‘Plant Teachings from my Auntie’ by Snuneymuxw Elder C’tasi:a and ethnobotanist Nancy Turner delves into traditional plants and plant medicine.
Editor’s note: As a member of Discourse Community Publishing, The Discourse uses quotation marks around the word “school” because the Truth and Reconciliation Commission found residential “schools” were “an education system in name only for much of its existence.”
Snuneymuxw Elder and Knowledge Keeper C’tasi:a (Geraldine Manson) has dedicated much of her life to learning and sharing traditional knowledge with community members.
A residential “school” and Sixties Scoop survivor, C’tasi:a told The Discourse she was mentored by Snuneymuxw Elders who “felt that they wanted to take the wild stallion out of [her] and replace it with culture and a life of traditional values.”
She spent her time shadowing her Elders, travelling with them and sitting by their side in meetings. She wasn’t allowed to take notes and instead learned through repetition about the land, resources and the history of her people.
In 2008 her auntie, the late Ellen White, Kwulasulwut, retired from her role as Elder in Residence at Vancouver Island University and selected C’tasi:a to replace her. It’s there that C’tasi:a shared her knowledge with students and faculty for 17 years.
She retired from her Elder in Residence role in April 2025 but felt she had another calling.
Interview and more: KEEP READING: https://thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/snuneymuxw-elder-ctasia-shares-traditional-plant-knowledge-in-new-book
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