Shishálh Nation, PO. Box 740 5555 Sunshine Coast Highway, Sechelt, BC (2026)

03/05/2026

Newly elected Councillors Benny Pierre Jr and Jamel Paul are currently in Penticton, BC, attending the BC Assembly of First Nations (BCAFN) 22nd Annual Special Chiefs Assembly, alongside Youth Council Coordinator Leandra Johnson.

We are joining First Nations leadership from across British Columbia to discuss important priorities impacting our Nations, including governance, rights, and the future of our communities.

It is an honour to represent shíshálh Nation and take part in these important conversations on behalf of our community.

02/24/2026

?iy te kwiy kwiy,

Yesterday, our newly elected Chief and Council were officially sworn in and took their Oath of Office.

Congratulations to hiwus Warren Paull, hihewus Jamel Paul, hihewus Benny Pierre Jr., hihewus Selina August and hihewus Phil Paul as they begin this new term of leadership. We wish you strength, unity, and wisdom as you carry forward the important work of serving our Nation and community.

We also raise our hands to the outgoing lhe hiwus Lenora Joe, hihewus Rochelle Jones, hihewus Raquel Joe and hihewus Keith Julius for their dedication and service. Your time, leadership, and commitment to our Nation are sincerely appreciated. We wish you all the best in your next chapter.

Photo from left to right: hihewus Benny Pierre Jr., hihewus Jamel Paul, hiwus Warren Paull, hihewus Selina August, hihewus Phil Paul.

02/22/2026

shíshálh Nation extends its congratulations to newly elected hiwus, Chief Warren Paull and hihewus, Councillors Jamel Paul, Benny Pierre Jr, Selina August, and Phil Paul following the completion of the 2026 General Election.

We raise our hands in gratitude to each candidate who put their name forward in service to our Nation. Offering yourself to lead is an act of courage and commitment to our collective future. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to our community members who took part in the voting process. Your voices, your participation, and your care for our governance reflect the strength of our people and the responsibility we carry together for the generations to come.

For those who are newly elected, an oath signing will take place on Monday, February 23rd, at 9:00 am in the makwam boardroom in the huham building.

We look forward to supporting Chief and Council as they undertake their new responsibilities on behalf of the Nation and its members.

02/11/2026

On behalf of shíshálh Nation, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the community of Tumbler Ridge during this difficult time.

We are thinking of the families, friends, and all those affected, and we hold you in our thoughts as you come together to support one another. In times of loss, the strength of community becomes especially important, and we recognize the resilience and care that communities like Tumbler Ridge show in supporting their citizens.

shíshálh Nation stands with you in solidarity and sends our deepest sympathies.

xe’lhkw’-at-tsut,
Respectfully,
shíshálh Nation

02/09/2026

Today, we are proud to mark the completion of 17 new affordable, below-market rental homes for shíshálh Nation members on the Sunshine Coast.

This innovative housing project addresses urgent housing needs while strengthening our local economy. Approximately 70% of the work was completed by shíshálh Nation entrepreneurs, supporting employment, skills training, and community capacity.

“These homes represent more than housing — they represent opportunity, partnership, and investment in our future,” said lhe hiwus (Chief) yalxwemult Lenora Joe.

Through collaboration with Renewal Development and Wesgroup, homes that were previously slated for demolition were relocated, upgraded for energy efficiency, and repurposed to create long-term housing for our people — while significantly reducing waste and greenhouse gas emissions.

We thank our partners and community members who made this project possible and honour the collective effort that brought these homes home.

02/06/2026

We are proud to see the vision of tutulshenam-áwtxw (Healing House) coming to life. This centre will provide culturally grounded care, safe spaces, and recovery programs for our people, supporting healing, belonging, and a brighter future for our children.

Every share and donation brings us closer to completing this essential space for healing. Together, we can make a lasting difference.

More information can be found here: tutulshenam.org

01/28/2026

shíshálh Nation extends congratulations to Hereditary Chief Ɂakista xaxanak Garry Feschuk and the syiyaya Reconciliation Movement on receiving the 2025 BC Reconciliation Award.

This recognition honours community-led work grounded in truth-telling, healing, and relationship-building. The syiyaya Reconciliation Movement continues to bring Indigenous and non-Indigenous people together through shared learning, dialogue, and cultural engagement, creating space for understanding and collective responsibility.

We acknowledge this achievement and the ongoing work of syiyaya in advancing reconciliation on the Sunshine Coast and beyond.

