Florence James

I am a First Nations-Hwulmuhw born and lived in the Gulf Islands, Galiano and Kuper Island, the traditional territory of Puneluxutth’.  I attended public school to Grade Seven and enjoyed fishing and canoeing.

I later attended Grade Eight at Chemainus High School and dropped out after meeting my husband.  During that time I worked at the Kuper Island Residential School as the chamber maid for the priest.  After marriage I was a fish woman for thirty-five years.  After my husband’s passing I was encouraged by my two children to live life to the fullest and I returned to classes at Vancouver Island University (formerly Malaspina University College) and graduated in June 2001 with a Bachelor of Arts in First Nations Studies with honours.  During this time I also completed my early childhood care practicum and worked at Kuper Island Smuneem Daycare as the elder for culture and Hul’qumi’num Language projects. This project lead to the continuation of many other projects such as being the elder for their early childhood care partnership program with the University of Victoria.  Eight people graduated from this program and were eligible for professional jobs locally.

Other projects included instructing the Hul’q’umi’num language program for Chemainus Native College with fourteen speakers graduating from the project. I also assisted and wrote songs and speeches for all levels. The project for Kwumut Lelum Child and Family Services were culture and languages for traditional parenting and life skills and taught with traditional ways passed down from the ancestors.

The elder position at Chemainus Elementary and Secondary assisted in the classrooms to restore First Nations history and culture which helps break misunderstandings between non-native and native.  The Champion for Children Award arose from these projects as revitalization and restoration of the Hul’q’umi’num language for 0 to four year olds inspired me to write and instruct mostly motivated by the love from the babies of the future and youth of today.  The culture and language projects continued on with work for the Hul’q’umi’num Treaty Group as the language translator, territory mapping,  and transcriber and elder for the Advisory Committee for Revitalization and Restoration, the C.U.R.A with University of Victoria, the Galiano Island Conservancy, and history written for books written by Chris Arnett.

The latest film projects for Galiano Island Film School were history and culture for traditional territory and returning to sacred land after fifty years which will appear on National Film Festival on November 28th, 2008. The more recent film will be with Intercultural Committee for Coast Salish Traditional teaching for respect for life, parenting and health for babies, pre-natal and post natal.

Finally, the elder in residence at Vancouver Island University is an honourable position to collaborate visiting elders living at Vancouver Island to speak about traditional teachings for the Child and Youth Care Program, a partnership with the Cowichan Tribes developed during 1992.

The ultimate goal in life is to hear two to four year olds speak fluently with parents, and culture lived with traditional teachings.  The language and culture projects are where my passions lie, and especially for children.

Elder in Residence, Cowichan Campus: Florence D. James (Thiyaas)