ROOTS: Reconnecting Our Origins Through Stewardship

Learning on the land, rooted in Ts’msyen culture

ROOTS is Wap Suwilaawksa’s signature land-based learning program — a hands-on, community-rooted experience that reconnects students with the land, culture, and traditional teachings of Ts’msyen territory. Designed for Grades 9–12 (with younger grade participation throughout the year), ROOTS brings learning outdoors and into the heart of our territory: forests, beaches, campsites, harvesting grounds, and community spaces.

Through the program, students explore traditional harvesting practices, ecological stewardship, survival skills, and cultural teachings while building leadership, confidence, and a deeper sense of belonging. Whether we’re harvesting seaweed at Dundas, learning to identify local medicinal plants, preparing salmon, paddling canoes, building shelters, or starting fires safely, every experience is rooted in respect, reciprocity, and relationship.

ROOTS is also a space where Indigenous knowledge and Western learning meet. Students document local plant life, learn navigation and safety skills, study ecology and sustainability, create artwork from natural materials, and prepare traditional medicine. All harvested foods are shared with families and Elders, reinforcing the Ts’msyen value of giving back.

What Students Learn in ROOTS
    •    Traditional food harvesting (seaweed, berries, clams, oolichan)
    •    Plant identification and medicinal plant preparation
    •    Survival skills: fire building, shelter building, knot tying
    •    Canoeing, safety training, and ocean/waterway navigation
    •    Stewardship and environmental monitoring
    •    Tarp shelter building and outdoor safety
    •    Cultural teachings with Knowledge Holders and community leaders
    •    Artwork and creative expression using natural materials

Why ROOTS Matters

ROOTS strengthens relationships — to the land, to culture, to community, and to one another. Students gain outdoor confidence, cultural pride, and hands-on skills while developing resilience, problem-solving, teamwork, and a deeper understanding of Ts’msyen worldview.

It is learning that stays with them long after graduation — the kind of learning they’ll pass on.

Dundas Traditional Food Harvesting Camp

Learning From the Land, With the Land

The Dundas Traditional Food Harvesting Camp is one of the most meaningful and memorable learning experiences offered at Wap Suwilaawksa. Located on the rich and beautiful shores of Dundas Island, the camp gives students the opportunity to learn traditional harvesting practices directly on the land — guided by community knowledge, seasonal cycles, and Ts’msyen teachings.

During the camp, students participate in harvesting activities such as seaweed, clams, salmon, and other seasonal foods, while learning how to process, prepare, and preserve these resources respectfully. They work alongside cultural leaders, Elders, and experienced harvesters who generously share stories, techniques, and teachings passed down through generations.

But Dundas is more than a harvesting trip — it is a cultural learning experience. Students set up camps, cook outdoors, travel by boat, learn safety protocols, and work together to build confidence, responsibility, and stewardship. Evenings are often filled with laughter, storytelling, learning Sm’algya̱x words, and connecting with one another around the fire.

What Students Experience at the Dundas Camp
    •    Traditional harvesting of seaweed, clams, salmon, and seasonal foods
    •    Processing, drying, and preserving traditional foods
    •    Outdoor cooking and food preparation
    •    Ocean safety, boat travel, and camp setup
    •    Learning stories, teachings, and practices from Knowledge Holders
    •    Sm’algya̱x vocabulary connected to harvesting and place
    •    Teamwork, leadership, and community responsibility

Why the Dundas Camp Matters

The Dundas camp creates lasting memories and lifelong learning. Students gain hands-on cultural knowledge while deepening their relationship with the land and their identity as Ts’msyen people. For many, this camp is a highlight of their school experience — a place where learning, culture, and community come together in the most meaningful way.