“It is a medicine to sing and dance and be together doing what we love along with representing our own Songhees Nation. Our culture is a gift, a blessing.”

We were initially taught by our late uncle, Ray Peters, at the Victoria Native Friendship Centre (VNFC) back in 1978. Our uncles Skip and Butch and our late dad Jim were all a part of the group, and their children as well. Songs like the Prayer, the Girls’ Honour Song, Remembrance, and Finale all came from Uncle Ray. Our Paddle Welcome is from one of our late Elders, Flora Joseph. Having been gifted the Paddle Welcome Song was a great blessing because it came from our Nation.

The impact of our sharing with other Nations has become more accepted as time goes on, compared to when we first started. Back then it wasn’t overly accepted; however, as years pass, our dance group has become frequently requested and accepted with more enthusiasm. People have shared with us how our songs and dances have left them feeling emotional, especially The Prayer Song.

When I see our youth involved, I am beyond proud of them all. I imagine it’s a pride our late uncle and father had when they would see us as kids wanting to learn songs and dance.

Our youngest is Aiyanna, who was born this past April. Not long after her birth, her parents Phil and Lauren George had an outfit on her and brought her out to introduce her as our next generation. Our oldest in the group is our mom Dell, affectionately called Momma. She has been with this group as long as we have—forty-two years.

It is our feel-good when we are together. No matter what kind of day we’ve had, once we get together all the negative disappears. When you create a comfortable energy it shows to those we perform for and gives a good feeling.

COVID has made for a new experience of Zoom or video recording for events in town. It has also made for a quiet year for sure. We are so used to being together almost every weekend from April to October that we miss being with each other and really don’t know what to do with our free time.

My hopes and dreams are that the group carries on for many more years to come, just like our dad wanted it to. It’s because of him that the group moved from the VNFC to our Lekwungen Nation. When the Centre’s group stopped, our dad didn’t want it to end. With the kids from around here, he started the Songhees Nation group. After he passed, it was hard to carry on, but my sister and I—with the encouragement from Momma—have kept it going. I’m happy to say we have been going strong for the last five to six years.

Reflecting on the memories I have from the years of being apart of the dance group, I will forever cherish this time with my awesome family doing what we love and being able to share a little bit of ourselves, with pride in our hearts and hopes that our ancestors are pleased.

“Being able to have these songs means we are doing all right in sharing a little of our culture for all to see—showing who we are as a Nation, performing with pride and honour and hope that our ancestors are pleased with how we carry ourselves.”