The Longhouse in Snuneymuxw First Nation is host to a variety of important ceremonies, including the November 2019 welcome of then-new VIU president Deborah Saucier. (submitted photo/Chelsea Carne)

By Alex Rawnsley

CEREMONIAL SPACE

Nearly $400,000 grant funding expansion of Snuneymuxw First Nation Longhouse

Nov 18, 2022 | 2:51 PM

NANAIMO — A space with an extensive and rich history, along with significant cultural importance, is being expanded.

Snuneymuxw First Nation received a $395,000 grant from the First Peoples’ Cultural Council (FPCC) for expansion of their Longhouse, a traditional space for ceremony.

Joan Brown, SFN’s chief administrative officer, told NanaimoNewsNOW long houses have been used by Snuneymuxw people “since the beginning of time” as a place of great importance and ceremony.

“It helps continue with our ceremonies but also preserve and protect our ceremonial knowledge. Without the infrastructure, we wouldn’t be able to continue with the ceremony, so that’s really critical in our heart and mind.”

Money will be used to add another room to the current facility on SFN’s #1 reserve, which has stood since the early 1990’s, according to Brown.

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The Longhouse is typically used on a seasonal basis by Snuneymuxw First Nation and occasionally opened up to welcome others for ceremonies such as naming or welcomes.

Then-newly appointed VIU president Deborah Saucier was honoured with a traditional welcome during a November 2019 ceremony at the Long House.

Brown said the building itself it central to Snuneymuxw culture, language and history.

“Understanding that relationship between the land, language and culture, which is the ceremony, is really the cornerstone of our natural laws. It’s that [relationship] which really gets its life and breath from this building, this is our stronghold of our way of being.”

She added the Long House along with its pending expansion will benefit not only the Snuneymuxw community, but its surrounding neighbours.

Snuneymuxw First Nation have made strong efforts in recent years to revive their traditional language in the region.

Those efforts are reflected in the renaming of a Nanaimo elementary school and sports field to traditional First Nations names.

In December 2021, the provincial government also restored the Saysutshun name to the Island formerly known as Newcastle Island.

As part of the FPCC grants, the Stz’uminus Education Society based in Ladysmith received $392,090 for development of a land-based learning trail.

— with files from Jordan Davidson

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alex@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley