Folks of the Sooke region have enjoyed a history of teaming together and joining in their efforts to contribute good things to our community.
One example was the Sooke Festival Society, where some 40 local groups formed an organization to work for community events, teaming up at the instigation of regional director Bob Clark in 1988. When Sooke’s municipal incorporation happened, this group closed down.
The most significant factor in the community’s ability to work together to celebrate many important occasions has been the leadership and generous spirit displayed over many years by the First Nations, particularly the T’Sou-ke Nation.
Today’s photo, capturing a planning group working together for an event in the mid-1990s, was taken at Jim and Elida Peers's mountainside home in Saseenos. Seated at left is T’Sou-ke Chief Jim Cooper. Jim Cooper and I have a lot of shared history. When we were both attending Sooke School, he sat behind me and took great delight in dipping my blond braids in the inkwell on his desk.
Next to Chief Cooper is his mother, whom we knew as Grandma Sue. Born Susan Lazzar, she was the daughter of Chief Andrew Lazzar and his wife Annie Jones of the Pacheedaht. At the museum, we had the great fortune to have Grandma Sue come every Sunday afternoon and demonstrate basket-making and other weaving crafts for visitors.
Next to Grandma Sue is her nephew Jack Planes, who served as chief from 1991 to 1993 and whose son Gordon has recently retired from a 14-year term as chief. Jack’s wife, Phyllis Charles, is beside him. Next, I am seated alongside my husband Jim, holding granddaughter Titania on his lap.
Andrea Cooper follows. Andrea was chief from 1977 to 1979, and it was during her term that the administration building was built on IR No 1. Andrea was, we understand, the first elected female chief in B.C. My daughter Diana Peers sits next to Andrea. She is followed by Fred Peters, who became noted in the 1990s as the master carver of canoes at the T’Sou-ke Nation. Fred Peters was later followed as a master carver by Johnathan Ryce.
This photograph is but one example of the many collaborations that led to the stellar reputation that T’Sou-ke/Sooke people have been blessed to experience over the years.
Elida Peers is the historian of the Sooke Region Museum. Email historian@sookeregionmuseum.com.
