FAQ's
Frequently Asked Questions

1 

Who is Hosting the Gathering?

Pauquachin First Nation (PFN) is hosting Pauquachin S’uylu Skweyul, as an extended version of Pauquachin Days, an annual celebration of the community involving a multitude of activities to celebrate our artists, lands, and peoples.

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Pauquachin S’uylu Skweyul has been organized across all Pauquachin organizational departments, as a celebration from the heart of the community, to reclaim Coles Bay. Supporting a multitude of community partners and invited guests. This gathering involves centering Pauquachin traditions and marine stewardship through the creation of a new sea garden as part of ongoing shellfish revitalization work in the community.

2

Do I need to register to attend?

YES, ALL ATTENDEES MUST pre-register to attend the Gathering. Due to space and fire limitations, much of the event is reserved for community members and invited guests.

Huy ch q'u (Thank you) for respecting our limitations.

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Invited Guests - have received priority invitations and are welcome to attend the 3-Days in their entirety (morning to evening) including, 3 meals per day on Aug 6 & 7 and 2 meals on Aug 8.

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Volunteer Guests - have received an invitation to join us with the intension of focusing on building the rock wall, networking, learning and sharing. *These guests are welcome to join us:

Aug 6 & 7: 7am-2:30pm (including breakfast and lunch)

Aug 8: 8am-3:30pm (including breakfast and lunch).

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*Families - are welcome however, for safety reasons, we require all minors to be pre-registered. Beach activities and cultural celebrations are intended for intergenerational participation. Children must be supervised at all times.

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*Registration is required to ensure we do not go over capacity. *Non-Community Guests without registration will not be able to join the Gathering.

3

What is the purpose of the Gathering?

The Gathering will support the creation of a 250-meter sea garden wall, as a continuation of a 4-year shellfish revitalization effort by the community in the bay. We will be focusing discussions and activities on food sovereignty, cultural revitalization, and ecological restoration in the contexts of the lower Vancouver Island and Coastal British Columbia regions.

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Activities will include collective rock placement, cultural sharing, networking, and learning exchanges between restoration practitioners, as well as field trips and celebratory activities like canoe paddling. This event aims to reawaken knowledge in the community, support youth involvement and foster intergenerational learning.

4

How do I get to Coles Bay?

Registrants can join the event by parking at Glen Meadows Golf Course (1050 McTavish Rd, North Saanich, BC V8L 5X1). Followed by a short walk down West Saanich Rd and crossing at the clearly marked crosswalk, to Pauquachin First Nation Community Hall (9010 West Saanich Rd. North Saanich, BC V8L 5W4). *Please be careful as this is a main road and kindly note that there is NO GENERAL PARKING at this location. Accessible ONLY Parking will be available.

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Signs will be posted, and walking routes will be shared with registered guests prior to the event.

5

Our Community expectations while attending the Gathering

​Health & Safety: First Aid support will be on-site however, you will be personally responsible for proper hydration, limiting sun exposure, wearing appropriate attire, physical exertion, limitations of moving rocks, slippery and uneven environment and awareness and well-being of those around you.

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Consent: When registering you will agree to being in pictures and videos that will be taken throughout the duration of the Gathering, and which might be used in documentation and future promotional awareness of the Gathering.

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Substance-Free Environment: No alcohol, marijuana, illicit drugs, and the illicit use of prescribed drugs will be tolerated.

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Cultural Mindfulness: Pauquachin First Nation would like to gently remind everyone that this Gathering is an ALL-AGES event, it may have moments, sharing, and discussions of historic challenges, and sensitive content. Therefore, we ask that when attending the Gathering you do so with mindfulness and humility. Huy ch q'u (Thank you)