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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. 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. 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.

Boat to Westview

When this photo was taken, circa 1948, it was quicker to get to town by boat than by foot, since people didn’t have cars yet. Peggy Harry is at the back of the group (with barrettes in her hair); Molly Timothy is on the right (with headband); Elsie Paul is in the centre (with flowers in her hair); Stella Timothy is centre right, beside Elsie; further right, holding a baby, is Agnes McGee, and in front of her is Sosen Galligos. Smokey John is on the left (wearing a hat), and lɑsɑ is in front of him.

This page has tags:

Contents of this tag:
1. Boat to Westview When this photo was taken, circa 1948, it was quicker to get to town by boat than by foot, since people didn’t have cars yet. Peggy Harry is at the back of the group (with barrettes in her hair); Molly Timothy is on the right (with headband); Elsie Paul is in the centre (with flowers in her hair); Stella Timothy is centre right, beside Elsie; further right, holding a baby, is Agnes McGee, and in front of her is Sosen Galligos. Smokey John is on the left (wearing a hat), and lɑsɑ is in front of him.
Contents of this tag:
6. Baby Baskets Baby baskets made by Molly Timothy (Granny Molly) in the early 1950s. The basket on the left was made for Jeannie, born to Elsie Paul in 1954, and has since been used for all of Elsie’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. The blue design is made with natural and dyed cherry bark. The basket on the right was made for a daughter of Elsie’s Aunt Agnes, and the design is woven with dyed reed.
7. Fine Craftsmanship
8. Basket for Baby Jeannie
9. Granny Molly’s Baby Baskets Side by Side Baby baskets made by Molly Timothy (Granny Molly) in the early 1950s. The basket on the left was made for Jeannie, born to Elsie Paul in 1954, and has since been used for all of Elsie’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. The blue design is made with natural and dyed cherry bark. The basket on the right was made for a daughter of Elsie’s Aunt Agnes, and the design is woven with dyed reed.
10. Basket for Aunt Agnes’s Daughter
11. Berry Pickers' Cabin
12. Three Generations
13. lɑsɑ and Granny Molly
14. Portrait of Molly and lɑsɑ
15. Boat to Westview When this photo was taken, circa 1948, it was quicker to get to town by boat than by foot, since people didn’t have cars yet. Peggy Harry is at the back of the group (with barrettes in her hair); Molly Timothy is on the right (with headband); Elsie Paul is in the centre (with flowers in her hair); Stella Timothy is centre right, beside Elsie; further right, holding a baby, is Agnes McGee, and in front of her is Sosen Galligos. Smokey John is on the left (wearing a hat), and lɑsɑ is in front of him.
17. Granny with the Kids
18. Molly and Annie
21. Kora's Strawberry Farm
23. Going to Town
24. Sundays
25. Important Medicine
26. Beautiful Baskets
27. Living with the Land
29. Part of Our Survival
30. The Chinese Restaurant
31. Thank the Creator
Contents of this tag:
2. lɑsɑ and Granny Molly
4. Three Generations
5. Portrait of Molly and lɑsɑ
6. Boat to Westview When this photo was taken, circa 1948, it was quicker to get to town by boat than by foot, since people didn’t have cars yet. Peggy Harry is at the back of the group (with barrettes in her hair); Molly Timothy is on the right (with headband); Elsie Paul is in the centre (with flowers in her hair); Stella Timothy is centre right, beside Elsie; further right, holding a baby, is Agnes McGee, and in front of her is Sosen Galligos. Smokey John is on the left (wearing a hat), and lɑsɑ is in front of him.
7. Chief tɑmɑ and the Timothy Children
12. Sundays
13. Visiting lɑsɑ
15. Important Medicine
16. Living with the Land
Contents of this tag:
1. Master Basket Makers
2. Elders and Cedar Roots
3. Working Together
4. Three Generations
5. At the Elders Lodge Elsie Paul with ɬaʔamɩn Elders when she was running the Elders’ program. Front row, from left: Elsie Paul, Henry Bob, Katherine Blaney, Mary Harry, Rose Louie (behind Mary), Joe Paul Sr. (behind Rose), Willie Bob, Calvin Harry. Back row, from left: Louise Bob, Marie Hackett (behind), Nora Wilson, Annie Dominick, Dave Dominick, Agnes McGee, Rose Peddie, Peta Francis (Okee Dokee), Johnny George, Charlie Charlie, Peggy Harry.
