Emerging from the Sea

Waterways that fed into the sea and the creatures that lived beneath those waves have been a source of life for Coast Salish communities since their inception. The relationship between the Coast Salish and the water shaped their culture, traditions and practices.

However, colonization disrupted these traditions, disconnecting many from the water and land and impacting their cultural identities. Today, there is an urgent need to restore these practices while preparing Indigenous youth for gainful employment in the marine industry. With commercial fishing licences increasingly being returned to First Nations, there is a growing demand for trained Indigenous deckhands and marine workers. 

So, the Hulitun Suli Marine Training and Healing Program was created. Delivered on Stz’uminus, Snuneymuxw, and Snaw-naw-as territories, young Indigenous Peoples will have the opportunity to attend to a seven-month, culture-based marine training program that teaches certified marine education and commercial fishing practices. Students will gain practical skills that prepare them for careers in commercial fishing, marine transportation, marine response, and shipbuilding, while exploring cultural teachings, counselling, and traditional harvesting techniques. Elders and Knowledge Keepers will share language, rites of passage, and connections to the land and ocean. 

The Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF) is contributing funding to help launch this program with the purpose of balancing practical employment training with healing and cultural revitalization. By revitalizing the long history of marine harvesting practiced by First Nations, young people will be empowered to reconnect with the ocean, strengthen their identity, and build meaningful careers.

Diocese of Victoria