The Stories of our Names: Salish Sea

 Often, it is in the names of geographic places that the first hints of history unfold. When we take a step back and critically observe the politics and unspoken agendas that arise from certain names, it is clear that there is a power that arises from the names we choose. In North America, a movement of cultural recognition in the last decade has led to the renaming of many places with their traditional First Nations names. It seems as if enough time has passed for a more objective view on the colonial nature of the European naming process as many places are being renamed with a moniker more suitable to historical fact, not political agenda.   

  

Just last year, the term Salish Sea was officially recognized as the name of a vast body of water along the coast of British Columbia and Washington State. Stretching from the north end of the Strait of Georgia to the southern reaches of Puget Sound, the Salish Sea reaches westward to the mouth of the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

                      Map of the Salish Sea, Stefan Freelan, WWU, 2009

    The name comes from the Coast Salish people who were the first known inhabitants of the area and it honours their historical use of these waterways. While the previously existing European names will still be used, the term Salish Sea is meant to provide an over-reaching description of the area and highlight the interconnectedness of the waterways and people who use them. In this way, a more holistic world view of the land emerges and many hope that it will inspire a deeper environmental stewardship of the coastline. Who knew there was this much to a name!

Visit: http://staff.wwu.edu/stefan/SalishSea.htm to download the map, and for more information!

 In honour of the official recognition of the Salish Sea, the SCMA is featuring an absolutely stunning book entitled Islands of the Salish Sea in our gift shop. Containing beautifully artistic maps that depict the many islands that dot the Salish Sea, this is truly a book that should be on every coffee table on the coast. Essentially, the authors put out a request for the people who live on the islands to create maps to showcase the unique character of the places they live. The result is a rich collection of over 20 maps that  emanate local flavor and are a treat to peruse. If you couldn’t tell, I have spent a lot of time at home with my own copy of this book : )

Drop on down to the Museum and take a look at this wonderful release or ponder the origins of our local names…there’s no telling what kind of history you might uncover!

                                         Islands of the Salish Sea

                                         Map of Texada Island

Newspaper Archives Go Digital!

The Sunshine Coast Museum & Archives is proud to announce that we are one of twenty-one successful recipients of the 2011 B.C. History Digitization Program (BCHDP) funding awards. The digitization program, an initiative of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, was launched in 2006. It provides matching funds that help libraries, archives, museums and other organizations digitize unique historical items, including images, print and sound material.

We have received a $10,000 grant to create a comprehensive, publicly-accessible digital database of newspapers from the Sunshine Coast region. During Phase I, the issues of the Coast News/Sunshine Coast News in most urgent need of preservation (1945-76, 1983-87, and 1989) will be digitized and made available in an easily accessible web-searchable format. The original copies exist within the SCMA, but they are extremely fragile and off-limits to researchers because of their delicate condition. If they are lost, they will be lost forever. This project will permanently protect this important archival treasure in digital form and provide public access to this valuable resource.

The issues to be digitized cover 37 years during a period of tremendous growth of our coastal community. They provide information of outstanding natural, historical, scientific, artistic, archival and informational value to many segments of the Sunshine Coast population. Moreover, by providing easy public access to these archival records, we will encourage researchers to study the area, market the community, and promote tourism using a deep knowledge about the community’s unique history and strengths.

We'll keep you posted on how this project is progressing!

Gibson Day Celebrates 125th Anniversary

On Saturday May 28^th, the Sunshine Coast Museum and Archives in collaboration with local producer Robert MacDonald & director David Short, presented George and Charlotte Gibson Day to mark the 125^th Anniversary of the Gibson Family’s arrival on the Sunshine Coat. And what a fantastic event it turned out to be! To be honest, the morning’s rain showers had us a little apprehensive, biting our nails and looking at the swirling dark clouds rolling in from the west, but as the day unfolded, it seemed as if luck was on our side!  

The festivities began with a dramatical enactment of the Gibson’s arrival at Armours Beach. Actors portraying Charlotte Gibson and her children milled around in period costumes on the landing and there was there was a tangible excitement in the air as everyone awaited George’s arrival.  Rowing a small boat up to the dock with one of his sons, the audience cheered as they stepped ashore carrying burlap sacks to represent their belongings. During the arrival, ­­Tim Anderson’s narration told the story of how George Gibson ended up on the Coast very much by fluke as a strong wind pushed his vessel, the Swamp Angel, off course. And remember those present-day dark swirling clouds I mentioned? Well by similar fluke, the sun soon appeared and the Gibson’s began to pack up their belongings on an awaiting horse to travel to their new home. Walking along Marine Drive, the eager crowd followed the Gibson family as outspoken George provided comical and insightful comments along the way. Sunshine Coast history was alive!

As the group approached the museum, the crowd swelled, cheering and hooting wildly as George announced that they had finally reached their destination.  Gathering around props set up in front of the museum such as a kitchen table and a wash tub, the actors began to act out A Day in the Life of the Gibson Family. Again, Tim narrated each situation that the Gibsons portrayed, and the audience watched on as they prepared food, washed clothes and fetched firewood. We definitely took some artistic license with this but we made sure to let the audience know and everyone seemed to enjoy it. All too soon, the entertaining enactment was over, but Gibsons Mayor Barry Janyk, dressed in top hat and tails, continued with a historically themed speech, highlighting the changes that have taken place since 1886. As the sun continued to beam outside, much of the crowd gathered in the gift shop of the museum for the cake cutting ceremony. And let me tell you – it was an incredible cake, both to look at and to taste! Snacking on an array of refreshments, locals and visitors alike reminisced about the heritage of Gibsons, while many folks sat outside and basked in the beautiful afternoon. Soon, Matt Cavers presented an informative slideshow of historical photographs, providing insights and anecdotes to the enthused crowd. With the afternoon winding down, SCMA staff and volunteers marveled at how successful the event turned out to be! By all counts, about 150 people came out to the Museum to celebrate and take part in the festivities for the 2011 George and Charlotte Gibson Day.

