Ellen White (Snuneymuxw First Nation)

Ellen White
Kwulasulwut
Snuneymuxw leader
Personal details
Born Ellen Rice
circa. 1922
Died Nanaimo, BC
Spouse(s) Doug White
Children Doug White, Jr.
Parents Charles & Hilda Rice
Nickname(s) Nanaimo's Auntie Ellen[1]

Ellen R. White (born circa 1922) of the Snuneymuxw First Nation is a Canadian aboriginal elder, author, and academic who has been recognized with a national Order of Canada and provincial Order of British Columbia.[2][3]

As a young girl, Ellen trained as a midwife, assisting at births when she was just 9 years old, and delivering children by age 16.[4]

After growing up on Vancouver Island, she moved to Nanaimo, British Columbia after marrying Doug White. She then raised her children in the Nanaimo First Nation.[4]

After 30 years as a lecturer and storyteller at University of British Columbia, White was instrumental in establishing the First Nations Studies program at Vancouver Island University (then Malaspina College) in 1994, and spent 13 years there as an Elder-in-Residence[1]. Known as "Auntie Ellen" to students, staff, and faculty, White received an Honorary Doctorate from VIU in 2006 for her years of dedication to education and community service.[5] The Kwulasulwut Garden located at VIU's Nanaimo campus is dedicated to Dr. Ellen White using her Coast Salish name Kwulasulwut, meaning "many stars". The garden includes a totem pole by Coast Salish artist Jane Marston.[6]

Ellen White is the grandmother of Snuneymuxw Chief Douglas White III.[1]

Recognitions

  • 2006 - Honorary Doctorate, Vancouver Island University
  • 2007 - B.C. Community Achievement Award[1]
  • 2016 - Order of Canada

Publications

  • Kwulasulwut: Stories From the Coast Salish (Theytus, 1981, 1992). Illustrated by David Neel.[4]
  • Kwulasulwut II (Theytus 1997). Illustrated by Bill Cohen.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Nanaimo's 'Auntie Ellen' receives Order of B.C." Nanaimo News Bulletin. September 6, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2017.
  2. ↑ General, The Office of the Secretary to the Governor. "The Governor General of Canada". Retrieved 2018-06-19.
  3. ↑ "Snuneymuxw Elder Ellen White appointed to Order of Canada". nanaimonewsNOW. 2016-12-31. Retrieved 2018-06-19.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "WHITE, Ellen R. Aboriginal Author". ABCBookWorld. Retrieved January 12, 2017.
  5. ↑ ""Auntie Ellen" Appointed to the Order of Canada | News | VIU". news.viu.ca. Retrieved 2018-06-19.
  6. ↑ "VIU Self Guided Campus Visit" (PDF). Vancouver Island University. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
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