About
Doug August Sr
"Sume'lh"
Sume’lh is my Hul’qumi’num name from my mother’s side of the family. Dorothy August is from Lekwammen (Songhees). Cicero August is my father from S’amuna – Cowichan. Through this marriage I have strong cultural teachings from both sides of the families in Lekwammen and Cowichan. This is a good example of how our communities are socially, culturally, and economically inter-connected by marriage,travel, trade, and sacred ceremonies. Our communities are further inter-related by the winter dance, other ceremonies and religious practices, our Indian names, canoes races, slahal games and other sporting events. These ties weave throughout the Coast Salish world.
There are nine Cowichan Villages within the Cowichan Traditional Territory. Kwa’mutsun, Xinupsun, S’amuna, Ts’alha’um, Lhumlhumuluts, Xwulqw’selu, Tl’ulpalus and Qul’I’lum are occupied villages that are just as important as the unoccupied lands. Teachings of Coast Salish life are handed down from my Grandparents and parents, in the past these same teachings have been handed down orally. Present time I teach my children and future will be my Grandchildren on education and awareness on how important the Natural Resource is to everyone and not only to the Hul’qumi’num people. I like to use my Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) along with training and education of Invasive Plant Management on how invasive species are affecting Aquatic and Terrestrial ecosystems. I am proud to be Salish and help look after native plants, trees, and shrubs to keep the rich Cowichan Coast Salish cultural life healthy as can be for the present and future generations.
My Coast Salish carvings and art I like to showcase the teachings and life experience to date. I can carve traditional carvings and custom orders of the Coast Salish Design large and small. I have carved Coast Salish totem poles, plaques, masks that are displayed internationally for private and public display.
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