Vancouver Island South presents a tour of Victoria’s downtown from Indigenous tour guide Mark Albany.
Mark Albany, an elder and knowledge keeper of the Songhees Nation, has graciously offered to lead a 3-hour walking tour of his ancestral lands, to understand downtown Victoria from a Lək̓ʷəŋən (Lekwungen) point of view.
BIOGRAPHY
Mark Albany is an elder and knowledge keeper of the Songhees Nation and has spent his life in the area. Mark attended elementary school through to University in Victoria. Mark received his Masters in Counselling through Gonzaga University in Washington. A good portion of his working life was in non-profit organizations in the social service field. He has worked with the Department of Indian Affairs and also the Department of Veteran Affairs. Mark spent 29 years providing services from elementary to high school within the Victoria School district as a First Nations Counsellor. Throughout his career, Mark has created and lead workshops for school administration, teachers and educational assistants in regards to First Nations issues and history.
TOUR DETAILS
DATE: October 11th, 2024
TIME: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. PT
LOCATION: Details will be given after registration.
COST: $35.00 for members, $50.00 for non-members
The maximum number of participants is 18. Pre-registration is required.
Due to the outdoor environment, accessibility is limited for those with physical challenges. Comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate dress is recommended.
We kindly ask that no notetaking, photos or video recording occurs during the tour.
TOUR OBJECTIVE:
The purpose of this walk is to bring an understanding of the history of both the Lekwungen peoples , the settlers of Victoria and their dramatic convergence. By getting a better understanding of their respective cultures and philosophies this hopefully leads to a better interpretation of reconciliation for this area. The tour will also highlight how much has changed in Victoria in a short period of time.
This event has been approved for 3 Core LUs and is eligible towards AIBC’s Indigenous Peoples Learning requirement.