Teacher Update:

CONGRATULATIONS GRADE 4/5 SPUPTITAL TEAM!

On May 13, 2014 QQS entered our Grade 4/5 class in the Annual Spuptital Hulq’u’minum Language Contest.

This year it was held at the Ladysmith Secondary School. There were 19 schools and our kids competed against

8 other schools—placing 3rd overall! The kids were so excited, and were ready to compete! This was the first

time that Qwam Qwum has entered, and many of the other teams have competed for the entire 11 years of the

event.

We’re proud of our Grade 4/5 class for entering this contest, and proud of how hard our entire school (grown-

ups included!) are working to learn our Hulq’u’minum Language!

From Gary Smith

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Qwam Qwum Stuwixwulh

Drug Abuse Resistance Education Program (DARE) Graduation

On Friday, May 2nd, Constables Angela Lynch and Jindy Manj of the Nanaimo RCMP were here to celebrate with

our DARE graduates. The students were honoured individually, and each received their certificates and DARE T-

Shirts.

This is the 2nd year that our students have been fortunate enough to participate in the DARE program. Under the

direction of Constable Angela Lynch, the program equips our Grades 4 and 5 students with the necessary skills to

make well-informed choices and to empower them to say no when they are tempted to use alcohol, tobacco or

drugs.

DARE helps students to recognize the dangers of violence in their schools and in the community. Throughout the

13 weeks of the program the students participate in a variety of oral and written activities to help learn these life-

long skills.

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Annual Blanketing Ceremony

Close to 60 families and friends gathered on Sunday to ‘Welcome’ into the community Snuneymuxw babies born

in 2012 and 2013. Of the babies born in those years, five women chose to have their babies take part in the

event.

They have been working very hard measuring, cutting, sewing, and dedicating time to creating their child’s quilt.

Two women and children were unable to attend Sunday-we missed you Terri and Reggie and Shirley and Nata-

leen. Please know you were honored in your absence.

The Health Centre would like to thank speaker and Council member Bill Yoachim , Council member Emily Man-

son, the Snuneymuxw Dance Group, and all the family and friends of the children who came out to celebrate

with us.

Photos courtesy of Dave Bodaly 250-701-9827

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Snuneymuxw First Nation Men's Group Residential School

Honouring Ceremony by Cst Jindy Manj, First Nations Policing, Nanaimo RCMP Detachment

History and healing

For over a century, the Government of Canada and churches operated 132 Residential Schools in Canada. The last residential school did

not close until 1996. The vast majority of students suffered severe physical, sexual, mental, cultural, and spiritual abuse while attending

Residential Schools. During this period the RCMP’s role involved forcibly removing First Nations children from their homes and placing

them in Residential Schools. There are approximately 93,000 former students alive today who are known as survivors.

On June 11, 2008, the Government of Canada issued a statement of apology to former students of Residential Schools. A Truth and

Reconciliation Commission was established in 2008 (www.trc.ca). The goals of the commission included documenting the extent and

impact of residential school experiences, providing a safe setting for survivors to share their stories, and to produce a report to the fed-

eral government on the legacy of the residential school system.

In 1998, the Aboriginal Healing Foundation was created to promote reconciliation and encourage and support First Nations people and

their communities to establish and support healing programs to address the physical, sexual, mental, cultural, and spiritual abuse

suffered in Residential Schools and the intergenerational impacts.

Honouring ceremony

The Snuneymuxw First Nation is comprised of 1,646 members, approximately 500 of whom reside on the four reserves located in the

Nanaimo area on Vancouver Island. For more than 100 years, many Snuneymuxw First Nation people attended Residential Schools. The

horrific abuse which occurred at the schools continues to have a detrimental impact on the survivors and all members of the communi-

ty. Some Snuneymuxw survivors and community members have taken steps towards healing.

One group which has supported ongoing healing within the community has been the Snuneymuxw First Nation Men's Group. In 2013,

members of the men’s group organized and raised funds to host the Snuneymuxw First Nation Residential School Honouring Ceremony.

The honouring ceremony was for living and deceased survivors of Residential School

and for all members of the community who continue to struggle with the intergen-

erational effects of Residential Schools.

Over the last several years, the Nanaimo RCMP First Nations Policing Unit has partic-

ipated in the Snuneymuxw Men’s Group meetings and has supported programs and

services that address the negative impacts of Residential Schools. In providing sup-

port for the honouring ceremony, both Cst. Jindy Manj and Cst. Angela Lynch invited

RCMP members, civilians, and volunteers of the Nanaimo detachment to attend the

honouring ceremony. The RCMP provided a $1,000 contribution towards the hon-

ouring ceremony.

