Yeqwyeqwi:ws First Nation

Éy Swáyel Mekw’wát! Good Day Everyone!

Today, our students are in their 2nd year of apprenticeship and we have made beautiful progress on our Yeqw Stélmexw Media Logo.

Yeqw Stélmexw in Halq’eméylem means “Fire Medicine”. Yeqw Stélmexw Media aims to capture the essence of who we are as Yeqwyeqwí:ws Mestíyexw (Yakweakwioose People) through creative media that supports the work of Language and Culture revitalization. As a people we are passionate, caring, and love hosting our family and friends to spend quality time. After the loss of our Father & Papa Chief Síyemches Frank Malloway, our youth deeply miss the visitors who would come and share story times with our Papa. Papa had a way with storytelling as his memories would take you along for a ride with him.

Thus inspiring us to bring the people back together sharing healing and uplifting stories that help nourish our connection to our roots.

Logo Designed by: Wuhanna, Jordan Horne - Yeqwyeqwí:ws

Éy Swáyel Mekw'wát! Good Day Everyone!

Today, our students are in their 2nd year of apprenticeship and we have made beautiful progress on our Yeqw Stélmexw Media Logo.

Yeqw Stélmexw in Halq'eméylem means "Fire Medicine". Yeqw Stélmexw Media aims to capture the essence of who we are as Yeqwyeqwí:ws Mestíyexw (Yakweakwioose People) through creative media that supports the work of Language and Culture revitalization. As a people we are passionate, caring, and love hosting our family and friends to spend quality time. After the loss of our Father & Papa Chief Síyemches Frank Malloway, our youth deeply miss the visitors who would come and share story times with our Papa. Papa had a way with storytelling as his memories would take you along for a ride with him.

Thus inspiring us to bring the people back together sharing healing and uplifting stories that help nourish our connection to our roots.

Logo Designed by: Wuhanna, Jordan Horne - Yeqwyeqwí:ws

Sxótsaqel (Sx-ot-sa-kel) Chilliwack Lake is our ancestral home belonging to nations of Ts'elxwéyeqw. 💙🦅

Our history tells us that the 4 original chiefs: Thelatchíyatel, Wewíleq, Síyemches, and Yexwéylem were leading our people at the time of settler contact. These names still carry within Yeqwyeqwí:ws and Ch'íyáqtel.
In the early 2000's there was a mummified body found in the mountains of Chilliwack Lake and it was said to have dated 5000+ years old.

For generations our ancestors have rooted us to S'ólh Téméxw, or what we know as the City of Chilliwack, as Stó:lō Xwexwílmexw we have a duty to take care and protect the land that has taken care of our people since time immemorial. Echo the words of our ancestors: 'S'ólh Téméxw te íkw'elò. Xólhmet te mekw' stám it kwelát.' (This is our land. We have to take care of everything that belongs to us.)

Save the date: May 15th 2024 starting at 3pm
SAY Day our 10th Anniversary

Next culture program tomorrow at 5:30 at The'i:teliya (SAY Building)

SAY Office has a job posting for Executive Assistant to Property Manager. Applicants are encouraged to apply to: [email protected]

February 20th at our SAY building 12pm - 2pm we will be having a community nurse visit

During cold weather, your furnace exhaust vents may become clogged with snow or ice.
Please make sure you check these as it can cause gases to remain in home or furnace failure. Remove ice and clear away snow.

SAY Elders dinner & concert February 19, 2024 starting at the SAY building at 5:15pm, dinner at 5:30pm then head over to the Chilliwack Cultural Center for the show to start at 7pm.

Registration will close January 26th
https://forms.office.com/r/FkXnRXCwEW

Transportation is provided upon request.

