SIS,ET- The Elder Moon
New Moon starts
SIS,ET- The Elder Moon - New Moon starts
SIS,ET is the oldest in the moon family and means “The Elder”. In reality this is not the first month but the last in the yearly cycle of moons. It is at this time of year when the earth is at its farthest point from the sun.
Weather - Days are short and storms and heavy rainfalls make sea travel unpredictable and unsafe. Therefore much more time is spent indoors. The Sloughs in and around Saanich fill with water and provide a wintering place for visiting ducks and geese.
Economic Activities - Because we were rich with stored food we had more time to prepare for futures harvests. Wood pitch was gathered for torches and fires to collect shellfish during the night tides, common in this time of year. Ducks and geese were netted or speared on the sloughs and in protected inlets.
People only ventured out into the protected inlets for ocean fishing.
Nettles that were gathered earlier in the year were stripped and twisted into twine to make nets, ropes and cables. Roughed out canoes were brought into the longhouse to be finished.
Cultural Activities - This is the most important time of year for spiritual and cultural activities. Our Saanich people are involved in Winter ceremonies and our Elders tell legends and use stories to teach children the right way to live. Our people gather in longhouses for Winter ceremonial dances, new dancers are initiated and the ceremonies are witnessed.
Elder Woman
Many of our people today say that the Elders are not as old as they used to be. Long ago there were more Elders in our families and many people were known to live to one hundred years of age.
The counsel and advice of Elders was always sought before making important decisions. The Elders passed on our traditions and teachings. They would instruct us in the ways to conduct our ceremonies as well as in the daily-used skills.
This Elder woman is wearing a woven cedar bark cape. The inner bark of cedar would be softened by pounding.
The moon of the Elder (SIS,ET). During the cold winter when people gathered for the Winter Dances, the Elders role was extremely important. At the gathering they would pass on Oral History and instruct us in the ways of life. They also told stories to the children that were special for them.
Suggested Discussion Questions