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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.

Day School

This page has tags:

Contents of this tag:
1. Sechelt Indian Reserve Church Opening
2. Makeshift Church
3. Willie and Daisy Paul
4. Remains of the Fire
5. Sliammon Sacred Heart Church
6. Class of 1917
7. Sechelt Residential School
8. Death but Not Sin
9. Residential School Chapel (1)
10. Sliammon Day School In addition to attending the Sechelt Indian Residential School, Elsie Paul occasionally attended a day school in the Sliammon community in the winter months. The Sliammon day school teachers were Pat McGuiness and Mr. Gallagher. Back row: Unknown boy with hat, Katherine Blaney, Teacher Pat McGuinness, Rosaline Wilson, unknown girl, Marilyn Louie (tall in the very back behind unknown girl) Middle row: Ernie Galligos (shorter boy), Joe Paul, Agnes Paul, unknown girl, Front (Small Children): Sarah tom, Maggie Wilson, and Joe Francis (Elsie Paul's half brother)
11. Day School
12. Procession from Our Lady of the Rosary Church
13. Residential School Chapel (2)
14. Paul Family
Contents of this tag:
1. Health Centre
2. Elders' Gathering
3. First Home
4. Graduation (1)
5. Hospital (2)
6. Elsie and Teresa at the Cannery
7. Day School
8. Clams Elsie Paul’s cousin David George (1948–53) with butter clams dug from in front of the reserve. At the time, shellfish were clean and plentiful, but clams are no longer safe to harvest from this site. The very large cross in the background is in the cemetary. hʌwhegus (advisers in the community), including Chief Tom Timothy and Bill Mitchell, were buried near the cross. The cross blew down at some point and was not replaced.
9. Lodge Interior
10. Walnut Lodge
11. Hospital (1)
12. Hospital (3)
13. The Mill
14. Cod Fishing
Contents of this tag:
4. Graduation (1)
6. Sliammon Day School In addition to attending the Sechelt Indian Residential School, Elsie Paul occasionally attended a day school in the Sliammon community in the winter months. The Sliammon day school teachers were Pat McGuinness and Mr. Gallagher. Back row: Unknown boy with hat, Katherine Blaney, Teacher Pat McGuinness, Rosaline Wilson, unknown girl, Marilyn Louie (tall in the very back behind unknown girl). Middle row: Ernie Galligos (shorter boy), Joe Paul, Agnes Paul, unknown girl. Front row (small children): Sarah Tom, Maggie Wilson, and Joe Francis (Elsie Paul’s half brother)
7. Day School
Contents of this tag:
5. Hospital (2)
6. The Powell River Royal Canadian Mounted Police
7. A Day in Town
8. Fish Traps (1)
9. Fish Traps (2)
10. Day School
11. Boat Ramp at the Shinglemill
12. Bows and Arrows Powell River community members commemorated British Columbia’s centennial by dressing up in costumes that reflected their imagination of how “Indians” and “pioneers” looked in the nineteenth century. This was a common practice in settler communities in Canada and the United States. Settlers “played Indian” for reasons that ranged from political protest to entertainment. The act of “playing Indian” expressed a settler sense of entitlement to the places that they or their ancestors had colonized. The costumes did not demonstrate meaningful relationship or engagement with Indigenous peoples or practices. Today, we understand these occasions to be forms of cultural appropriation.
13. Children “Playing Indian” Powell River community members commemorated British Columbia’s centennial by dressing up in costumes that reflected their imagination of how “Indians” and “pioneers” looked in the nineteenth century. This was a common practice in settler communities in Canada and the United States. Settlers “played Indian” for reasons that ranged from political protest to entertainment. The act of “playing Indian” expressed a settler sense of entitlement to the places that they or their ancestors had colonized. The costumes did not demonstrate meaningful relationship or engagement with Indigenous peoples or practices. Today, we understand these occasions to be forms of cultural appropriation.
14. Willie and Stanley
15. Patricia Theatre, Interior
16. Rodmay Hotel
17. Patricia Theatre
18. Golfing “Indian” Powell River community members commemorated British Columbia’s centennial by dressing up in costumes that reflected their imagination of how “Indians” and “pioneers” looked in the nineteenth century. This was a common practice in settler communities in Canada and the United States. Settlers “played Indian” for reasons that ranged from political protest to entertainment. The act of “playing Indian” expressed a settler sense of entitlement to the places that they or their ancestors had colonized. The costumes did not demonstrate meaningful relationship or engagement with Indigenous peoples or practices. Today, we understand these occasions to be forms of cultural appropriation.
