5.4.2 ’uy’ shqweluwun
My nephew, Thomas, a long time paddler, shared his grandfather Bill Seward Sr.’s story. The story told by Bill, affectionately known as Big Bill, helps us understand the importance of having good feelings:

My grandpa Bill Seward went to Residential School when he was young. He was subjected too much pain and suffering, and as a result he came out with a lot of anger. There was a time when he wanted to go on to the war canoe. He went to the Elders and asked if he could paddle. The Elders looked at him and denied him. You have too much anger and hate. You can never bring those feelings onto the canoe. If you do, you will hurt the canoe and everyone else on the canoe. So, the Elders told him to go up to the mountain to bathe for four days, to release all the anger and hatred. Grandpa did as he was told. He bathed for four days, brushing himself off with cedar, constantly praying. After the four days he went back to see the Elders and they could see that he was a changed man. Not long after my grandpa got his own crew. He kept his crew happy and humble, and eventually they became champs. They trained hard, stayed together, listened to the Elders, and believed in the culture. My grandpa shared many teachings with his grandchildren, telling us that it is a great honor to be part of the Canoe Club. It is highly respected. The canoe is alive, just like anything else (Thomas Seward, p.c.).

pg. 48 to 49, Joan Brown, 2016. Culture is lived; language gives it life. MA thesis, University of Victoria.