Spring 2026 Indigenous Youth Marine Education Program Átl’ḵa7tsem / Howe Sound Marine Stewardship Initiative In Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw / Squamish Nation waters

In the spring of 2026, the Átl’ḵa7tsem / Howe Sound Marine Stewardship Initiative (MSI) hosted our second Indigenous Youth Marine Education Program for eight Indigenous participants. This hands-on, in-water program focuses on bringing Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) youth into the waters of their marine territory, Átl’ḵa7tsem (Howe Sound). Our goals are to teach the fundamentals of snorkelling, build skills in marine species identification, harvest traditional foods, and develop a deeper connection to the ocean, all through the lens of Skwxwú7mesh language and cultural teachings. Our supporting educators contriubuted their experience in marine biology, snorkelling and scuba diving, and Skwxwú7mesh language and culture. The program ran over the course of 3 days; the first evening was in a classroom, the second day in the waters of Deep Cove, and the third day on a boat and at Ḵw’émḵw’em (Defence Islands). Within this magazine you will find the stories and reflections of the programs’ youth participants and supporting educators. 1

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Ha7lh skwayel ta newyap, Kwewawtennat iy Dlugwala kwi kwshamin cht (Good day everyone, Kwewawtennat and Dlugwala are our ancestral names). Our english names are Virginia and Jasmine. We were provided this extraordinary opportunity together as auntie and niece, through our caring and kind hearted friend Matthew Van Oostdam. Experiencing the vibrant under water community of Átl’ḵa7tsem and spending meaningful time together was an experience we will cherish for a lifetime. As Coast Salish People, our relationship to our water relatives has existed since time immemorial. Through this program, we had the space to reconnect, strengthen, and listen to the voices of our ancestors. The exposure to the beauty of the ocean blesses us with a deeper understanding that our ancestors once had with the salmon people, killer whales and all our ocean relatives. My wetsuit experience with the lube and the tight feeling of the neoprene was the hardest part for me. I wasn’t quite sure how tight the suit should be, which left me feeling like I needed to puke. Once I figured it out, everything was right as rain. As we swam into an eelgrass bed I plunged my mask into the water I came face to face with a bay pipe fish! 300 points for sighting! Cooking up a sea cucumber was ultimate delicious and I highly recommend you try it out if one decides to sacrifice itself to you. 3

Ḵw’émḵw’em is a significant place for our people and this is where I had the cherished aunty-niece time. It was suggested to me to slow down as I swam around. Someone said take a closer look at the barnacles and all the the life hidden in the rocks. By my astonishment the barnacle reached a long arm out sweeping through the water almost like it was grabbing for something. I mean, why didn’t I know they did this! 4 Kwewawtennat (Virginia)

Growing up, I was always swimming in the creek or ocean at Sta7mes. So I’ve always been fond of the water, but going out into the deep waters of the ocean is a different story; I was afraid something might happen to me if I travelled too far. I was able to grow out of this complex fear, through canoeing and then further through this amazing opportunity to go snorkeling in the waters of Átl'ḵa7tsem. I was able to experience the vibrant community of life under the water, and to see so much life; it is on a higher level than humans can even comprehend. And to see our oceans being harmed, polluted, and disregarded as something that can be used for the benefit of mankind is completely disheartening. As a Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Stelmewx, I have been taught that the land and water ecosystems and environment is the reason we are able to live. We must treat those who have given us life to live with the utmost respect. Since time immemorial, the beings of this world have taught us how to live when we didnt know how. The animal world taught us how to process salmon, clams, octopus. Due to the legacy of colonialism and resource extraction much of this traditional knowledge has gone to sleep because our waters have been mistreated and the foods we once relied upon are not healthy enough to eat. 5 This absence of seafood is felt throughout the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh community. We used to harvest octopus, oolichan, herring, clam, sea cucumber, urchin, kelp, and so much more, but today, it is not something we can do. My way of thinking has shifted as I kicked my fins and swam through these waters. Just because we cannot live the ways our ancestors did, doesn’t mean we cannot appreciate the beauty that continues to survive, live, and grow with today's conditions. They are the strongest warriors; to continue adapting to each disturbance is quite astonishing. I have this understanding because I was a part of this program. Through Matt, he has given so many youth the opportunity to build a relationship with the water on another level. And for this, I cannot express my gratitude to him, he has given us something we will remember forever, and something we didn't think was missing in our lives. I continue to foster this relationship to the water in an intentional, grounded, and meaningful way as I know the water is my relative, I just didn’t know how much I missed her to begin with. Dlugwala (Jasmine)

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“Matthew woke me up at 8 AM on my Sunday morning and asked if I wanted take a boat ride and go hang out under water all day. Of course I said yes.” - Konner S. 7

“Ocean Fever Dream” Collage by Sierra Tasi Baker© A collection of creatures I saw from our first snorkelling trip on May 29th in Deep Cove in preparation for our second trip to snorkel in Howe Sound, which I unfortunately could not attend due to a fever. 8

