Belinda Claxton and Briony Penn are friends and share the same territory of WENNANEC—the place facing Saanich—
one of the oldest and most sacred village sites in the Salish Sea. Both are descended from prominent leaders of this
territory in their own cultures. At the heart of the friendship is their love of the land, which leads to a collaboration
on restoration, conservation and education projects.

Join these friends for an evening presentation or for a day-long, hands-on workshop to learn more about the natural
and cultural history of this area.

Instructors: Briony Penn is an artist, geographer, educator, columnist, TV host of Enviro/Mental, and adjunct
professor/lecturer in the School of Environmental Studies and Restoration of Natural Systems Program. Briony has
worked extensively with many environmental organizations and is the co-founder of The Land Conservancy of BC.
Belinda Claxton learned from her late mother to appreciate her very rich culture and values; to appreciate the land,
water, sea life animals and native plants, and in return to look after the land.

An Introduction to the Natural and Cultural History of WENNANEC

Through the intertwined story of Belinda and Briony’s families’ lives and relationships to the land from contact to
now, their path of restoring the land and the divide between cultures is described. Participants will learn about one
of the teaching tools which Belinda and Briony have developed: the 13-moon calendar wheel that captures the two
world views in the months of the year, the seasonal happenings, the plants and animals that live at WENNANEC, and
the spiritual traditions in both languages, English and SENCOTEN.

Date: Friday, September 21: 7:30 to 9 pm
Fee: $10 plus $1.20 HST
Code: ASPL003 2012F C01

A Hands-On Workshop to Learn about Place

This course will begin with an evening presentation about the development of the 13-moon calendar. Students
will then have an opportunity to spend a day in the field with two gifted naturalists, learning stories of the land.
The group will create its own seasonal mandala using local plants and other collected natural objects. Through this
process, participants will be welcomed onto the land and will be introduced to edible and medicinal plants, native
plants to plant in the garden, native names and a natural history of place. Students will become familiar with stories
about the relationships of plants, animals and people and the ways that interactions change throughout the seasons.
After gathering found objects and arranging them into a representation of place, participants will leave with a
photographic reminder of the work that they have created.

Date: TWO sessions: Friday, September 21: 7:30 to 9 pm, and Saturday, September 22: 10 am to 4 pm
Fee: $100 plus $12.00 HST (includes enrolment in An Introduction to the Natural and Cultural History of WENNANEC)
Code: ASPL003 2012F E01