On Saturday, June 8 Snuneymuxw First Nation invites us all to gather on their land, located at Degnen Bay, to celebrate World Ocean Day, along with the Gabriola Arts Council’s Breaking Bannock team, the Gabriola Island Shore Keepers Association, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Learn history and traditional knowledge from Snuneymuxw Elders and view demonstrations of their Marine Division’s monitoring equipment such as underwater remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and drones. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), including officers from their Whale Protection Unit, will be on deck to share information about their conservation programs.

Ardyth Cooper, with Breaking Bannock and GAC’s co-chair, is excited to learn and share information to broaden the dialogue with Snuneymuxw. She welcomes everyone to share some bannock and tea, listen to stories of the Elders, and join the fun of Ocean Day.

In hul’q’umi’num the meaning of kw’atl’kwu is ocean – salt water.