6. The Ladies
7. Boat to Westview When this photo was taken, circa 1948, it was quicker to get to town by boat than by foot, since people didn’t have cars yet. Peggy Harry is at the back of the group (with barrettes in her hair); Molly Timothy is on the right (with headband); Elsie Paul is in the centre (with flowers in her hair); Stella Timothy is centre right, beside Elsie; further right, holding a baby, is Agnes McGee, and in front of her is Sosen Galligos. Smokey John is on the left (wearing a hat), and lɑsɑ is in front of him.
8. Party Time
9. Siblings Elsie Paul with her siblings at her brother Barney’s house in the early ’80s. Standing, from left: Teddy Francis (Elsie’s brother), Leo Francis (Elsie’s brother), Lillian Francis (Elsie’s niece, Barney Francis’s daughter), Elsie Paul, Doreen Hopkins (Elsie’s sister), Charlene Francis (Elsie’s niece), Jason Francis (Elsie’s nephew), Greg Francis (inch, Elsie’s nephew). Seated, from left: Aunt Agnes McGee, Rita Francis (Elsie’s sister), Nancy Phillips (Elsie’s sister), Vangie Francis (Elsie’s niece), Elizabeth Blaney (Elsie’s sister), Lily Timothy (Elsie’s mother).
10. Going to Town
12. Masters
Contents of this tag:
21. Elders and Cedar Roots
22. Christmas Blankets
23. Elsie at Deep Bay
25. Cutting Fish
27. Wedding Day
28. Elders and Friends
29. Christmas (1)
30. Assessing the Catch
31. Mother’s Day, 1980
32. Elsie and Glen (2)
33. Elsie and Glen (1)
34. Elsie and Stella
36. Prince William
37. Party at Elsie Paul’s House
38. mɑksɛmɑ’s Cabin in toχʷnɑč (Okeover)
39. Joining Council
40. Bride and Groom
41. Graduation (1)
42. Baby Glen
43. Having a Laugh
44. Elders' Gathering
45. First Home
46. At the Elders Lodge Elsie Paul with ɬaʔamɩn Elders when she was running the Elders’ program. Front row, from left: Elsie Paul, Henry Bob, Katherine Blaney, Mary Harry, Rose Louie (behind Mary), Joe Paul Sr. (behind Rose), Willie Bob, Calvin Harry. Back row, from left: Louise Bob, Marie Hackett (behind), Nora Wilson, Annie Dominick, Dave Dominick, Agnes McGee, Rose Peddie, Peta Francis (Okee Dokee), Johnny George, Charlie Charlie, Peggy Harry.
47. Working Out
48. Preparing an Offering
49. Retirement
50. The Ladies
51. Visiting with Annie and Norman Gallagher
52. The Children at Home
53. Elsie at Steveston in the Late 1940s
54. Friends (1)
55. Elsie at Home
56. Language Work Linguist Honoré Watanabe stands behind ɬaʔamɩn Elders at the Elders Lodge. Elsie was caretaker and lived at the Elders Lodge for many years. From left: Marion Harry, Mary George, and Elsie Paul. Honoré worked extensively with these three women over more than two decades, living with Elsie during his time in Sliammon. Marion was Elsie’s “little sister” at residential school and worked with Honoré to transcribe and translate the selections in Sliammon language included in this publication.
57. Sliammon Village Waterfront
58. A Day in Town
59. Collaborators
60. Elsie and Teresa at the Cannery
61. Elsie and Cathy (2)
62. Boat to Westview When this photo was taken, circa 1948, it was quicker to get to town by boat than by foot, since people didn’t have cars yet. Peggy Harry is at the back of the group (with barrettes in her hair); Molly Timothy is on the right (with headband); Elsie Paul is in the centre (with flowers in her hair); Stella Timothy is centre right, beside Elsie; further right, holding a baby, is Agnes McGee, and in front of her is Sosen Galligos. Smokey John is on the left (wearing a hat), and lɑsɑ is in front of him.
