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OUR STORY
OUR STORY
“W̱SÁNEĆ Elder ZȺWIZUT Carl Olsen stepped onto the side of the trans-Canada highway at the entrance to Goldstream Park in December 2022 to protest a costly and destructive BC provincial plan that threatened the endangered salmon in the Goldstream River. SELE₭TEȽ, the name for Goldstream in his language SENĆOŦEN, had been an important place to harvest food and medicine for thousands of years. With him were his granddaughter Ella and his friend David Ramsay. Carl’s first step led to a grassroots movement that successfully stopped the BC government’s plan in February 2026. The SELE₭TEȽ Goldstream Protectors continue to stand with Carl and support his commitment to protecting the SELE₭TEȽ Goldstream watershed, and the W̱SÁNEĆ rights to hunt and fish as formerly under the Douglas Treaty of 1852.
“W̱SÁNEĆ Elder ZȺWIZUT Carl Olsen stepped onto the side of the trans-Canada highway at the entrance to Goldstream Park in December 2022 to protest a costly and destructive BC provincial plan that threatened the endangered salmon in the Goldstream River. SELE₭TEȽ, the name for Goldstream in his language SENĆOŦEN, had been an important place to harvest food and medicine for thousands of years. With him were his granddaughter Ella and his friend David Ramsay. Carl’s first step led to a grassroots movement that successfully stopped the BC government’s plan in February 2026. The SELE₭TEȽ Goldstream Protectors continue to stand with Carl and support his commitment to protecting the SELE₭TEȽ Goldstream watershed, and the W̱SÁNEĆ rights to hunt and fish as formerly under the Douglas Treaty of 1852.
OUR HISTORY
OUR HISTORY
2026
2026
February 5 2026 BC government announces “Plans paused for Goldstream median barrier widening project” saying more analysis is need to address environmental concerns
March 2026 the steering committee meets to plan next steps, and craft the mission statement that guides our actions
Website, Instagram and BlueSky accounts are developed to draw attention to the critical importance of the Goldstream watershed a critical river for salmon near Victoria, BC
June 2026 SELE₭TEȽ Goldstream Protectors learn Goldstream Chum are in danger of collapsing, and begin the SAVE THE GOLDSTREAM SALMON campaign to raise funds for the Goldstream hatchery
2025
2025
The email list started by David Ramsay swells to over 100
Protestors are informed a contractor has been hired to oversee proposed work. With help from the Wilderness Committee, a steering committee plans a demonstration on the lawn of the BC Legislature. The movement becomes the Goldstream Protectors.
Over 300 people attend the protest on October 22 2025, including leaders and youth drummers from W̱SÁNEĆ nations. The event is covered by major news outlets.
2024
2024
The Wilderness Committee adds their support to Carl’s work by setting up a letter-writing page on their website
The weekly protest swells; cars driving by start to honk in support
2023
2023
Carl speaks through the Victoria region to raise awareness to the Province’s destructive plan and attract support to stop it
A faith-based group prints over 1,000 information cards to put on cars
A core group of 6 form around Carl, and spread the message
2022
W̱SÁNEĆ Elder ZȺWIZUT Carl Olsen, his grandaughter Ella, and David Ramsay begin a weekly protest to stop destruction of sensitive salmon habitat
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