THANK YOU’S to: producer Robert McDonald, director David Short, actors Roza Rogers, Olivia Perignon, Emily Diamond, Rochelle Perignon, Elizabeth Lyle, Nicolaus VanDerSaand, narrator Tim Anderson, photographer Dan Tsuji, and Julia Davidson (owner of horse); SMCA volunteers Ian Thomson, Mike Clement, Elaine Jackson, Ann Tasker, Lorraine Goddard, Sue Thompson, and Sharon Venechuck; the Town of Gibsons and Mayor Janyk; and Super Valu for the slab cake, IGA for the fruit and vegetable platters, and Tim Horton’s for the coffee.

For more photos and articles in our community newspapers, go to: http://www.coastreporter.net/apps/pbcs.dll/tngallery?Site=GW&Date=20110530&Category=SECHELT&ArtNo=530009999&Ref=PH

http://www.thelocalweekly.ca/ (June 2, 2011 – Vol. 9 Issue 22)

Olivia Perignon

Gordon and Elaine Jackson

Bruce and Makiko

Matt Cavers presenting a slide show on the history of Gibsons.

Curator Kimiko Hawkes with Heather McEadie, great grandaughter of George Gibson

Vintage lace dress donated as a prop by Ms. Heatherington

Awaiting the arrival of George and Ralph

George and Ralph rowing in to Armour's Beach

Mayor Barry Janyk and Narrator Tim Anderson

George and Ralph coming up the dock with supplies

George is feeling the strain after rowing ashore and packing in the supplies

The procession through town, pack horse and all!

Charlotte and the girls start doing the chores

The family poses for a group shot

Narrator Tim Anderson

Musical accompaniment by Matthew Lovegrove

Hear ye, hear ye! Mayor Barry Janyk presents a speech to the family

Great turnout!

Mayor Barry Janyk and guest Heather McEadie (great grandaugher of George Gibson)

In Support of Museum School

Written by Ann Chow, Teacher at Langdale Elementary School

"My first experience with Museum School dates back to the spring of 2008. Dr.Gillian Kydd approached me to have my grade 2/3 class participate in the pilot program. The thought of turning the Sunshine Coast Museum and Archives into my classroom for a week sounded very exciting. This spring of 2011 has been my fourth consecutive year attending Museum School, and my enthusiasm remains as high as the first time!

Although Museum School is only one week long, I have to confess that I start preparing the students months in advance. I generally choose to come later in the school year because of the weather. Dry and sunny conditions allow for being outdoors. The class spends time drawing the fishing boats down at the marina, writing in their journals on the lawn at Stonehurst or taking walks to visit the Mayor’s office and Winegarden Park.

The Sunshine Coast has a wealth of interesting people who are more than happy to share their stories or their expertise, complementing any program or focus at Museum School. I have invited a geologist to give a talk on fossils; a historian to share his passion for maps and early exploration; grandmothers to share their experience as pioneers; “Grandfather” (he just so happens to be the grandfather of one of my students) to share the hardships of early logging and let the kids experience splitting cedar shakes; an aboriginal educator to share her story of surviving residential school and finding her spirit; and artists to share the skill of weaving with cedar bark, print making, and scratch boards. Last year, my blended class asked for the same presenters as they had the year before! And here I was worried that the students would find it boring to attend Museum School two years in a row.

My Special Needs students adjust to the new schedule and setting quickly. Of course, a SETA is arranged to be available for one to one help with writing. Parent helpers are also invaluable by providing support with writing, tidying of the workspace, contributing to setting up of the class display of “Family Collections” and just being the extra hand when walking around town.

All the students are well prepared ahead of time, practicing object-based drawing and writing months before their week at Museum School. So, by the time they arrive at the Museum, the students immerse themselves amongst the hundreds of artifacts to draw and write for a good portion of the afternoon! The growth shown in the students writing is evident as they reflect in their journals and assess their work. Museum School provides plenty of opportunities for the students to use the many strategies used in their classroom - partner talking, connecting, reflecting, assessing and setting criteria. The resources at the Museum are abundant and help to fill the week with meaningful and memorable experiences. The Museum curator and staff are knowledgeable and most supportive in making it a positive and worthwhile week. As Gillian describes, at first the students are busy absorbing their new environment. By Day Three, they are starting to own their learning, and by ‘Day Five’, the students are sad that the week has come to an end."

The class dressed as early settlers on the final day of Museum School.

Students are eager to have a turn at splitting cedar shakes with Mr. Thomson.

Some of the items that Frances Nahanee brought for her presentation on the uses of cedar.

Jim and Ian Thomson posing with the class after a hard session of splitting shakes.

On Day Five, the class dressed up, made bread, learned about local food, and had a 'sleepover' at the museum (pillows, popcorn and movie but home by 7:00 pm - almost a sleepover!)

Noelle Hanuse used her quilt to tell the story of finding her spirit.