The launch of the Serve Your swiya program was a powerful and inspiring evening, drawing an almost sold-out crowd at the Raven's Cry Theatre. Community members from across the Sunshine Coast came together to learn, connect, and take action toward protecting our land and homes from the increasing threat of wildfires.
The afternoon began with 15 minutes of warm conversation and networking in the theatre lobby, setting the tone for a night rooted in community and connection. Following the gathering, shishalh Nation Councillor Raquel Joe offered a heartfelt welcome and opening remarks, grounding the event in the spirit of stewardship and reconciliation.
Our keynote speaker, David McIlwraith, shared practical knowledge and insight into what residents can do to fire-smart their properties — reminding everyone that real change starts at home. His message was clear: we all have a role to play in protecting our swiya.
The night continued with a special screening of Incandescence, a powerful and visually stunning documentary created by local filmmakers Nova Ami and Velcrow Ripper — who were also in attendance. The film captured the raw impact of the wildfires that hit so close to home, leaving many in the audience moved and motivated.
After the screening, Nova and Velcrow joined us on stage for a brief Q&A session, offering personal insights into the making of the film and the urgent call to action that inspired it.
The Serve Your swiya launch was more than an event — it was a moment of shared understanding, inspiration, and momentum. We are grateful to everyone who attended and helped bring this initiative to life. Together, we are building something meaningful, rooted in action, unity, and care for our shared home.
Firesmart Longhouse Cleanup: A Powerful Start!
On May 3, Serve Your swiya launched with an incredible show of community spirit! In just three hours, 33 volunteers rolled up their sleeves and transformed the longhouse grounds—filling two 40-yard bins with green waste during our first FireSmart cleanup.
A huge thank you to all the Tsain-Ko staff who came out—your energy, teamwork, and commitment made this day a success. Your efforts are the foundation of this growing initiative, and we see you!
Special thanks to our event partners, Salish Soils and Coastal Bins—Their support helped make this day possible!
If they pick up a phone call, that’s the start time. When they put the phone down, that’s the stop time. When they turn to the Word application we get the start time and stop time. We found people switched these activities on average of every three minutes and five seconds.
