Native Plants of C’UÁN / Tl’elhum (Salt Spring Island)
ELSIE CLAXTON
Centennial Park's native plantings, as well as these pages, honour the memory of Elsie Claxton, respected SȾÁUTW̱ (Tsawout) Elder and Knowledge Keeper for the W̱SÁNEĆ (Saanich) People.
Elsie Claxton had extensive knowledge of native plants, and her lifetime work was as a teacher of W̱SÁNEĆ ways, culture and language. She believed strongly that culture and language are essential to the identity of her people and go hand in hand, each informing and supporting the other. Today her work is carried on by her daughter Belinda Claxton, grandsons Earl Claxton, Jr., Nick Claxton, great-grandson Robert Clifford and others.
SYOW̱T/Shiya’hwt
The place that many of us call Ganges is actually SYOW̱T in the SENĆOŦEN language and Shiya’hwt in Hul’q’umi’num’. Visit the Salt Spring Archives Placenames Map for pronunciation and to learn more placenames.
RESOURCES
Swainson’s Thrush
Swainson’s Thrush, widely known as the Salmonberry bird, is called W̱EW̱ELEŚ. When it sings W̱EW̱ELEW̱ELEW̱ELEW̱EŚ in rising flute-like notes the ELILE get their colour and ripen. Violet Williams and Elsie Claxton told a story about Swainson’s Thrush and Raven…
Native Plants in Centennial Park 2025
A list of Native Plants in Centennial Park from 2025 and other important native plants that Elsie’s daughter SELILIYE (Belinda Claxton) recommends.
Dave Elliot on Native Plants
Information about Plants Used for Food, Plants Used to Make Things (Technology), and Medicinal Plants by the late W̱SÁNEĆ Elder Dave Elliott