Q'ushin'tul' 2026 Day 2

After a tasty breakfast and cup of coffee/tea on the summit, camp take down, and an opening circle, witnesses were called to the centre of our outdoor longhouse seating area.

Two new staffs for youth were blessed and established before making our way north, back down mountain trails. We stopped at the base of a large cedar, and received stinging nettle medicine (ouch!) as the walk continued into dusty roads and more trails before being welcomed at the Saltspring Centre of Yoga. There we shared lunch, gifts and reciprocity, and cousin Rob Nye offered a Quw'utsun song for the land.

The afternoon sun was full and we were only half way to our next camping spot! We are all spiritual warriors- some of whom jumped on the shuttle to set up camp, and get food ready to be served for our Q'ushin'tul’ walking family. Walkers stopped on the main highway, just before town as Elder Qwiyahwultu-hw felt the need to stop immediately and rest.

The spot he stopped happened to be a place where Coast Salish ancestors had been disturbed with the widening of the highway last year. A harmonious Quw'utsun prayer song was belted out in all directions accompanied by sacred rattle in reverence for the ancestors resting there, with an eagles nest perched high above- eagles watching, remembering, protecting.

After more prayers and sharing at the Hearth (Phoenix Landing), honouring Kajin, Christina and all who use that community space, we ducked through mouats park and hit the home stretch on rainbow road, to our camp the long running saltspring farmers institute.