The honouring ceremony was held on September 7, 2013 at the Snuneymuxw Long-

house. A total of 150 people attended the ceremony, including 20 from the RCMP.

The honouring ceremony involved prayers, elders, and mask dancers to carry out the Coast Salish traditions and beliefs in regards to

healing. A traditional Coast Salish meal was provided.

The Snuneymuxw First Nation Men's Group would like to thank those who attended for supporting healing among Snuneymuxw sur-

vivors and others members of the community.

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About Chickenpox Caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), chickenpox used to be a common illness among kids in the Canada

(particularly among those under age 12). An itchy rash of spots that look like blisters can appear all over the

body and be accompanied by flu-like symptoms. Chickenpox is very contagious, so an infected child should

stay home and rest until the rash is gone.

Chicken pox is transferred between children by coughing, by touching the fluid in the blisters.

Please keep your child home until their rash has healed. Please phone the Community Health Nurse @ 250-

740-2337.

Kids can be protected from VZV by getting the chickenpox (varicella) vaccine. The vaccine significantly reduces

the chances of getting chickenpox. Vaccinated kids who do get chickenpox tend to have milder cases and quick-

er recoveries compared to those who contract the virus and aren't immunized.

Symptoms

Chickenpox often starts with a fever, headache, sore throat, or stomachache. These symptoms may last for a

few days, with fever in the 101°-102°F (38.3°-38.8°C) range.

Chickenpox causes a red, itchy skin rash that usually appears first on the abdomen or back and face, and then

spreads to almost everywhere else on the body, including the scalp, mouth, arms, legs, and genitals.

The rash begins as multiple small red bumps that look like pimples or insect bites, usually less than a quarter of

an inch wide. They appear in crops over 2 to 4 days and develop into thin-walled blisters filled with fluid. The

blister walls break, leaving open sores, which finally crust over to become dry, brown scabs. The rash is very

itchy, and cool baths or calamine lotion may help to manage the itching. In rare cases, serious bacterial infec-

tions involving the skin, lungs, bones, joints, and the brain can occur.

High-Risk Groups

Certain groups of people are more at risk for complications from chickenpox, including pregnant women and

anyone with immune system problems. These groups should avoid others who have chickenpox.

Prevention

The chickenpox vaccine is 99% effective in kids.

It’s recommended that kids receive the chickenpox vaccine twice — when they're 12 to 15 months old, with a

booster shot at 4 to 6 years old. People 13 years of age and older who have never had chickenpox or haven't

gotten the vaccine should receive two doses of the vaccine. Healthy kids who have had chickenpox do not

need the vaccine — they usually have lifelong protection against the illness.

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Dealing With Discomfort

To help relieve the itchiness, fever, and discomfort of chickenpox:

Use cool wet compresses or give baths in cool or lukewarm water every 3 to 4 hours for the first few

days. Oatmeal bath products, available at supermarkets and drugstores, can help to relieve itching.

(Baths do not spread the rash.)

Pat (don't rub) the body dry.

Put calamine lotion on itchy areas (but don't use it on the face, especially near the eyes).

Serve foods that are cold, soft, and bland because chickenpox in the mouth can make drinking or

eating difficult. Avoid feeding your child anything highly acidic or especially salty, like orange juice or

pretzels.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist about pain-relieving creams to apply to sores in the genital area.

Give your child acetaminophen regularly to help relieve pain if your child has mouth blisters.

Ask the doctor about using over-the-counter medication for itching.

Never use aspirin to reduce pain or fever in kids with chickenpox because aspirin has been associated with the

serious disease Reye syndrome, which can lead to liver failure and even death. As much as possible, discour-

age kids from scratching. This can be difficult for them, so consider putting mittens or socks on your child's

hands to prevent scratching during sleep. In addition, trim fingernails and keep them clean to help lessen the

effects of scratching, including broken blisters and infection.

Most chickenpox infections require no special medical treatment. But sometimes, there are problems. Call the

doctor if your child:

has fever that lasts for more than 4 days or rises above 102°F (38.8°C)

has a severe cough or trouble breathing

has an area of rash that leaks pus (thick, yellowish fluid) or becomes red, warm, swollen, or sore

has a severe headache

is unusually drowsy or has trouble waking up

has trouble looking at bright lights

has difficulty walking

seems confused

seems very ill or is vomiting

has a stiff neck

Call the health nurse or your doctor if you think your child has chick-

enpox and you have a question or are concerned about a possible complication.

If you take your child to the doctor, let the office know in advance that your child might have chickenpox. It's

important to try to avoid exposing other kids in the office — for some of them, a chickenpox infection could

cause severe complications.

