Saanich people

The Saanich people are a Central Coast Salish people indigenous to parts of British Columbia and western Washington state.
The W̱SÁNEĆ peoples are represented by the Tsartlip, Pauquachin, Tsawout, Tseycum and Malahat First Nations. The W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council Society consists of three of these nations: Tsartlip, Tseycum and Tsawout. These W̱SÁNEĆ First Nations remain on their ancestral lands.

Saanich bands

MÁLEXEȽ – Malahat First Nation
BOḰEĆEN – Pauquachin
SȾÁ¸UTW̱ – Tsawout
W̱JOȽEȽP – Tsartlip
W̱SÍḴEM – Tseycum First Nation

Leadership Council

On May 7, 2018, the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council was created as a representation of the W̱SÁNEĆ First Nations to the Government. The creation of this council not only brought three Indigenous groups together, but it also established a legal governing body. With this council, came many proposals and projects to benefit the W̱SÁNEĆ First Nations.
Includes:

January 2018, the submission of a proposal for the Government of Canada to make the council a legal governing body.
Submission of funding to the federal government's "National Rebuilding" program.
Negotiations of a government to government project with the Capital Regional District.

Language

The W̱SÁNEĆ language or Saanich dialect is called SENĆOŦEN. This dialect was revitalized by the late John Elliot, an important member of the W̱SÁNEĆ community and peoples.

Tribal school

Four of the Saanich First Nations, Tsartlip, Pauquachin, Tseycum and Tsawout, created the ȽÁU,WELṈEW̱ Tribal School in 1989. It holds classes from preschool to grade 10, with classes for adults in the adult centre next door to the high school where SENĆOŦEN, the W̱SÁNEĆ language, and W̱SÁNEĆ culture are taught along with the provincial curriculum. The school is also a venue for community events.