63. Elsie and Cathy (1)
64. Elsie, Agnes, and Children
65. Party Time
67. On the Town
68. Newlyweds
69. Wearing Slacks
70. Repatriation
71. Going to Church (1)
73. Settlers’ Camp (1)
74. Dedicated Work Partners
76. Siblings Elsie Paul with her siblings at her brother Barney’s house in the early ’80s. Standing, from left: Teddy Francis (Elsie’s brother), Leo Francis (Elsie’s brother), Lillian Francis (Elsie’s niece, Barney Francis’s daughter), Elsie Paul, Doreen Hopkins (Elsie’s sister), Charlene Francis (Elsie’s niece), Jason Francis (Elsie’s nephew), Greg Francis (inch, Elsie’s nephew). Seated, from left: Aunt Agnes McGee, Rita Francis (Elsie’s sister), Nancy Phillips (Elsie’s sister), Vangie Francis (Elsie’s niece), Elizabeth Blaney (Elsie’s sister), Lily Timothy (Elsie’s mother).
77. A Visit with Auntie Katherine
79. Christmas with the Girls
80. Baby Marlane
81. Traditional Prayer Songs
86. Honorary Doctorate
87. Helping Ma
88. Going to Church (2)
89. Elsie Paul with King of the Sea
90. Childhood Friends
92. Paul Family
94. Important Medicine
95. Friends (2)
96. The Shield
97. Author Group (7)
98. Beautiful Baskets
99. Author Group (4)
100. Pals
101. Author Group (8)
102. Rowing with mɑksɛmɑ
103. Author Group (5)
105. Author Group (6)
106. Becoming Strong
107. Territory
108. Life History of This Project
109. Sharing the Book (2)
110. Give It to Them
111. Sharing the Book (5)
112. tʼᶿɛwqʼ (pronunciation)
113. Sharing the Book (3)
114. Cleansing
115. Living with the Land
116. You Thank It
117. Sharing the Book (4)
118. Community Activities
119. Watch Your Children
120. Contact Happened
121. Designated Area
122. Old-Timers and Hard Work
123. Gifted People
124. My Dog Patsy
125. Recovery
126. Part of Our Survival
127. Root Digging
128. Times of Transition
129. Lonely and Homesick
130. tɑʔɑw
131. He Got His Spirit Back
132. Her Name Was Jane
133. New Year’s Dance
134. The Young Girl and Eleven Puppies (English)
135. Thank the Creator
136. The Chinese Restaurant
137. When It’s Your Time
138. Homebrew
139. Problems Handed down from History
140. The Young Girl and Eleven Puppies (Sliammon)
141. Author Group (3)
142. Grieving
143. We Were Already Here
144. Author Group (2)
145. Police Patrol (2)
146. Police Patrol (1)
147. Collecting Branches
148. Author Group (1)
149. Paul Family Photo
150. New Baby
151. Preparing Fish and Community Drive-Through
152. Naming Ceremony
153. The Police Were Standing by the Bed
Contents of this tag:
5. Boys
6. After the Fire
8. Fishing Boat
9. Dugouts
10. Building the King of the Sea
11. Canoe Building
12. Racing the King of the Sea
13. Seiners
14. Boat to Westview When this photo was taken, circa 1948, it was quicker to get to town by boat than by foot, since people didn’t have cars yet. Peggy Harry is at the back of the group (with barrettes in her hair); Molly Timothy is on the right (with headband); Elsie Paul is in the centre (with flowers in her hair); Stella Timothy is centre right, beside Elsie; further right, holding a baby, is Agnes McGee, and in front of her is Sosen Galligos. Smokey John is on the left (wearing a hat), and lɑsɑ is in front of him.
15. Paddle Carving
18. Cod Fishing
19. Elsie Paul with King of the Sea
Contents of this tag:
1. Elsie and Stella
2. Chief tɑmɑ and the Timothy Children
3. Boat to Westview When this photo was taken, circa 1948, it was quicker to get to town by boat than by foot, since people didn’t have cars yet. Peggy Harry is at the back of the group (with barrettes in her hair); Molly Timothy is on the right (with headband); Elsie Paul is in the centre (with flowers in her hair); Stella Timothy is centre right, beside Elsie; further right, holding a baby, is Agnes McGee, and in front of her is Sosen Galligos. Smokey John is on the left (wearing a hat), and lɑsɑ is in front of him.
