British Columbia History – Vol 56 No 3, Fall 2023
English | 48 pages | pdf | 87.7 MB
Welcome at British Columbia History Magazine Vol 56 No 3, Fall 2023
Creation stories tell us that in the beginning, there was only water. Water is therefore considered our oldest relation and the source of all life. The land itself was born of sacrifice, the ultimate gift of life given by the Ancients during the time of Creation. Our stories remind us that land and water are not merely resources, but relations.
The world first known by our Ancestors was shaped during the time of the Ancients and Transformers, who roamed the land before the first people came into being. The Ancients and Transformers were powerful beings, but many lived without the Creator’s message in their hearts. Those who failed to live by our laws and to care for the gifts of water and land were transformed into the mountains, the valleys, the rivers, and the lakes that we know today. Our laws are written on the land.
When the first people came into being, they were given the gift of knowledge. They were shown how to know, use, and care for the plants, the animals, the fish, the birds, the land, and the water. They were surrounded by the lessons of the Ancients, reminders that these gifts come with responsibilities and that violation of our laws comes with consequences. The first people knew that they must care for the land and water in thesame manner that they would care for their families so that these gifts are available for generations to come.
The theme explored in this volume is land and water. Both magazine issues are close to my heart. For me, they represent our past, present, and future but are also linked to our stories, our identity, our knowledge, our families, and our laws.
We have all come to know land and water in different ways. For some, water is important for ceremony and spirituality. For others, it continues to be important as a means of connecting communities, the original highways. There are those who can look at the land and see the stories of the Ancients and Transformers, and others who can see the opportunity for development, housing, and agriculture.
The contributors to this volume have shared their knowledge and experience of land and water. Seemingly diverse articles are brought together under this theme demonstrating one fact: our lands and waters are gifts that we each know and appreciate in our own way.
Angie Bain
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