Our Members

Cristina Armstrong – Director:

Hello and welcome to the Stewards of Sc’ianew website!  My name is Cristina Armstrong and I am the founder and director of the Stewards of Sc’ianew Society.  I am a Sc’ianew First Nations member (Beecher bay) and am also related to many other nations through my mother Evelyn Vandermaas (Sc’ianew) and my father Robert Armstrong (Seabird Island).  The Stewards of Sc’ianew was established March 3, 2021.  Our focus for the future will be to help rehabilitate the environment by removing invasive plants and growing and restoring indigenous habitat. 

We are looking forward to building new relationships, and fostering existing ones, with our surrounding communities, businesses, individuals, and other organizations that are working towards the same goals as the Stewards of Sc’ianew.   Working together we can have a positive impact rebuilding and restoring our environment for future generations!  

We have created a restoration and reclamation crew training program for those who would like to learn and be involved in our efforts.  Being a small organization with limited resources, we are actively seeking funding for training, equipment, and operating costs.  We look forward to providing our services to future customers and communities in the near future.  If you would like to be a part of this adventure with us just contact me and we can have a talk over coffee.

I’d like to say thank you to all who have been with the Stewards of Sc’ianew through the year 2021.  We thank our friends, family, support letters, volunteer work, maintenance of the gardens, and our donors. 

A  BIG **special** thank you to Vancity for the investment in our vision!  We share your vision for a resilient economy that works for everyone, aligns people and the planet.  We have big plans for 2022!

Also a special thank you to Jay Silverberg from Synergy management group.  Jay has been my business mentor through this past year, whose guidance and support have been invaluable to me since the start of this great adventure.   With his guidance we were able to bring the Stewards of Sc’ianew Society to fruition.  My hands are raised to Jay for providing his experience and mentorship to me!

I’d like to thank you for taking the time to review our page and stay posted for exciting news and pictures of the amazing work we will be accomplishing with the help of all of those involved.

Alfred Anthony Peters – Board Member

Greetings, my name is Alfred Anthony Peters the third .

These last three years have thought me a lot in value towards knowledge holders practices and what they share with us, as well as sometimes we get to share the things we’ve learned from them with students such as facilitating cultural practices, hand crafting with cedar and while learning having the time to be there and share meals and conversations, being able to unburden everyone in our time together and in our hopes…

 As a non profit based society that has grown many branches and connections over these past few years, we have helped to heal with cultural remedies that we craft and make and share as gifts. We’ve done a lot of invasive removal of Scottish broom and blackberry got to attend events and Co facilitate programs with my amazing mom and the awesome people she just meets and it’s like these connections were meant to be all these non profit organizations out there and education facilities have me in awe because it reflects exactly what our society, my mom and the group of us who show up when there’s work to be done.

 I have great respect for my mom and trust the people in our lives.

This is all new to me, I’m breaking out of a bubble however I’m confident in sharing stories of our journeys and  listening to elders talk of stories that are truly captivating not only me but the youth and showing our friends and co facilitators the value in sharing these cultural backgrounds and diversity of knowledge carried  throughout history that can be accounted for in our oral history.

 Moving forward we would like to continue the work and restoration practices with the great many of friends we have gained over the years, learning more things together to make things not only better for ourselves but for our environment, wildlife, the future of our children and their children by working together!

 I see a bright future for our people. My birthplace was Chilliwack bc my assigned reserve Is Seabird Island reserve, but I believe I’m from Seabird and Sc’ianew.

 As far as my knowledge is so far there may be even more connections that we could learn listening to our dear knowledge holders volunteers and educator’s we value greatly for taking the time to not only put in the work but show us their tricks of the trade for more efficient work practices in our starting years,

Blaine Peters – Board Member

Hello my name is Blaine and I am a knowledge holder for the Stewards with my mom Cristina and brother Alfred .

We have spent the last 5 years building a strong community of workers, volunteers and building knowledge holders with the many classes and hands-on training we do within our Sc’ianew community and outside with other schools and organizations.

Throughout we have taught cedar weaving, Cowichan knitting, how to plant and maintain a vegetable garden, build greenhouses and garden boxes for community members, we have also done numerous events of removing invasive plants and trees, teaching youth how to fish, can and process and cook smoked salmon. 

My heritage is both Stolo and Klallam and I take much pride in both , as I have learned many lessons from both sides.

I have a 16 year old daughter named Lacinda who is now learning her culture through dance and participating in soccer and volleyball.

We continue to build a network of friends who will share the responsibility of taking back our culture, our responsibility to the land and to each other … I can’t wait to see what the future holds for all of us !!!!!!

Much Respect 

Blaine

Tony Cecchetti – Board Member

Born on the traditional territory of the Ohlone people, in what is now known as Berkeley, CA. From a young age, Tony’s passion for the environment, regenerative agriculture, reconciliation, and Indigenous ways of knowing was nurtured by spending time immersed in the beauty and awe of natural world, his Jewish and Italian background and identity, and his relationships with members from both the Navajo and Apache Nations during his upbringing.

In 2010, Tony moved to British Columbia, Canada, where he pursued his education and passion for sustainable practices and proactive allyship with Indigenous communities. He graduated from the University of British Columbia (’14) with a BSc in Global Resource Systems and then obtained a Permaculture Design Certificate (’17) while working on regenerative food growing practices and improving food security issues within underserved communities. Tony then became a graduate of the first ever cohort in the MA in Climate Action Leadership program at Royal Roads University (’24), the first program of its kind in the country.