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QQS Registration Reminder

Registration (including registration of new students) is now open for September. The school

has attempted to contact all parents to confirm returning students in September.

If the school has been unable to reach you, please contact the school as soon as possible to

confirm enrollment. The school has a number of students waiting to register, as soon as we

are able to confirm space.

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The Aboriginal Nutrition Network is starting a collection of traditional Indigenous recipes

from across the country. Every recipe that you contribute will be entered into a draw for prizes such as nutrition re-

sources, cookbooks and an iPod shuffle. Once completed, the attached recipe template will become your ballot. There

is no limit to the number of entries per person.

Please email your recipe and put “Traditional Recipe Submission” as your subject line when sending your recipes to Emily

at ann.2001@hotmail.com.

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IMPORTANT NOTICE On April 10

th, 2013, a concerned resident contacted the SFN

office and informed us of the damage that a B.C. Hydro con-

tractor’s machinery had done to our petroglyph site near Cable

Bay.

From meetings between the previous Chief and Council and

BC Hydro, an agreement was reached to allow Snuneymuxw elders and membership

to engage with and give guidance to their leadership in preserving this site and sharing

traditional teachings that will guide them in future meetings with BC Hydro.

There will be another community engagement that will include senior staff from BC Hy-

dro to inform them on the importance of the Petroglyphs to our Nation. There will be

door prizes and lunch provided.

Contact Tara or Desiree @ 250 740- 2300 to RSVP

To arrange for transportation please call 250-802-

1184 before 4:30 on May 29th

When: Friday May 30th, 2014

Where: Community Kitchen

Time: 11:00am to 2:30 pm

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NEW SECURITY SYSTEM NOTICE

Dear Snuneymuxw First Nation Community Members: Please be advised that SFN is installing new security systems in the administration build-ing, QQS and the IR# 1 Youth Center. It is anticipated these new systems will be activat-ed towards the end of May or early June. SFN’s goals are to provide a safe and secure environment for all staff, members and visitors in addition to complying with legislation regarding Working Alone and Workplace Violence. SFN feels the new system will help achieve these goals. The new security system will be monitored by Reliance Protectron who has replaced Price’s Alarms. Beginning on May 20, 2014, all visitors and SFN community members will need to sign in and out if you are meeting with a SFN staff member, except for parents who are drop-ping off or picking up children from the Daycare or QQS. A sign in/out sheet will be at the Reception desks of the Administration Department, Health Department and Qwam Qwum. Once you sign in, you will be given a “Visitor” tag which you will wear during your visit and is to be returned when you leave. You will also notice other changes in SFN’s buildings. A number of doors will now re-quire security card access; however, visitors and community members can be “buzzed in” by the Receptionists if you have come to meet any of the SFN staff members. Thank you for your cooperation! .

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SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT CHANGES

EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2014

MONTHLY DECLARATIONS AND ALL FORMS SUCH AS BUDGET AND DECISION FORMS WILL NEED TO BE

SIGNED BEFORE THE 15TH OF EVERY MONTH. TO ENSURE THERE IS NO DISTRUPTION WITH YOUR SA

YOU MUST MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH BECKY LOU KOGSTAD OR KAREN AHENAKEW TO SEE IF

YOU HAVE OUTSTANDING PAPER WORK WHICH NEEDS YOUR SIGNATURES BEFORE THE 15 TH OF EVE-

RY MONTH. FAILURE TO COMPLETE WILL RESULT IN YOUR CHEQUE NOT BEING PRINTED FOR THAT

MONTH - ACCORDING TO SA POLICY.

THOSE PARENTS WHO HAVE CHILDREN NEED TO DECLARE THEIR CHILD TAX MONEY ON THE MONTHLY

DECARATION FORMS.

PLEASE ENSURE BOTH COUPLES SIGN THE MONTHLY DECLARATION FORMS NO EXCEPTIONS! BEFORE THE

15TH OF EVERY MONTH. FAILURE TO COMPLETE WILL RESULT IN YOUR CHEQUE NOT BEING PRINT-

ED FOR THAT MONTH - ACCORDING TO SA POLICY.

NO ONE WILL BE ABLE TO PICK UP ANOTHER PERSON’S SA CHEQUE OR FOOD CARDS; UNLESS THEY ARE

IN THE HOSPITAL AND IS APPROVED BY KAREN AHENAKEW WITH AN AUTHORIZION LETTER TO BE

PRESENTED AT TIME OF PICK UP. SPOUSES CAN PICK UP THE SA CHEQUE AS LONG AS BOTH HAVE

SIGNED THE MONTHLY DECLARATION.

