‘Uy’ Skewul, good day, warm welcomes. My given name is Sul Seemulwut, Saylhulumaat. I come from the villages of S’amuna’ and Quamichan. My English given name is Makayla Joe-George. The villages I just named are within the Cowichan village. I am the daughter of Sabrina Elliott (Troy Elliott) and the late Fritz George. Paternal grandparents are the late Fred George (Rhonda Sullivan) and Stella Johnny (Harvey Seymour). My maternal grandparents are Monica Joe (Leon Jones) and the late Nathan Joe. This is just my small branch of my loving family; I am grateful for that in our small corner of the world, I still have a big support system.

I started working with Stqeeye’ Learning Society in late August 2025 and returned to the Land Steward position. Working on the land, or our way of life as I know it, where plants and Mother Earth’s animal kingdom are our teachers for many things, and we learn from them. As Land Stewards, we learn to work with and listen to what the land needs.

In Xwaaqw’um village lies the majestic Mount Hwe’metesum. I often wonder what our mountain sides would look like if logging did not happen. How connected would we humans be to the animal kingdom, or even the plant kingdom? I imagine how drastically our world’s view would change. In doing this work at Xwaaqw’um, our hope is that by returning to the land and actively restoring it, we are also restoring our way of life. Engaging with our youth and creating spaces for us to meet with the Elders in the ways of our ancestors—not in a four-walled classroom—is our traditional way of life. This is not simply a job for me; it is fulfilling my life’s purpose as a Quw’utsun Mustimuhw.

We are the beginning chapters of this society’s dream in revitalizing our plants and our way of life. I cannot wait to see what the future holds for us.