Introducing Tsartlip’s Project Coordinator, Sara

Could you tell me a little bit about who you are and where you’re from?

My name is Sara Christine of the Laxsgiik. I am Gitselasu, People of the Canyon, on my maternal side and Danish on my paternal side, and I’m a second generation scooped kid. I’m reconnecting with my people and reclaiming my heritage alongside my daughters. Laxsgiik is the Sm’algya̱x word for Eagle Clan. I was raised on Vancouver Island, spent my high school years in Australia, and bounced between Vancouver and Victoria before settling on the traditional lands of the W̱SÁNEĆ people for almost 15 years.

Could you tell me a little bit about the background and experience you bring to this position at Tsartlip?

I started my career in the legal field, and then moved into local government, where I spent a number of years before having children. Then, once my daughters were born, I opened up a home daycare, and I operated that for a number of years. I operate a consulting firm that focused on administrative business and communications, which allowed me to maintain flexible hours. During COVID, I returned to college and received my educational assistant diploma with honors, and I returned to UVic and received my Bachelor of Arts in English and psychology. After graduating, I started working for W̱SÁNEĆ Tribal School and with First Peoples Cultural Foundation. Over recent years, I’ve shifted gears from working in the corporate colonial organizations to Indigenous organizations and I’m hoping some of my experience in both arenas will benefit my work here with Tsartlip First Nation.

What kind of work will you be doing with Tsartlip?

My role is the project coordinator, and I’m mostly working alongside Victor, the administrator, but I’ll also be working with staff and consultants to ensure project deliverables are met and we have the resources to maintain projects and start new ones. This is a new position for Tsartlip First Nation; it’s exciting to see it develop over the upcoming months. I know I will be involved in a variety of projects, from the land use planning project to other internal projects. It’s very diverse and eclectic, and I’m looking forward to building my role.

What kind of impact do you hope to have during your time at Tsartlip?

I think, on a personal level, I love building connections with people, and so my hope would be to build those long-lasting relationships within Tsartlip staff, Tsartlip administration and the community. In terms of the position that I’ve been hired for, my goal or my impact I’d like to see is just this series of very successful projects completed for Tsartlip. I’ve been given a heads up of five potential ones that I could be involved in. There’s this part of seeing the nation grow, and being part of that growth for Tsartlip is where I hope to have an impact. And what we’re doing now is for the future generations, the children of today. I just hope that we make some really good decisions and see some really good projects through for those children.

What do you like to do when you’re not at work?

I love spending time with my kids and my partner (and his kid). I have two daughters, almost 13 and 14, and three dogs. Me, as a person, I’ll do any activity, from hiking to kayaking on the island. It’s really nature’s playground, it’s the best. I love going on road trips with no destination and discovering the beauty around us. I’m an avid reader and am about to start book four of The Misewa Saga. I also love baking because it makes my kids happy. I enjoy knitting and sewing – making things for around the house. I like yoga and meditation as that helps me keep balance. It’s important for me to create that healthy balance with work, parenting, and school, because I’m starting school in September.

What are you going to school for?

I am starting my master’s in arts specializing in Indigenous governance.
Very applicable to my role here. I hope that my studies and my work can really bridge my reclaiming process and set up a path for my career to remain in Indigenous governance

Is there anything else you would like the community to know?

I think that I’d like the community to know that I’m very humbled and honored to be a guest, to live, work and play on the W̱SÁNEĆ territory. I come from the Terrace area, and my language is Sm’algya̱x. So I love that I’m exposed to and learning SENĆOŦEN as my children are exposed to it in school. And it’s really special to see SENĆOŦEN language coming through in the community, and I just hope to continue to be an ally for Tsartlip First Nation.