The First Peoples local geology.
All part of the Saanich Nation of Coast Salish Peoples, the Songhees, Esquimalt, Tsartlip, Tseycum, Pauquachin, Scia'new, T'Sou-ke and Tsawout Nations are all important bands that have long called Southeastern Vancouver Island home.
The main Songhees Nation community is about six kilometres from Victoria. Now, the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations reserves lie at the Southwestern edge of Victoria, right next to each other and the Town of View Royal. The Esquimalt and Songees are the ancestors of the Lekwungen speaking people who lived in Greater Victoria before the land was settled by Europeans. In addition to referring to their language, Lekwungen also refers to the land and means "the place where the herring fish are smoked."
The Tsartlip peoples believe that Victoria rose out from the water, referring to an ancient story of a great flood the land emerged from. The Tsartlip are also called W̱JOȽEȽP which means "land of maples" in SENĆOŦEN, their spoken language.
The Tseycum have lived on the Saanich Peninsula, Gulf Islands, and the San Juan Islands for thousands of years.
Most of the Pauquachin members live at BOḰEĆEN which means "earth bluff"
The traditional lands of the Scia'new and T'Souke lie to the northwest of Victoria, while the reserves of the Scia'new and T'Souke groups are along the Sooke Basin.
The word "Scia’new" translates from the Klallum language as "the place of the big fish", indicating the sea life in the region that sustains the Sc'ianew.
The word T'Sou-ke is the name of the Stickleback fish that live in the estuary of the river.
The Tsawout are also called SȾÁUTW̱ which means "houses on top"
Sources:
https://www.crd.bc.ca/project/first-nations-relations/traditional-territories
https://www.tourismvictoria.com/plan/local-info/about-victoria/indigenous-culture