19. Society Lady “Indians” Powell River community members commemorated British Columbia’s centennial by dressing up in costumes that reflected their imagination of how “Indians” and “pioneers” looked in the nineteenth century. This was a common practice in settler communities in Canada and the United States. Settlers “played Indian” for reasons that ranged from political protest to entertainment. The act of “playing Indian” expressed a settler sense of entitlement to the places that they or their ancestors had colonized. The costumes did not demonstrate meaningful relationship or engagement with Indigenous peoples or practices. Today, we understand these occasions to be forms of cultural appropriation.
20. tiyskʷɑt (1)
21. Sing Lee Building
22. The Dam
23. Walnut Lodge
24. Rodmay
25. Settlers’ Camp
26. Hospital (1)
27. Hospital (3)
28. The Mill
29. Cafeteria
30. Dam Construction
31. Powell River Motor Traders
33. Designated Area
34. We Were Already Here
35. The Chinese Restaurant
37. Preparing Fish and Community Drive-Through
Contents of this tag:
9. Sechelt Indian Reserve Church Opening
10. Downtown Vancouver
11. Fine Craftsmanship
12. 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.
13. Basket for Baby Jeannie
14. 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.
15. ɬaʔamɩn Parade
16. Basket for Aunt Agnes’s Daughter
17. Sechelt Indian Marching Band
18. Berry Picking (1)
19. Buddies (1)
20. Berry Pickers' Cabin
21. Mary George and Denise Smith
22. Going to Work
23. ɬaʔamɩn Boys
24. Elsie’s Great-Grandparents
25. Makeshift Church
26. Willie and Daisy Paul
27. Glen Paul, Stella Olney, and Sharon Paul
28. Baskets for Hawaii
29. Sliammon Sacred Heart Church
30. Class of 1917
32. tʼᶿɛwqʼ (Elderberries)
33. Making Music
34. Visiting with Annie and Norman Gallagher
35. Remains of the Fire
36. Away from Home
37. Rose and Alec Louie
38. Sechelt Residential School
39. The Powell River Royal Canadian Mounted Police
40. A Day in Town
41. Death but Not Sin
42. Residential School Chapel (1)
43. Shinglemill
44. Baskets in Progress
45. Sliammon Day School In addition to attending the Sechelt Indian Residential School, Elsie Paul occasionally attended a day school in the Sliammon community in the winter months. The Sliammon day school teachers were Pat McGuiness and Mr. Gallagher. Back row: Unknown boy with hat, Katherine Blaney, Teacher Pat McGuinness, Rosaline Wilson, unknown girl, Marilyn Louie (tall in the very back behind unknown girl) Middle row: Ernie Galligos (shorter boy), Joe Paul, Agnes Paul, unknown girl, Front (Small Children): Sarah tom, Maggie Wilson, and Joe Francis (Elsie Paul's half brother)
46. Annie Blaney at Okeover
47. Day School
48. Bows and Arrows Powell River community members commemorated British Columbia’s centennial by dressing up in costumes that reflected their imagination of how “Indians” and “pioneers” looked in the nineteenth century. This was a common practice in settler communities in Canada and the United States. Settlers “played Indian” for reasons that ranged from political protest to entertainment. The act of “playing Indian” expressed a settler sense of entitlement to the places that they or their ancestors had colonized. The costumes did not demonstrate meaningful relationship or engagement with Indigenous peoples or practices. Today, we understand these occasions to be forms of cultural appropriation.
49. Boat Ramp at the Shinglemill
50. Willie and Alec
51. Children “Playing Indian” Powell River community members commemorated British Columbia’s centennial by dressing up in costumes that reflected their imagination of how “Indians” and “pioneers” looked in the nineteenth century. This was a common practice in settler communities in Canada and the United States. Settlers “played Indian” for reasons that ranged from political protest to entertainment. The act of “playing Indian” expressed a settler sense of entitlement to the places that they or their ancestors had colonized. The costumes did not demonstrate meaningful relationship or engagement with Indigenous peoples or practices. Today, we understand these occasions to be forms of cultural appropriation.
52. Boat to Westview When this photo was taken, 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.
53. Church House
54. Golfing “Indian” Powell River community members commemorated British Columbia’s centennial by dressing up in costumes that reflected their imagination of how “Indians” and “pioneers” looked in the nineteenth century. This was a common practice in settler communities in Canada and the United States. Settlers “played Indian” for reasons that ranged from political protest to entertainment. The act of “playing Indian” expressed a settler sense of entitlement to the places that they or their ancestors had colonized. The costumes did not demonstrate meaningful relationship or engagement with Indigenous peoples or practices. Today, we understand these occasions to be forms of cultural appropriation.
