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.

Evelyn Vandermass:

An Elder of SCIA’NEW Klallam Heritage. Sister to 5 siblings, Mother of 2 daughters, Grandmother of 7 and 2 Great Grand daughters. Born and raised traditionally in harvesting, preparation and serving of traditional and modern foods  for all peoples.  Been a Chucker of Clams, etc at shop at very young age, netted fish traditionally with my girls for food for selves and others on the Fraser River, Waitress, Chambermaid, Manager of Bee Gees Sandwich shop for 12 years. Past with honors in ugrading to Gr.12 and completed Retail Salesmanship at 98%. Home, School and Community First Nation Liason for 30 years which included Tutoring programs for k – Adult Education and First Nations Awareness and National Drug Awareness initiatives in schools and communities. Sat on the Sooke District Social Planning committee of 60 business and community peoples all working together and all types of initiatives and inclusion projects.  Council, Receptionist, Human Resources, Housing and Disability rep for band office of the Scia’new First Nation. Volunteer for over 30 years for Youth, Non Profit groups and for Cultural when required and permitted.  I’m a traditional Hunter/gather Fisherwoman, Shawl Maker, Knitter, and Archivists. Love Sports, cooking, gardening and being with family, I am a First Nation A.S.S.I.S.T Rep.(Suicide prevention)rep for this region of B.C. along with 11 other members of SCIA’NEW. Have certificate for this one Assist (completed and passed)

Rita Millette:

Rita Millette is daughter of Aysemuh and Grand daughter of Sutiacum and a member of Cheanuh people. She has started a community garden project in which it is my interest is to help bring our community together and have a neutral spot for this to happen.  As well as make an attempted to become self sustainable in growing our own food and also re introduce cultural vegetation this will also bring opportunity to tell stories. To me it’s about coming together becoming a strong community and family.