MVOM's Elder Representatives

Elders Circle
MVOM's Elder Representatives

Current Representatives:

Please meet our current Grandmother and Grandfather Representatives elected at the 2023 AGM.

Cheryl Havens

Mike Joe

2023 AGM Slideshow

Previous Representatives:

We are extremely grateful for the guidance and wisdom that was provided by the previous MVOM Elder Representatives.

Eugene Harry

Traditional Name: Xi Quelem

Birth Place: Duncan, BC. (Eugene came into the world feet-first, weighing 2 lbs 14 oz.)

Indigenous Community: born Cowichan, raised Malahata

Residential School Attended: Kuper Island Residential School

Family: Married with 7 children, 15 grandchildren, and 17 great grandchildren

Memorable Childhood Experience: Grandfather speaking to crows, a pet deer, and a pet seal.

Hobbies: Paddling, knitting, beading, needlepoint, weaving

Words of Wisdom:
"Spirituality and Ceremony need to be brought back."

"Celebration of Life should be when a child is born, not when a person passes away."

Vange Point

Traditional Name: Xoyetlha (hi-claw)

Birth Place: Mission, BC.

Indigenous Community: Sts'ailes

Family: Married with 2 living children, 2 children who are no longer with us, and 7 grandchildren

Memorable Childhood Experience: "My dad always told me I had a gift. I would sit down and draw. I would draw things. When I went to Agassiz high school (had to transfer from community school), during art time, the art teacher was amazed by my drawing. That was my most keen subject in school. By the time I got to grade 10, my art teacher decided to give me a scholarship to go to the Pentiction art school during the summer. My family dropped me off there. I had to sleep in a dorm; we had our own spaces. It was like going to school. We would get up in the morning and go down to the school. I was alone, so far away from home, and my parents were so proud. They would pack up my siblings to come visit every weekend. The hardest part was Sunday when they left. "

Hobbies: "I crochet, bead, do Salish weaving, inner cedar bark work, traditional medicines, sew (hand and machine), make traditional foods, and draw."

Words of Wisdom:
"You always have to carry yourself in a good way. In class, I expect the students to be alert and that they are there are learn."

"Take pride in your culture."

"The late Chief Dan George sang the song of our people to teach how to earn your feather. Education is a ladder. When you come to school, you can’t go straight to the top. Each step, we are teaching you. There are three rungs: We teach, We learn, We grow (to earn your feather). Build yourself another ladder to get the education for the job you want”.

“Who do you think is our future generation? You!”