55. Society Lady “Indians” Powell River community members commemorated British Columbia’s centennial by dressing up in costumes that reflected their imagination of how “Indians” and “pioneers” looked in the nineteenth century. This was a common practice in settler communities in Canada and the United States. Settlers “played Indian” for reasons that ranged from political protest to entertainment. The act of “playing Indian” expressed a settler sense of entitlement to the places that they or their ancestors had colonized. The costumes did not demonstrate meaningful relationship or engagement with Indigenous peoples or practices. Today, we understand these occasions to be forms of cultural appropriation.
56. Patricia Theatre
57. Willie and Stanley
58. Patricia Theatre, Interior
59. Rodmay Hotel
60. Repatriation
62. Groundbreaking
63. Sing Lee Building
64. Rodmay
65. Kora's Strawberry Farm
67. Cafeteria
68. Procession from Our Lady of the Rosary Church
69. Berry Picking (2)
70. Residential School Chapel (2)
71. Paul Family
72. Bill, Rose, and čine
73. Beautiful Baskets
75. Powell River Motor Traders
77. Contact Happened
78. Designated Area
81. Part of Our Survival
82. We Were Already Here
83. Her Name Was Jane
84. Lonely and Homesick
85. The Chinese Restaurant
86. My Dog Patsy
87. Watch Your Children
88. Homebrew
89. tʼᶿɛwqʼ
90. Problems Handed down from History
94. Police Patrol (2)
96. Police Patrol (1)
Contents of this tag:
2. Sliammon Day School In addition to attending the Sechelt Indian Residential School, Elsie Paul occasionally attended a day school in the Sliammon community in the winter months. The Sliammon day school teachers were Pat McGuinness and Mr. Gallagher. Back row: Unknown boy with hat, Katherine Blaney, Teacher Pat McGuinness, Rosaline Wilson, unknown girl, Marilyn Louie (tall in the very back behind unknown girl). Middle row: Ernie Galligos (shorter boy), Joe Paul, Agnes Paul, unknown girl. Front row (small children): Sarah Tom, Maggie Wilson, and Joe Francis (Elsie Paul’s half brother)
3. Day School
Contents of this tag:
3. Elsie at Deep Bay
4. Freddie and Marilyn Louie
5. Sechelt Indian Marching Band
6. At the Dance Hall
7. Mother's Day, 1980
8. Elsie and Stella
9. 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.
10. Working Out
11. Retirement
12. Health Centre
13. Party at Elsie Paul's House
14. Three Generations
15. First Home
16. Joining Council
17. Makeshift Church
18. lɑsɑ and Granny Molly
19. Elders' Gathering
20. Making Music
21. Rose and Alec Louie
22. The Children at Home
23. Graduation (1)
24. Moses and Agnes Wilson
25. Music with Friends
27. Building the King of the Sea
28. Hospital (2)
29. Canoe Building
30. Racing the King of the Sea
33. Portrait of Molly and lɑsɑ
34. Elsie, Agnes, and Children
35. Chief tɑmɑ and the Timothy Children
36. Day School
37. Molly Williams and Olive
39. Clams Elsie Paul’s cousin David George (1948–53) with butter clams dug from in front of the reserve. At the time, shellfish were clean and plentiful, but clams are no longer safe to harvest from this site. The very large cross in the background is in the cemetary. hʌwhegus (advisers in the community), including Chief Tom Timothy and Bill Mitchell, were buried near the cross. The cross blew down at some point and was not replaced.
42. Bill Galligos
43. Elders
44. 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).
45. Mending the Net
47. Molly and Annie
48. Fishing Preparations
49. Open-Air Learning
50. Paddle Carving
51. tɑmɑ
52. Pullers
53. Walnut Lodge
54. Lodge Interior
55. Hospital (1)
56. Hospital (3)
59. Cod Fishing
60. Elsie Paul with King of the Sea
61. Music
62. Going to Town
63. Sundays
64. Community Activities
65. Old-Timers and Hard Work
66. Give It to Them
67. Our People Governed Themselves
69. Thank the Creator
Contents of this tag:
1. Day School
Contents of this tag:
1. Day School
Contents of this tag:
1. Day School
Contents of this tag:
1. Day School
Contents of this tag:
1. Day School
Contents of this tag:
1. Sliammon Day School In addition to attending the Sechelt Indian Residential School, Elsie Paul occasionally attended a day school in the Sliammon community in the winter months. The Sliammon day school teachers were Pat McGuinness and Mr. Gallagher. Back row: Unknown boy with hat, Katherine Blaney, Teacher Pat McGuinness, Rosaline Wilson, unknown girl, Marilyn Louie (tall in the very back behind unknown girl). Middle row: Ernie Galligos (shorter boy), Joe Paul, Agnes Paul, unknown girl. Front row (small children): Sarah Tom, Maggie Wilson, and Joe Francis (Elsie Paul’s half brother)
2. Day School