About the logo

The central form of the logo is a stylized depiction of the Oceanspray flower (Holodiscus discolor). For many First Nations, Oceanspray is valued for its straight hard stems and is called

qálxay’ (digging-stick plant) in the Sḵwxwú7mesh language,
qáthəłp (fish-spear prong plant) in the Hul'qumi'num’ language of the Quw’utsun, Stz’uminus and Snuneymuxw, and
pátsʔ-az' (digging-stick plant) in the Stl’atl’imx language.

Its blooming in early summer was a sign for the:

WSÁNEC’ (Saanich) people that it was time to start reefnet fishing for sockeye, and, for the
Tl’a’amin, it indicated the time to harvest butter clams.

The gathering of blossoms conveys the ideas of community and harmonious relations.

The Tribunals’ commitment to accessibility, fairness and equality is symbolized by the sturdiness of the stems and its usage.

References: Klinkenberg, Brian. (Editor) 2017. Holodiscus discolor (Pursh) Maxim. E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Plants of British Columbia [eflora.bc.ca]. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Lantz, Trevor and Nancy J. Turner. 2003. Traditional Phenological Knowledge of Aboriginal Peoples in British Columbia. Journal of Ethnobiology 23(2): 263-86, Turner, Nancy J. 1998. Plant Technology of British Columbia First Peoples. University of British Columbia Press, Vancouver and Royal BC Museum, Victoria, Turner, Nancy J. 2014. Ancient Pathways, Ancestral Knowledge: Ethnobotany and Ecological Wisdom of Indigenous Peoples of Northwestern North America. (2-vols.). McGill-Queen’s University Press, Montreal, QC.Turner, Nancy J. and Richard Hebda. 2012. Saanich Ethnobotany: Culturally Important Plants of the WSÁNEC’ People. Royal B.C. Museum, Victoria.

Alice Joe, Graphic Designer