Project 450124

A healthy Coast Salish identity avoids restrictive categorizations and envelopes rather than foregrounds gender. A holistic Indigenous worldview shapes the process of creating that identity. Transmotion and the Peoplehood Matrix provide theoretical and methodological points of reference for studying this process. In "transmotion" Indigenous people work through and across the events of life, and live life as change. The Peoplehood Matrix, comprised of four interactive elements-language, sacred history, place/territory, ceremonial cycle-constitutes a group identity and ensures the persistence of a people. Community-based, action-oriented activities aspire to revive, reorient and renew the expression of the Matrix where a healthy Coast Salish identity, including gender, can be re-imagined. Wellness indicators focus on improving identification and recognition of, respect for and access to culturally relevant and holistic pathways to creating a healthy identity. In an Indigenous planning process, Indigenous people hold their proper governance position. Consensus decision making and community capacity building (spiritual, sovereign, linguistic, skills oriented, administrative)-especially for youth-are central. The proposed action plan is rooted in three basics: personal, local, small. Identity in an Indigenous community context is rooted in personal, local and small activities that engage substantively with elements of the Peoplehood Matrix. Some proposed activities include a cross-community Elders Gathering, production and community premiering of short documentaries of community Elders teaching Coast Salish values, and language immersion day camps for youth. Later possibilities include an herbal medicine Family Camp, ceremonial transfer of salmon fry, and rebuilding of the community Pit House used for life stage ceremonies.