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CoCoCoCoCoCo Seeing all the sea creatures was really fun and being underwater felt nice. I am grateful that I was invited to go. It was an amazing experience. Seeing all the sea creatures was really fun and being underwater felt nice. I am grateful that I was invited to go. It was an amazing experience. Seeing all the sea creatures was really fun and being underwater felt nice. I am grateful that I was invited to go. It was an amazing experience. 10

Nú, chexw men wa ha7lh Collins Billy kwi en sna Tina chan tl’a wiwk’m uxwumixw11

ha7lh skwáyel ta newyápha7lh skwáyel ta newyáp Leah Baker kwi en snaLeah Baker kwi en sna TinaTina chanchan tl’atl’a St’a7mes UxwumixwSt’a7mes Uxwumixw ha7lh skwáyel ta newyáp Leah Baker kwi en sna Tina chan tl’a St’a7mes Uxwumixw 12

I like the crabs and the squat lobsters!I like the crabs and the squat lobsters! -Leah Baker-Leah Baker I like the crabs and the squat lobsters! -Leah Baker 13

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I started snorkeling in 2024 with Matthew. During that period of time there was only two youth in the program. There is now over 8 participants! I am happy that there is more youth that are going out and exploring our waters. What I had learned from my canoe family is that water is healing and that they would use the ocean for prayers. I feel a connection to this because when I had started snorkeling it had felt like tons of weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Before I had started this program I was scared to even put my feet in the bottom of the ocean, but after I had seen all the wildlife under the sea I had a feeling of belonging. “Don’t force, always flow” Carpe Diem! 15

It was 8:30am when I got woken up and asked if I wanted to go snorkeling. I said yes and got ready to be on a boat in 15 minutes. I’m glad I said yes. The boat ride to kwem kwem was very fun and the weather was beaming with sun. We started off right away seeing a teen eagle catching a fish and from there we just kept seeing animals all day long. The next big thing we saw was a black bear wandering on the shoreline. Always cool. Throughout the day there was just more and more to see. The water was murky but there was still so much to see. Even taking a second to look at the rocks you could see the barnacles and the crabs. It was very cool to see a different side of the water. Its was cool to see the animals that live in the local waters. I've seen things like crabs and sea cucumbers before but never knew that they were so close. I'm always in the water for canoe but never “in” the water. I'm so thankful for the opportunity, and so glad I accepted the invitation. It was so amazing to learn about the land I live on and the water I'm always in. It was such an amazing first time snorkeling and I hope to do it again in the future. I ended up seeing over 10 different types of animals and some I didnt even know existed. Like the squat lobsters that came up on the traps with the prawns. They were very cool to see. One of the coolest things about going on this snorkeling trip was being able to see all of the creatures. One thing i’ve seen many of is the starfish but they always amaze me, they always have bright and different colours and shapes. 16

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txwnch7am̓ kwis ḵéxwentaxw asmen ílhentaxw ta el̓ás 1. x̱wil̓ḵwán̓ chexw asmen x̱wil̓áy̓aḵínan ta el̓ás 2. hílit chexw ta el̓ás ḵ’as mi tichémx̱ 3. ḵwey̓sán chexw ta eĺás 4. tsékwen chexw ta t’álaw (p’eḵ’ smeyts) kwis ílhen asmen xwi7s ta slha7lhachs ta el̓ás na7 ta shḵwen Welwál̓tenaat (Myia Antone) 19

My parents taught me that if I love a place, if I call it home or its special to me then I have a responsibility to contribute good thoughts and feelings to it. It wasn’t something they said to me. They just showed it. For me, this responsibility means making sure my actions reflect the gratitude I have for this place. As one of the organizers for this program I knew that its success hinged on building trusting and safe spaces so that we could try new and hard things. During our time in the water I witnessed youth pushing past fears and worries. Its like Avery said, water can wash away our worries. With the growth of this program my hope is that these youth will carry this knowledge forward into their lives, sharing about what they have seen under water and passing this on to their cousins, aunties and uncles. It is such a priviledge to hold space like this and I look forward to continuing this work. Matthew Van Oostdam 20

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We raise our hands in gratitude to the Pacific Salmon Foundation for supporting this program with funding, Immenso Diving Equipment Ltd. for providing the wetsuits, Addison Farr of Sea Dog Expeditions for boat services, Kieran Brownie for professional photography, our educators for making the program so impactful, and the youth participants for their dedication to the program and willingness to try something new with open minds and open hearts. To learn more, visit: www.howesoundguide.ca/indigenous-youth-marine-education The Átl'ka7tsem/Howe Sound Marine Stewardship Initiative (MSI) is a project on MakeWay Charitable Society's Shared Platform, which provides operational supports, governance, and charitable expertise for changemakers.