4. On the Road
5. Going to Town
6. Sundays
Contents of this tag:
1. A Day in Town
2. Boat to Westview When this photo was taken, circa 1948, it was quicker to get to town by boat than by foot, since people didn’t have cars yet. Peggy Harry is at the back of the group (with barrettes in her hair); Molly Timothy is on the right (with headband); Elsie Paul is in the centre (with flowers in her hair); Stella Timothy is centre right, beside Elsie; further right, holding a baby, is Agnes McGee, and in front of her is Sosen Galligos. Smokey John is on the left (wearing a hat), and lɑsɑ is in front of him.
3. New Baby
Contents of this tag:
1. At the Elders Lodge Elsie Paul with ɬaʔamɩn Elders when she was running the Elders' program. Front row, from left: Elsie Paul, Henry Bob, Katherine Blaney, Mary Harry, Rose Louie (behind Mary), Joe Paul Sr. (behind Rose), Willie Bob, Calvin Harry. Back row, from left: Louise Bob, Marie Hackett (behind), Nora Wison, Annie Dominick, Dave Dominick, Agnes McGee, Rose Peddie, Peta Francis (Okee Dokee), Johnny George, Charlie Charlie, Peggy Harry.
2. A Day in Town
3. Boat to Westview When this photo was taken, circa 1948, it was quicker to get to town by boat than by foot, since people didn’t have cars yet. Peggy Harry is at the back of the group (with barrettes in her hair); Molly Timothy is on the right (with headband); Elsie Paul is in the centre (with flowers in her hair); Stella Timothy is centre right, beside Elsie; further right, holding a baby, is Agnes McGee, and in front of her is Sosen Galligos. Smokey John is on the left (wearing a hat), and lɑsɑ is in front of him.
4. Going to Town
Contents of this tag:
1. Boat to Westview When this photo was taken, circa 1948, it was quicker to get to town by boat than by foot, since people didn’t have cars yet. Peggy Harry is at the back of the group (with barrettes in her hair); Molly Timothy is on the right (with headband); Elsie Paul is in the centre (with flowers in her hair); Stella Timothy is centre right, beside Elsie; further right, holding a baby, is Agnes McGee, and in front of her is Sosen Galligos. Smokey John is on the left (wearing a hat), and lɑsɑ is in front of him.

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My Dog Patsy
“That’s my dog. I look after my dog!”
Patsy was my little dog. I got Patsy as just a puppy, and I was so fond of her. And it was time to go up to Rivers Inlet. And I was quite young then – gosh, I don’t know how old I was – maybe I was about seven or eight. And I had to sneak her on the steamboat under my shirt, ’cause she was just a puppy. I was so afraid they weren’t going to let me take her, if anyone saw me taking her into the boat, steamboat. So I managed to get her – snuck her aboard.
This elderly lady didn’t care for my puppy: “Gets into everything! Leave it outside!”
Oh, I didn’t want to leave her outside! So it started to pour rain, and I was so worried about my puppy. So I got out the door, and I went and sat right up against the building and I was holding my puppy. I think I must have been crying, real sad, holding on to my dog. She came out, and she looked, and she said, “Okay, get in here. You can bring her in, but make sure you hold on to her. She gets into everything.” [chuckles]
So me and my puppy are called back into the house and sitting there, I’m all soaking wet, so is my dog. [laughs] So while we’re there, the puppy got bigger, and of course it grew. We were there for about four weeks, five weeks. And we came back home, and they let me take her onto the steamboat. Managed to get her on.
And we got back here in the community, and they used to kill the dogs here. The police would come and shoot the dogs when there got to be too many dogs in the community. So they were coming anyway to shoot all the dogs. And I couldn’t convince anyone that, you know, “That’s my dog. I look after my dog!” I had to go tie the dog myself to a post. And so the police wouldn’t chase the dogs all over, we all had to have our dogs tied to a post down towards the beach. And the police would come and just shoot them off, pick them off – shoot them. Oh, I was so upset about my Patsy. I loved that dog! And I don’t know who took care of the remains. Probably the parents or the grandparents took care of the remains. I don’t know what happened after that. But they came and shot my dog.
The things we had to endure. Yeah. Yeah, it’s a wonder I’m still sane, if I am – I don’t know. [laughs] Traumatized for life!