2020 Summer Speakers
Summer 2020 marked the first successful running of the Summer Speaker Series. Qwelmínte Secwépemc was honoured to hear from a variety of incredible speakers including Knowledge Carriers and Elders from different Nations and backgrounds.
barry wilson
Barry Wilson is a Systems Ecologist, and Registered Professional Forester in British Columbia. Barry is a cumulative Effects Specialist with expertise in holistic land use planning, and has over 30 years of experience working in Indigenous, industrial, consulting and government sectors. He spoke to the Summer Interns about his experiences with Systems Ecology and Cumulative Effects, allowing insight into models of understanding ecosystems holistically.
COLLEEN SEYMOUR
Colleen Seymour is a Secwépemc teacher and Knowledge Carrier from Tk’emlúps, who has taught and worked within numerous Secwépemc Indigenized programs. Colleen is also an artist whose art is composed from Secwepemctsín, including her piece of art depicting the Story of Skú7pecen which she created for Qwelmínte Secwépemc. Colleen shared her knowledge of her own family history and Tk’emlúps traditions, as well as discussing the inspiration behind her art with the Summer Interns.
jeanette jules
Councillor Jeanette Jules is a Tk’emlúps Knowledge Carrier, holding and sharing historical information and practices regarding Secwépemc genealogy, language, history, spirituality, sacred ceremonies, legal traditions and culture, and medicine. An ethnobotanist in the Western world, she maintains the continued Secwépemc practices for medicine gathering. The Summer Interns participated in a medicine gathering workshop with Councillor Jeanette Jules, collecting plant medicines to be prepared for a traditional Secwépemc tobacco mix.
rhona bowe
Rhona Bowe is a Secwépemc Knowledge Carrier from Esk’etemc. She is a Traditional Ethnobotanist, and conducts workshops on identifying, harvesting, preserving, and preparing traditional medicines and their numerous uses. Rhona took the Summer Interns through a medicine gathering workshop to make smudge bundles, describing the numerous uses of each plant which was to be used.
dr. bruce fraser
Dr. Bruce Fraser obtained his doctorate in plant ecology from the University of British Columbia. He has since gained decades of extensive experiences in forest management, land use plans, and independent consulting, and has served as the Chair of the Forest Practices Board. Dr. Fraser joined the Summer Interns on a video chat to discuss his past work experience, as well as current practices in forest and land management.
ed jensen
Ed Jensen is a Tk’emlúps community member. He is a renowned hunter and the owner of Tk’emlúps Traditions, specializing in traditional Tk’emlúps art, including stone knives, bows, arrows, implements, jewelry and other replicas. Ed Jensen discussed his experiences and history as a traditional Secwépemc hunter, the importance of knowing and practising Tk’emlúps traditions, and shared his art with the Summer Interns.
KENTHEN THOMAS
Kenthen Thomas is a Secwépemc storyteller and educator who has been storytelling since he was young, sharing and performing Secwépemc stories and tellings, or ‘stseptékwll’. These stories and Kenthen’s performances of them are not only to provide entertainment, but to share the important lessons and values which are carried within. Kenthen also holds a Bachelor of Education Degree, and currently works as District Aboriginal Resource Teacher in School District #73. As part of the Summer Speaker Series, Kenthen shared his experiences and inspiration with his renowned Secwépemc storytelling, as well as in working with youth as an Indigenous educator.
kyÉ7e mona jules
Kyé7e Mona Jules is a Secwépemc Elder, Knowledge Carrier, and champion of the Secwépemc language. Fluent in Secwepemctsín, she has worked for years as a preserver and teacher of the language. She became a researcher, then a language assistant when she was younger, and has carried out a lengthy career fostering and teaching Secwepemctsín. She has worked as an educator for universities including Thompson Rivers University and Simon Fraser University. Kyé7e Mona Jules shared her familial history and experiences growing up speaking the language with the Summer Interns, as well as her past and present work teaching Secwepemctsín.
jessica asch & dr. rebecca johnson
Dr. Rebecca Johnson is the Associate Director of the Indigenous Law Research Unit (ILRU) at the University of Victoria (UVic). She acts as the project lead on ILRU’s research projects, and teaches workshops and presentations about the ILRU’s projects. She is also a professor in the UVic Faculty of Law.
Jessica Asch is the Research Director of the ILRU, responsible for overseeing daily operations and programming, as well as taking lead on many of the research projects.
These two powerhouse women joined a video call with the Summer Interns, discussing their experiences and current work with the ILRU, supporting the recovery, revitalization, and recognition of Indigenous Laws.