IT HAS BEEN 5 MONTHS SINCE OUR COMPLIANCE FILE AUDIT BY ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS AND NOTHERN DE-VELOPMENT CANADA. AND THERE ARE STILL FILES NOT UP TO DATE ACCORDING TO OUR RECORDS.

YOU MAY NOT BE ISSUED A CHEQUE IF YOU HAVE FAILED TO BRING IN THE FOLLOWING.

INCOME TAX FORMS FOR 2012 AND 2013

CANADA CHLD TAX CREDIT NOTICE OF STATEMENT OR GENERAL TAX NOTICE OF STATEMENT

CHEQUE CASHING RECEIPTS AND OR

BANK STATEMENTS

RENTAL AGREEMENTS

PROPER ID FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS

SIGNED CONSENT FOR RELEASE OF INFORMATION

BC HYDRO BILL EVERY 2 MONTHS IF YOU ARE NOT ON AN EQUAL INSTALLMENT PLAN

BC HYDRO BILL ANNUALLY ON THE ANNIVERSARY DATE.

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Snuneymuxw Native Sons Jr. Basketball team is hosting the Jr. All Native Basketball Tournament (JANT) during 2015 spring break. There will be a combination of approxi-

mately 50 boys and girls teams from all over BC coming to play basketball in our territory.

This is a huge event and we are in need of some different artwork from Snuneymuxw artists.

We will choose two designs from this contest that will be used on t-shirts, sweat shirts, water bottles etc.,

1st winner will receive $200 and a package of items with their logo on it.

2nd winner will receive $100 and a package of items with their logo on it.

The package will not be ready until artwork has gone to the printer.

Contest Guidelines

Snuneymuxw artist only

Art work submitted on 8 ½ x 11 paper

Print Name, address, phone # on back of art work

4 color max (can be less)

Art work will not be returned

Deadline is June 19th, 2014

Art work submitted becomes property of JANT 2015

Hand in your art work by 4pm June 19th to:

Snuneymuxw First Nation

c/o Angie Wyse-Seward

668 Centre Street

Nanaimo, BC V9R 4Z4

The winners will be notified no later than July 2014.

LOGO CONTEST

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Housing Contest Winners

Thank you to everyone that entered!

1st prize – Bradley Morris

2nd prize – Sienna Point ( 8 years old)

3rd prize – Melissa point (10 years old)

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Red Road to Recovery N.A. Meeting

When: Saturdays 7:30 pm

Where: 668 Centre St. in

Chambers

Who: Open to all

Garbage &

Recycling Notice

Recycling pickup Wednesday

Garbage pickup Thursday

Please have your garbage and recycling

out by 8:00 am on the day of the service

Please remember that All recyclables

MUST be in a clear plastic bag or in a

bin. The recycling depot does not

accept anything in a dark garbage

bag.

Reminder that the speed limit in the school zone is 10 km/hr and is in effect all school days from 6:00

am—6:00 pm

Visit www.snuneymuxw.ca for

more info!

Weekly Mass at the Longhouse

kitchen

Mass will not be held for this week at the

Community Kitchen

Sunday School and

Church Service

SUNDAYS IN MAY/JUNE

Sunday School is not being held for the time being as Pastor Cho is away.

7:00 pm-Church service with coffee afterwards - come and enjoy!

Summer Camp is coming - August 22 to 26 at Nanoose Bay - be on the lookout for a garage sale soon to support camp!

Blessings,

Pastors Per and Chris

Knudsen, Pastor John and

Mira Cho,

Nanaimo Native

Victory Chapel

471 Irwin St.

250-754-7866

SFN MEMBERS—

PLEASE UPDATE YOUR

CONTACT INFORMATION

Please call the office at:

250-740-2300 or email:

info@snuneymuxw.ca

Please provide your latest

contact information in-

cluding address, contact

numbers, email and any

other updated infor-

mation.

Thank you for your help!

Wednesday Morning

Coffee Breaks

At St. Andrew's United Church

10 - 11:30 a.m. Come join us!

Live Music by Willie Thrasher (Inuit) and

Linda Saddleback

Now—Dec 18, 2013, then

January 8, 2014 onward

Contact Madeline Bruce: 250-741-1271

oldcity@shaw.ca

Prayer Group

With Brother Mark Saturdays 7:00 pm 614 Centre Street

If you are graduating in 2014 or if

you know of graduating Snuney-

muxw Band Members living off

reserve please contact Terena at

250-740-2316 ASAP to ensure

their names are on the Gradua-

tion of 2014 list.