During his master’s studies, Tony envisioned and created the IndigeMind Climate Action Program, which he launched in 2021 through the Victoria Native Friendship Centre and in partnership with Cristina Armstrong, founder of the Stewards of Sc’ianew Society, whom he works closely with. This transformative, land-based program is still running to this day and is uniquely designed for Indigenous youth, both on and off reserve, and is focused on three core pillars:

1. Cultural Revitalization through land-based programming.
2. Improved Mental, Physical, and Spiritual Well-Being of Indigenous youth.
3. Exposure to Career and Educational Pathways within the climate action space to increase Indigenous engagement in the growing field.

Tony’s work is guided by the values of family, reconciliation, community, partnership, and forward-thinking. He believes deeply in the power of collaboration, inclusivity, and diverse efforts rooted in both Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Western Science. Tony is committed to finding innovative ways to mitigate the impacts of climate change and increase our collective adaptive capacity. He is equally committed to supporting initiatives that drive economic benefits for Indigenous communities by fostering job creation, promoting locally owned businesses and environmental non-profits, and mentoring the next generation of Indigenous youth climate leaders.Outside of his work with First Nation communities, Tony has collaborated on projects with a variety of both local government and organizations, including the Capital Regional District (CRD), Saanich Parks, City of Victoria, City of Colwood, University of Victoria, The Howl Experience, Jane Goodall Institute of Canada, Habitat Acquisition Trust, Parks Canada, and the Greater Victoria School District.

Tony now resides on the traditional territory of the Lekwungen-speaking peoples of the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations, in what is known as Victoria, BC. He lives with his wife and three beautiful daughters and is deeply honoured to live in harmony with the land and the communities who have stewarded it for generations.

“May we protect the land so that it may nourish our children, as it has nourished us”

Melissa Thorne – Board Member

Hello, I’m Melissa!

I was super excited when Cristina asked me to help out with the Stewards of Scianew! Removing invasive plants like broom, which is tough on my allergies, and bramble will help the native plants thrive. Then, learning about the indigenous plant nursery was fascinating. And it doesn’t end there; we’re also helping with community garden boxes, so everyone has access to fresh, healthy food, not to mention the benefits of working on your own garden and seeing the results firsthand!

My husband and I are almost 34 and have never really done anything like this before. We are loving working within the community and appreciate everything the Stewards have done! I’m excited to keep working with Cristina and our friends and family!

I think I might have skipped a step here, but I’m excited and honored to be a part of this. My name is Melissa Thorne, and while I’ve lived in Scianew for nine years, it’s been a part of me my whole life. My late grandmother, Marie Anne Connell, and late grandfather, Raymond Edward Connell, always had time for me. They made sure to be a part of my life, and I stayed with them many weekends and even spent whole summers with them. I learned a lot about our culture from her. I’ve been married to my husband for 16 years this year! We’ll both turn 34 this July and have three beautiful dogs. As we don’t have children yet, they are our life. We love walking our dogs, aimlessly driving, going to beaches, collecting rocks, and spending time with the ones we love.

Bradley Tejano-Smith – Board Member

Bradley is An entrepreneur who works in the music scene in Victoria as a rapper, song writer, Executive producer etc, also plays a few instruments such as the piano, the violin, the drums, and the guitar. He currently works Downtown as a Chef at milestones on the inner harbour, and at JAYZWAYS PRODUCTIONS as an artist, producer and mentor currently learning how to DJ. He has done quite a few shows as a local artist opening up for famous artists as they come through goes by the stage name B$mith. He has opened up for artists such as Madchild, Snak the ripper, Murkules, and many more. Last show was a charitable event performing at lucky bar for A Christmas Hope finale.

He has performed at The Wicket hall, Lucky bar, The Victoria Event Centre, Medusa Shot House, Phoenix Bar & Grill, and Upstairs Cabaret. The best part is he is a member of the Beecher Bay First Nation and works with youth trying to run more workshops on music.

Bradley is working on dropping his First LP which is a 14 track album as he only has his Mixtape out known as 2K23, which features 5 tracks including a feature from Jaren Benton from Funk Volume. Bradley was Born in Seattle Washington, but moved to Canada with his grandmother Isabelle Charles at a young age. He has been doing music for over ten years pursuing his dream of becoming one of the greatest rappers ever.

Jasper Millette – Board Member

Jazz Millz, an Indigenous rap artist representing Scia’new First Nations started rapping in the fall of 2012. Born into a family with music in their genes, Jazz had his first taste of music life, performing the song he wrote with his cousin Mathias and good friend Damian in October of 2012. The song “See Through” was collaboratively written with Stax & D-cappz. 

These last 9 years, Jazz has been pushing and grinding in the music scene. From promoting his own shows, participating in live events as well as being in the studio making music. 2016 Jazz Millz formed the Vic City Soldiers, a 5 man rap group. Before any studio recorded songs, the group traveled up and down Vancouver Island and onto the mainland to perform live. The Soldiers had huge potential as a rap group, but eventually members ended up leaving. The first album, self titled Vic City Soldiers dropped in 2018 with the trio of Jazz Millz, Wordmasta J & Lost Boy. 

Jazz would go onto release an album of previously released songs titled “My Own Path” in 2018 as well. 

In 2020 the Vic City Soldiers were down to just Jazz Millz & Wordmasta J, but that didn’t stop them from dropping the album Frontlines! 

2022 Jazz Millz brought his next project, a collaboration with long time friend Guy Louie Jr. To give back to the First Nations Culture. The album “Bow & Arrow” has a collection of Hip-Hop and Indigenous Singing & Drumming.