I am Lilwatmuc. Going on 72 years of age. My efforts with the Lilwat Medicine Shed, is to bring back the use of, wild medicines.
Colonization has brought in the way of the colony that interferes with our culture via shopping at their stores. For example, it is easier to go to the store and purchase food, medicines, tea, coffee sugar, milk, etc.
With this, the diet changed, and the medicines changed and our people ended up with weird diseases that can be fatal. By bringing back the use of real medicine that our forests provide, the health strength of all may endure the ways of life these days.
I am super thankful to the Líl̓tem (wise old people) that taught me what I enjoy passing on to those that need to and want to seek these way of staying healthy and happy.
Thank you!
–Koskas
Academic Publications
Smith, T. Dan, K. & Bulkan, J. 2023. ‘Loved to Death’: Conflicts between Indigenous food sovereignty, settler recreation, and ontologies of land in the governance of Li̓l̓wat tmicw. BC Studies: British Columbian Quarterly No 2016: Winter 2022/2023.
https://doi.org/10.14288/bcs.no216.196947.
Conference, Media and Professional Presentations
Peters, K., Koskas and T. Smith. 2024. “Li̓l̓wat First Nation Cultural Re-Connection Classroom”. Presented at the Society for Applied Anthropology Annual Meeting, Decolonizing Alliances Panel, March 29, 2024.
Smith, T., Peters, K. & Koskas. 2019. Nt̓akmen (Our Way) at nlep̓cálten (Garden). Presentation at Society of Ethnobiology Conference. University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC, May 9, 2019.
