Get Involved Constitution Gathering 2 Summary
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Nov 17 – Nov 17, 2024

Constitution Gathering 2 Summary

On November 17th, 2024, over 200 Squamish People attended the Constitution Gathering 2 at Totem Hall, Chief Joe Mathias Centre and online via Zoom. Project staff heard incredibly positive feedback from those who participated and are excited about our next Gatherings on January 26th, and February 9th, 2025.  

If there is anything you would like to share, request or recommend ahead of the next Constitution Gatherings, please contact our Engagement Officer Yususult, Rosemarie (Rose) Williams, on 604-982-8600 or Rosemarie_Williams@squamish.net. 

What happened at this Gathering?

A few days before the meeting, we learned there was no heat at the CJMC location. So, we notified as many people as we could to dress warmly, and gave toques to the first 95 people who signed in at the CJMC location. Of course, we did not want to leave the Valley people out, so we gave 25 toques and 25 t-shirts to the first 50 who signed in there.

We first welcomed the Squamish People who joined us at the Totem Hall and Chief Joe Mathias Centre with a hot lunch. Wellness support was available for anyone who wanted it. Once the online participants joined us, the meeting was opened by a young singers’ dance group from North Vancouver at the Chief Joe Mathias Centre (CJMC).

Danielle Mellish, Constitution Project Manager, started the meeting with a review of what was shared at the Project Kickoff on April 28th and Gathering 1 on June 26th. Danielle also shared the many other ways our project staff are engaging with our People, near and far – it’s important to hear everyone’s voice for this project. Next, attendees joined small group discussions based on the questions listed below. The goal was to identify themes to help the Constitution Working Group draft our S7ulh kwis Úxwumixw (Our Way of Being a Nation).

Attendees could also ask questions throughout and in the Q&A. At the end of the Gathering, we drew 6 door prizes. We awarded 2 at each location and 2 to online participants (winners are listed below). The evening closed with some drumming and singing at Totem Hall. Then, a final thank you and an announcement of the next meeting.

What was shared?

Here’s what was shared at the Gathering: 

  • A recap of the Project Kickoff on April 28th and Gathering 1 on June 26th
  • Updates on the community engagement happening outside of Gatherings
    • Info Booths at community events, including:
      • Youth BBQ
      • Youth Powwow
      • International Indigenous Peoples Day
      • Pride Parade & Celebration
      • Amalgamation Day
      • April Distribution Day (DB Day)
      • August Distribution Day (DB Day)
    • Special meetings with Elders in North Vancouver and Squamish
    • Special meetings with the Ayas Lam Family program in Squamish 
    • Info Session with our Squamish People in Seattle, Washington 
    • Family Dinners  
    • Craft and chat events
    • Doorknocking on Squamish reserves
  • Overview of other engagement tools we’re using to reach Squamish People
    • Online tools: Website, Facebook and Instagram, X (Twitter), YouTube, Snapchat (ads only), TikTok (ads only), emails, surveys
    • Phone tools: Text messages, phone calls 
    • Mailed tools: Booklet, flyers in the newsletter and mailouts in the post. 
  • Frequently asked questions like what is a Constitution? (see answers to this and more on our FAQ page)

In the small group discussions, Squamish People could either write their thoughts or use their smartphones to answer important questions. A dedicated facilitator was at each site and online to help attendees participate and capture all of the responses from our People. Those answers and discussions will be used by the Constitution Working Group to write the first draft of our Constitution. The facilitators guided the process to answer these questions:

  • What makes you Sḵwx̱wú7mesh? 
  • What are your rights as a Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Stelmexw? (Squamish Person) 
  • What are your responsibilities as a Sḵwx̱wú7mesh person today and to our future descendants?

The answers were inspiring! And it’s not too late to share your thoughts on these questions. We are still collecting information from Squamish People. Just get in touch with our Engagement Officer Yususult, Rosemarie (Rose) Williams, on 604-982-8600 or Rosemarie_Williams@squamish.net. 

What was learned?

Squamish People who attended had so many incredible things to share about what makes us Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and our rights and responsibilities as Sḵwx̱wú7mesh People. Below is a taste of what was shared under each of the questions asked.

What makes you Sḵwx̱wú7mesh?

  • Family trees and generations of connections
  • Intergeneration connections and finding new ways to honour the way our families used to be in the longhouses
  • Feeling a connection to our land, territory, culture and teachings
  • Being able to have a say in the future of our land and community
  • Continuing to teach our mem men our language and culture 
  • Rights should be equal, not blood quantum 
  • Some Squamish People also reversed the question and asked what is “real” Squamish

What are your rights as a Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Stelmexw? (Squamish Person) 

  • Practicing our culture on our lands
  • Access to housing on our lands
  • Speaking and teaching our language 
  • Advocating for traditional education, especially with neurodivergent children, elders, 2-spirit, children, infants 
  • Some Squamish People also asked if their rights were listed anywhere

What are your responsibilities as a Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Person today and to our future descendants?

  • Representing our community with pride 
  • Holding ourselves to a high standard and sharing that with people 
  • Being inclusive (example, one sibling is a descendant and the other lineal) 
  • Involving ourselves in decisions that affect our future generations 

How many people attended the Gathering?

  • 55 online participants 
  • 47 Totem Hall *
  • 88 Chief Joe Mathias Centre signed in, but we believe it was around 120 *

* some people didn’t sign-in, so attendance was likely higher 

The transportation schedule was shared ahead of this Gathering. The opportunity to take advantage of child-minding and door prizes was also advertised. The door prize winners are:

Chief Joe Mathias Centre 

  • Bonita George – $100 Save On Foods gift card 
  • Joe Lizee – $100 Presidents Choice gift card 
  • Member Services gave a surprise $100 gift card and the winner was Francis Lewis

Totem Hall 

  • Christine Baker – $100 Save On Foods gift card 
  • Shirley Toman – $100 Walmart Gift Card

Online 

  • Kayla Natrall – $100 Presidents Choice gift card 
  • Kelli O’Hara– $100 gift card

If there is anything you would like to share, request or recommend ahead of the next Constitution Gathering on January 26, 2025, please contact our Engagement Officer Yususult, Rosemarie (Rose) Williams, on 604-982-8600 or Rosemarie_Williams@squamish.net. 

What’s next?

Our next Constitution Gathering 3 will be on Sunday, January 26th. Gathering 4 is scheduled on Sunday, February 9th.  These will be the final listening Gatherings before Gathering 5 when the first draft of the Constitution will be presented for feedback.  Please join us at Gathering 3 (January 26th) and 4 (February 9th) to help shape S7ulh kwis Úxwumixw (our way of being a nation).

We are also planning to attend and host other events around Squamish Nation to gather your input, answer your questions and provide information to you. We hope to see you there! You can always keep track of upcoming opportunities to engage through our website, social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter), or by getting in touch directly with our Engagement Officer Yususult, Rosemarie (Rose) Williams, on 604-982-8600 or Rosemarie_Williams@squamish.net.

In the meantime, don’t hesitate to book a one-on-one meeting or a family dinner to learn more about this project and ask questions.