Tsleil Waututh Nation

The communities within Tsleil-Waututh, a matriarchal First Nation occupied by Canada, are deeply connected to their lands. In their creation story, their first grandfather transformed from a wolf into a two-legged human, who then collected sediment from the bottom of a fjord and cedar needles—materials that became the first grandmother. In this cosmology, humans are placed on the land to learn from it and to protect it. However, since the occupation of Tsleil-Waututh territory, many have died due to disease and colonial violence—whether directly or in the form of environmental degradation and pollution. Since the 1950s, the area has seen intense industrial development through oil refineries and has suffered coastal erosion and oil spills as a result. A decade ago, a new pipeline was proposed to expand upon an already existing one from the 1950s, a time when Indigenous opposition to such projects was heavily criminalized. Although compensation was offered, the Tsleil-Waututh opposed the new pipeline after consulting First Nation experts on the Alberta tar sands. While construction was halted, it was not entirely stopped. Particular concern centers around the potential impact this pipeline could have on the local ecosystem, especially orcas—creatures that already face increased noise pollution and food scarcity. Many Tsleil-Waututh people feel a deep connection to orcas, who are matriarchal and rely on their female elders to pass down traditional songs to the young. The women interviewed for this story express that passing on their traditions is now a moral obligation, especially considering the toll colonization has taken on their beliefs and communities. Together, they have replanted riverbanks and reintroduced species. They aim to shift common narratives about the incompatibility of humanity and nature, advocating for a healthy, reciprocal relationship with the planet.