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As I Remember It: Teachings (Ɂəms tɑɁɑw) from the Life of a Sliammon Elder The Sliammon-language term for this label means “it is mine.” This book contains the teachings and history of the ɬaʔamɩn people as remembered and narrated by Elder Elsie Paul. The effort and care she takes in this work is important. She offers a counter-narrative to incorrect and inappropriate interpretations previously drawn by settlers. Please respect Elsie Paul’s right and responsibility to relate the history and teachings in her own words. She does so from her own perspective and does not attempt to speak for all ɬaʔamɩn people. Please attribute the stories shared in this book to Elsie Paul.

Some sections of this book are authored by other individuals and should be attributed to the appropriate person(s) as indicated. This label refers to a teaching that emerges throughout this book: “you learn from someone by example.” (The literal translation of tiʔiwš is “fast learner.”) The goal of this book is to share ɬaʔamɩn teachings and history widely with ɬaʔamɩn community members, students, and teachers at all levels, and with any other interested readers. This is Elsie’s goal in sharing ʔəms tɑʔɑw, and all of the authors hope the book serves an educational purpose. The authors ask readers to take care to use this information respectfully and in context. Material in this book may be culturally sensitive for a number of reasons. This label identifies such content by stating: “it is ours.”

ɬaʔamɩn teachings, laws, and practices that flow from them are subject to the ʔəms naʔ label because they are communally held and collectively stewarded by ɬaʔamɩn people for future generations. Much of this knowledge is captured in our legends, for example. The authors recognize that ɬaʔamɩn, Klahoose, and Homalco families have their own tellings of the legends.

Other parts of the book are labelled “ʔəms naʔ” because the ongoing nature of settler colonialism means that the histories discussed here are not part of a distant past. For close to a century, colonial laws and policies prevented community members from sharing teachings freely in their community without fear of punishment or retribution, imposing silences that remain even today. Thus this label also applies to chapters that discuss the genocidal practices that sought to interrupt the transmission of teachings and to sever ɬaʔamɩn sovereign rights to their territory.

Please treat information and photographs marked with this label with special care, especially if you plan to share them with others.

ɬaʔamɩn Parade

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Contents of this tag:
1. Carving the Turkey
2. Christmas (2)
3. Christmas Blankets
4. čine with Presents
5. ɬaʔamɩn Parade
6. Sharon Paul
7. Walter Paul
8. William in Sliammon
9. Paul Family Car
10. The Ladies
11. Elsie at Steveston in the Late 1940s
12. Katherine Dominick and Harmony Johnson
13. Delivery Truck
14. Collaborators
15. Say Cheese
16. Party Time
17. Newlyweds
18. Johnny Bob and Jimmy Peters
19. Going to Church (1)
20. Buddies
21. Willie at Work
22. ɬaʔamɩn Soccer Team
23. Mom at Sacred Heart
24. Kids on Steps ɬaʔamɩn children pictured on the steps of the old day school. Back row, from left: Johnny John (Katherine Dominick’s son), Charlie Peters (Williams), Willie Peters, Junior Point. Row two, from left: Barney Francis, Joe Harry, Moses Wilson, Louie Tom. Row three, from left: Janet Galligos, unknown, Evelyn Galligos, Nellie Peters. Front row, from left: Stella Olney, Maggie Vivier, unknown, Bertha August, Jeannie Paul.
25. Traditional Prayer Songs
26. Going to Church (2)
27. Helping Ma
28. Willie Dave With the Hackett Sisters
29. Wedding
32. On the Road
33. With Dad
34. Visiting lɑsɑ
35. At the Docks
36. Friends (2)
37. Masters
38. Old Single Lane Bridge
39. New Baby
40. Naming Ceremony