01/01/2026

Kw'eshiwan e te xawse skwumay (Happy New Year) from the shíshálh Nation!

As we welcome 2026, we extend our warmest wishes to all our community members and friends. May this year bring you joy, prosperity, and good health. We look forward to continuing our journey together, honouring our traditions, and embracing new opportunities.

12/25/2025

?iy te kwiy kwiy te ?ewk’ mes s-yiyaya,

As the year ends, it’s the perfect time to pause, reflect, and celebrate everything we have accomplished together. Our team’s hard work, dedication, and commitment to our shared vision continue to strengthen not only our organization but also the fabric of our community.

This season is about more than celebration, it’s about connection. It’s a time to reflect on the values that guide us: family, culture, resilience, and unity. These are the pillars of our identity as shishalh people, passed down through generations. As we honour the teachings of our ancestors, let us also embrace the spirit of hope, renewal, and generosity that Christmas represents.

Looking back over the past year, we have faced challenges and celebrated triumphs, always standing together as one Nation. From the smallest tasks to the largest initiatives, each contribution from our team has created a ripple effect, inspiring progress and fostering growth in our community. Their dedication makes a difference not only today but also for generations yet to come.

As we enter this special time of year, let us carry forward the spirit of kindness and gratitude. Reach out to those who may need extra support, share moments of joy with your families and friends, and reflect on all that we have to be thankful for.

Let this holiday break be a time of rest, renewal, and reflection. Take the opportunity to recharge, connect with loved ones, and prepare for a new year filled with promise and opportunity. When we return, we will bring with us the energy, creativity, and passion needed to continue building a brighter future for our people and our Nation.

May this holiday season bring you peace, happiness, and the warmth of connection with those who matter most.

We are excited to continue this journey with you in the year ahead.

?ul numsh chalap (Thank you).

Wishing you and your families a joyous Christmas and a prosperous, fulfilling New Year

With deepest gratitude and warmest wishes,

lhe hiwus Yalxwemult, Lenora Joe
hihewus ch’elkwilwet, Raquel Joe
hihewus o’shale, Rochelle Jones
hihewus xwa’, Philip Paul
hihewus tituya, Keith Julius

12/18/2025

The shíshálh Nation extends our heartfelt condolences to the families, loved ones, and community members of Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) who are grieving recent losses. We recognize the profound impact these tragedies have not only within Squamish Nation, but across our Coast Salish relatives.

We acknowledge the strength and leadership shown by Squamish Nation as they take action to protect their people and respond to the ongoing toxic drug crisis. We stand alongside Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw in support of their efforts to uphold community safety, care, and wellbeing.

During this time of sorrow, the shíshálh Nation stands in solidarity with Squamish Nation. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who are mourning, and with the leaders and frontline workers carrying this heavy responsibility.

With respect and unity,
shíshálh Nation

12/06/2025

Today, December 6, we honour the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. In shíshálh society, Elders, children, adolescents, and adults are all valued. Women, men, two-spirit, and gender-diverse people are seen, respected, and loved. Our women are life-givers, knowledge-keepers, and leaders within our families, honoured and held in the highest regard.

We remember the lives lost to gender-based violence and hold survivors, families, and communities in our hearts. May we continue to move forward with compassion, awareness, and action to create a safer, more respectful future for all.

11/18/2025

Spirit Bear Returns to the tems swiya Museum
Friday, November 28 | 10:00AM

The tems swiya Museum is honoured to welcome home its Spirit Bear, newly restored and carrying an even deeper significance for our community. Known traditionally as mosk’mol by the Tsimshian, this sacred white bear has long been a symbol of resilience, teaching, and connection to the natural world.

After careful conservation work to ensure its long-term care, the bear returns with a new name gifted in she shashishalhem: sxw?ay ?iy ?e te saysiyam. The name translates to “soul of the forest” or “life force, soul, spirit,” reflecting the powerful presence this being holds within the swiya.

The Spirit Bear was originally rescued from a museum in northern BC and brought to tems swiya Museum, where it has become a part of our cultural landscape. Its return marks not only the completion of important preservation work but also a renewed opportunity for learning, reflection, and connection with visitors.

The community is invited to join us in celebrating the homecoming of sxw?ay ?iy ?e te saysiyam and the teachings it continues to carry on Friday, November 28th at 10:00AM at the tems swiya Museum. (5555 Sunshine Coast Hwy, Sechelt, BC).

Shishálh Nation