Community Articles (listed by posting date)
General News · 1st October 2025
Michael Datura
Last Thursday, September 25th, the entire Cortes Island School community—students, staff, and several parents, nearly 100 people in all—had the privilege of being hosted by the toq qaymɩxʷ (Klahoose First Nation) at the Multipurpose Building in Toq. It was an extraordinary day of learning, sharing, and celebration that marks the second year in a row that the school has been generously hosted for Truth and Reconciliation Day.
The event began with a moving welcome from the Klahoose Drummers and an introduction by Chief Kevin Peacey. We then gathered around a fire, tended by Norman Harry Jr. and Brandon Harry, where several salmon fillets were being cooked in the traditional way. Students were presented with stories and teachings from Randy Louie and Harvey Barnes to deepen their understanding of toq qaymɩxʷ and ɬəʔamɛn qaymɩxʷ (Tla'amin) culture.
Music and dance followed—with our school drums and rattles in hand, students joined Stanley Jones and the Klahoose Drummers (including our own Michael James and Andy Chickite) in some drumming lessons and songs. Jeannie Hanuse led the entire school in a traditional circular dance that filled the courtyard with laughter, rhythm, and good medicine.
Inside, a dedicated team of cooks—Georgina Silby, Kathy Francis, Verna Russ, Anastacia Francis, Chona Fyfe, Gina Hallihan, Deb Dumas, Rob Dinning, Erica Kohn, and Alanah Caron—prepared a delicious feast that included elk, salmon, roasted potatoes and beets, and platters of fresh fruit. Norman Harry opened the meal with a prayer, and the whole community buzzed with good energy as we shared the meal together.
After lunch, we walked over to the new totem pole, which is currently being painted just outside the newly built cultural centre. Artist Tom Hunt Jr. shared some of the stories and teachings of the animals carved into the totem, giving students a deeper appreciation of the carvings. The day concluded with an offering of gifts as students presented Mary Harry and others the cedar roses and bracelets that they had woven earlier in the week under the guidance of Randy Louie.
The Cortes Island School community would like to covey a profound sense of gratitude and thanks to the toq qaymɩxʷ for welcoming us so warmly and thoughtfully once again. We are consistently in awe of your generous spirit.
?imot,
Cortes Island School
The event began with a moving welcome from the Klahoose Drummers and an introduction by Chief Kevin Peacey. We then gathered around a fire, tended by Norman Harry Jr. and Brandon Harry, where several salmon fillets were being cooked in the traditional way. Students were presented with stories and teachings from Randy Louie and Harvey Barnes to deepen their understanding of toq qaymɩxʷ and ɬəʔamɛn qaymɩxʷ (Tla'amin) culture.
Music and dance followed—with our school drums and rattles in hand, students joined Stanley Jones and the Klahoose Drummers (including our own Michael James and Andy Chickite) in some drumming lessons and songs. Jeannie Hanuse led the entire school in a traditional circular dance that filled the courtyard with laughter, rhythm, and good medicine.
Inside, a dedicated team of cooks—Georgina Silby, Kathy Francis, Verna Russ, Anastacia Francis, Chona Fyfe, Gina Hallihan, Deb Dumas, Rob Dinning, Erica Kohn, and Alanah Caron—prepared a delicious feast that included elk, salmon, roasted potatoes and beets, and platters of fresh fruit. Norman Harry opened the meal with a prayer, and the whole community buzzed with good energy as we shared the meal together.
After lunch, we walked over to the new totem pole, which is currently being painted just outside the newly built cultural centre. Artist Tom Hunt Jr. shared some of the stories and teachings of the animals carved into the totem, giving students a deeper appreciation of the carvings. The day concluded with an offering of gifts as students presented Mary Harry and others the cedar roses and bracelets that they had woven earlier in the week under the guidance of Randy Louie.
The Cortes Island School community would like to covey a profound sense of gratitude and thanks to the toq qaymɩxʷ for welcoming us so warmly and thoughtfully once again. We are consistently in awe of your generous spirit.
?imot,
Cortes Island School