January 24th 2024 3pm - 7pm SAY Quarterly Open House at The'i:tseliya

The SAY Lands Office manages dog licensing for Skowkale, Aitchelitz and Yakweakwioose. This notice is to remind everyone that SAY has a Dog Licencing and Animal Control Law. All dogs need to be licenced and/or renewed annually. Our office will be accepting new licences and renewals. All dogs six months or older must have a current licence.
The fine for owning an unlicensed dog is $200.
Dog owners who have not previously licensed their dog must apply for a new licence. Both new and renewal licenses can be purchased at the SAY Lands Office. Forms can be found on the SAY Lands Office website: http://www.saylandsoffice.ca/documents. Dog licenses are free for members. Please contact the S.A.Y. Lands Office Lands Assistant 778.731.0776 or [email protected] if you have any questions about the purchase process and to renew

If you’re interested in a tech career but aren't sure where to start, our 12-week Foundations course is for you. This exploratory course will introduce you to six in-demand fields in technology:

✅ Basic Web Development
✅ GIS/GPS
✅ Communications and Digital Marketing
✅ Digital Transformation
✅ Network Setup and Support
✅ Basic Computer Skills

Dates: January 8 - March 29
Schedule: Monday to Friday, 9:00AM-4:00PM
Location: Online

Apply before December 22: https://bit.ly/46gGfcL

Our courses are for Indigenous Peoples 18+ living in BC.

😀 Fully Funded
💻 Equipment Provided
💵 Living Supports
❤️ 1:1 Support Staff

Please fill out the link below by November 20 to be registered for a Christmas Hamper

https://form.jotform.com/ALockerby/holidayhamper-program-2023

Please see the attached link to register for the belt making class!

https://form.jotform.com/233134591079256

*Registration is required*
20 People Maximum for a Two-Day Workshop Dec 4-5, 2023!

Halloween Night – Trick or treating & hot chocolate station, make sure to stop by SAY community health building on Halloween night, staff will be giving out candy and hot chocolate 5:30-7:15pm

We are delighted to announce the Small Business Start Up workshop.

Sto:lo Community Futures will host this one, however, we are also available to host one in your community.
Please connect with me to book yours today.

If possible, would you please post this information on your community socials and website? Or share this link to the Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1467383717450959/?active_tab=discussion

🚶‍♀️Sole Mates Walking Club🚶‍♂️
hosted by S.A.Y Lands Recreation Coordinator Avana Halicki

Starting: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 4:30-6PM
Join us EVERY Tuesday & Thursday

RSVP: https://form.jotform.com/232757041282252

S.A.Y is inviting you to join on for a Parent/Teacher Dinner

Thursday, October 19, 2023

Please RSVP as soon as possible for catering purposes.

https://form.jotform.com/232645322276253

Kw'as Hó:y

S.A.Y Lands Elder's Lunch Outing
Brodeur's Bistro in Abbotsford
Friday, October 27, 2023 11 A.M - 1:30 P.M

Transportation is available upon request!
Please RSVP here: https://www.jotform.com/232786718571266

Christmas seems far away, but we've started planning our annual Christmas Hamper program. We are planning on supplying Christmas hampers to approximately 200 families and youth in the Fraser Valley this year. The family hampers contain food items for a Christmas breakfast, gift cards to buy groceries for dinner, and presents for the kids. The youth hampers contain food items and gift cards to restaurants. If you would like to help us spread some holiday cheer this year, you can make a donation online at: www.fvacfss.ca/donate/form/ and choose Christmas Hampers from the drop down menu. Of you can drop off cash donations and gift cards to one of our offices. The locations of our offices are listed here: www.fvacfss/contact/. A taxable donation receipt will be issued for all donations over $25. Thanks everyone!

October 25th, 2023 is the date for this workshop.
Please contact Bridgette Hill to register!

Spooky! Visions and Voices presents Night of Frights, Oct. 25 from 6:30 to 8:30 for Xyolhemeylh youth ages 13 to 19. Registration closes on Oct. 23: [email protected]

Fire Prevention Week 2023 - FNESS The Fire Prevention Week (FPW) theme this year is about staying safe while cooking. Learn how to protect yourself in the kitchen!

🦠Flu and COVID vaccine clinics🦠

We are pleased to announce that our Youth Hub on Main Street in Chilliwack is open to all Indigenous youth, ages 13 to 24. It's open Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 1 to 4:30. Youth can talk to an Elder, do their homework or their laundry or just hang out.