SAVE THE DATE!
Pauquachin S’uylu Skweyul
(Pauquachin Spirit Days)
August 6 - 8, 2025
3-DAY GATHERING
Coles Bay, BC
Yu sq'uq'a' kwthu xe'xe' smunmeent
(Together with our sacred rocks)
Day 1 - Aug 6
'Uy' skweyul
(Welcome - Good Day)
Morning Activities (7a-11:30a)
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Pauquachin Welcome: 7a
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Breakfast & Opening Ceremony: 7a-8:30am
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To Coles Bay: 8:30a-9a
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Rock Moving: 9a-11:30a
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Community Market 10a-4p
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Return for Lunch: 11:30a
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Lunch (11:30a-1:30p)
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Community Hall​
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Afternoon Activities (1:30-2:30p)
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The Story of Pauquachin First Nation
*Thank you, Volunteers - see you tomorrow!
Afternoon Activities (2:30-4p)
*For Community Members & Invited Guests
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Beach Activities
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Canoe Paddle
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Evening Activities (4p-9p)​
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Dinner: 5-7p
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Glow Party: 7-9p​​​
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Huy ch q'u to everyone for your hard work today and we look forward to seeing you tomorrow.
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Day 2 - Aug 7
Huy ch q'u 'u tun'a xew's skweyul
(Thank you for this new day)
Morning Activities (8a-11:30a)
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Pauquachin Welcome: 8a
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Breakfast & Progress Update: 8a-9:30am
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To Coles Bay: 9:30a-10a
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Rock Moving: 10a-11:30a
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Community Market 10a-4p
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Return for Lunch: 11:30a
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Lunch (11:30a-1:30p)
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Community Hall
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Afternoon Activities (1:30-2:30p)
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Networking & Hot Table Presentations
*Thank you, Volunteers - see you tomorrow!
Afternoon Activities (2:30-4p)​
*For Community Members & Invited Guests
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Beach Activities
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Canoe Paddle
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Evening Activities (4p-9p)
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Coastal Jam: 4-5p
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Pit Cook Dinner: 5-8p
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Bone games — sluhel’
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Huy ch q'u to everyone for your hard work today and we look forward to seeing you tomorrow.
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Day 3 - Aug 8
Tth 'ihwun 'i' q'a'thut 'utl' lhnimulh
(Please join us)
Morning Activities (8a-11:30a)
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Pauquachin Welcome: 8a
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Breakfast & Progress Update: 8a-9:30am
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Field Trips: 9a-12:30p
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Community Activities 9a-4p
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Community Market 10a-4p
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Return for Lunch: 11:30a-12p
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Lunch (11:30a-1:30p)
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Community Hall
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Afternoon Activities (1:30p-4p)
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Reflections: 1-1:30p
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Closing Ceremony: 1:30-2:30p
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Wrap-up of Community Events: 4p
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​*Event Clean-Up ​​​​​​​
Huy ch q'u - we raise our hands in gratitude to everyone for joining us as we came together to learn, share knowledge and to reawaken sleeping traditions, revitalize food sustainability and nurture culture and heritage. ​
Tth 'ihwun 'i' q'a'thut 'utl' lhnimulh
(Please come join us!)
THIS GATHERING REQUIRES
PRE-REGISTRATION
For 2025 Gathering information, please contact: adrien@pauquachin.com
​(Photo Caption: people gather at the Swinomish Clam Garden for a collective work party; credit Dr. Marco Western Washington University professor)
Pauquachin S’uylu Skweyul
(Pauquachin Spirit Days)
2025 Gathering Details
Yu sq'uq'a' kwthu xe'xe' smunmeent
(Together with our sacred rocks)
Pauquachin S'uylu Skweyul is a 3-Day Sea Garden Restoration Gathering.
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Pauquachin First Nation will be welcoming invited guests to be a part of reclaiming Coles Bay by creating and building a traditional Sea Garden. Pauquachin Marine is leading this heritage project with the goal of supporting culture revitalization, restoring traditional food sources and actively supporting ecological health within the bay.
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*This Gathering will require an early start to the day, to ensure that work takes place prior to the afternoon summer heat.*
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Welcoming ceremony on Day 1 to open the Gathering. Day 1 and 2 of the Gathering will be focused on navigating around the lowest tides of the season, which will allow for guests to 'pass' the prepared rocks by hand, to build the 250-meter rock wall. These mindfully sourced and prepared rocks will be ready to make their journey into Coles Bay. Rocks from the quarry, will be used as "seed rock" prepared to plant throughout the wall, returning life to it as quickly as possible.A traditionally designed sea garden will nurture clam beds, welcome the return of numerous sea life, provide food sustainability, awaken sleeping traditional teachings, harvesting practices and sharing to future generations.
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Day 3 of the Gathering will be a morning designed to visit neighbouring local sites to learn and support other on-going restoration projects. Plus, the opportunity to interact and engage in the traditional PAUQUACHIN SPIRIT DAY! Followed by our afternoon closing ceremony.
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The afternoons will support learning, knowledge sharing, networking and the opportunity for some well-deserved fun!
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Evenings are reserved for community members and special guests only.
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More details to follow soon...
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Traveling to Southern Vancouver Island (Victoria, BC) - things to know!
If you have not visited Southern Vancouver Island before, we encourage you to stay a little longer! There is a lot to do this time of year, and we are happy to offer recommendations of things to do & see. *Please note that the Gathering will be following a Long Weekend Aug 2, 3 & Holiday Monday Aug 4, 2025. This may limit early arrival options, if not booked in advance.
Pauquachin First Nation (Google Maps)
Things to Do in Victoria BC | Tourism Victoria
BC Ferries (Vancouver (Tsawwassen) to Victoria (Swartz Bay)​
YYJ - Victoria Airport Authority
*We strongly recommend a minimum of 2.5hrs for connection times between Victoria (Vancouver Island) and Vancouver (YVR), Seattle (SEA), Los Angeles (LAX) or any other connection city. Being mindful of time required for clearing customs,
claiming/rechecking baggage and connecting distances within airports.
Car Rental at Victoria Intl Airport (YYJ) - Airport Rentals
Near by Accommodations to Coles Bay, Sidney, BC - 10 Best Sidney Hotels, Canada (From CAD 209)
Near By Accommodations to Coles Bay, North Saanich, BC - Motel 6 Saanichton, BC - Victoria Airport - ReservationDesk.com
Travel Documentation - Entering Canada - Travel.gc.ca
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GATHERING
Partners, Relations &
Sponsors
Our Story
The Happy Clam Logo
The Happy Clam is healthy, happy and a great source of nourishment for our people. On its shell are the phases of the moon which affect the tides of the ocean, allowing us to harvest when it is low. With its siphon out it is ready to filter the oceans water, to breathe, eat, and reproduce. It lays in a sea of blue filled with stars and a sun with a salish eye looking down. Encasing the cosmos is a ring of sand, the environment that homes the happy clam.
​Raven (Darcy Treadwell) Pauquachin Member