Our Beginnings
Angie Bailey, Leslie Bonshor, Rhoda Peters, Wendy Ritchie, Joanne Hugh, Brenda Morgan, Lolly Andrew and Inez Louis gathered throughout 2017 and 2018 to plan for a Stó:lō Women's Gathering. The inaugural annual gathering was September 2018 at Tzeachten Hall.
September 2018
We intentionally had co-facilitators of the dialogue, one ‘Auntie’ and one ‘young one’ – this is our way of mentoring and showing our love. We did a lot of brainstorming and capturing thoughts and ideas of what we wanted to become as a group.
Our guest speakers of our first event were the original members of the Indian Homemakers Association. Dr. Gwen Point introduced us to the Indian Homemakers Association as she recalled from learning from her Auntie Rose Charlie. Rena Point Bolton joined us, and shared her teachings with us, and the history of the IHA. At one point Rena said to us “get on with it, what are you waiting for” – “we didn’t wait for anyone, we just did it” “you’ve got what you need, so get back to it”. Rena’s final point, they didn’t work that hard for us, for us to let it all go.
Our guest speakers of our first event were the original members of the Indian Homemakers Association. Dr. Gwen Point introduced us to the Indian Homemakers Association as she recalled from learning from her Auntie Rose Charlie. Rena Point Bolton joined us, and shared her teachings with us, and the history of the IHA. At one point Rena said to us “get on with it, what are you waiting for” – “we didn’t wait for anyone, we just did it” “you’ve got what you need, so get back to it”. Rena’s final point, they didn’t work that hard for us, for us to let it all go.
Thélá:ylexw Foundation Established
Thélá:ylexw awtxw received this name from the language speakers, Ethel Gardner & Wendy Ritchie. In 2021 we registered as a society, Thélá:ylexw awtxw Foundation and have an active Facebook group presence with over 700 members. This is a leadership team that continues as founding members to meet and shape the future of our group.
The Message
The message was clear in what we learned from our speakers and each other. As Stó:lō womxn, we want to be organized, we need to bring forward our old ways, we are the strength of our families and communities, we have a rightful place in upholding the rights of our people, and we are the Grandmothers, Mothers and Aunties.
