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Indigenous-owned · Saskatoon, Treaty 6 · Shipping across Canada
An introduction to Victoria: its history, the Nations whose lands it sits on, and Indigenous community life today, with sources.
British Columbia’s capital sits at the southern tip of Vancouver Island on the ancestral lands of the lək̓ʷəŋən-speaking peoples, known today as the Songhees and Xʷsepsəm (Esquimalt) Nations, with W̱SÁNEĆ peoples also part of Greater Victoria. The Royal BC Museum presents exhibits on local Indigenous peoples and natural history, and the Victoria Native Friendship Centre supports urban Indigenous residents. The Songhees Nation describes a small palisaded village on Beacon Hill, known as míqən. Before colonial restrictions, they travelled across southern Vancouver Island, the Salish Sea and up the Fraser River. Between 1850 and 1854, Douglas concluded treaties with local Indigenous groups. They recognized existing village sites and hunting and fishing rights in exchange for cash and trade goods. The Songhees once had a settlement and reserve at what is now called Songhees Point. In 1911 the Nation moved from that reserve to its current one.
Victoria is on the territory of the Lekwungen peoples, the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations, and is covered by the Douglas Treaties of the 1850s.
Nearby: Songhees Nation · Xʷsepsəm (Esquimalt) Nation · Saanich · Esquimalt · Oak Bay · Colwood
The Songhees and Xʷsepsəm Nations are active neighbours with their own institutions. The Songhees Nation runs a Wellness Centre, an Early Learning Centre and the Songhees Development Corporation from Admirals Road. Xʷsepsəm, also called Esquimalt Nation, offers Head Start daycare, health services, housing and economic development programs. Its members share the Lekwungen language with sister nations now collectively known as Songhees. The City of Victoria set up its Witness Reconciliation Program in 2017. It created a "City Family" that includes members of both Nations, urban Indigenous people, the mayor and some councillors. In August 2018, council voted to remove the Sir John A. Macdonald statue from City Hall. In 2022 the city renamed Trutch Street as Su'it Street and set up a Reconciliation Contribution Fund. Downtown wayfinding signs now include Lekwungen place names. The city lists the South Island Powwow as an annual event on September 30. The Victoria Native Friendship Centre, on Regina Avenue, offers employment and education help, family and youth services and food security programs. It also runs a primary care clinic and housing supports, and it offers programming in Indigenous culture and traditions.
More on the region: Indigenous British Columbia · all of Canada.
XUSI is an Indigenous-owned business from Saskatoon, started in 2020 by two brothers from northern Saskatchewan. Along with our clothing, we bring Indigenous youth workshops and custom screen printing to Victoria and across Douglas Treaties territory.
Strong Roots Strong Future is our interactive workshop for Indigenous youth, led by the two brothers who founded XUSI. We travel to schools, First Nations and Indigenous communities, youth organizations and funding programs in Victoria and across Douglas Treaties territory. Youth ages 10 and up work through identity and culture, financial literacy, fitness, entrepreneurship and business skills, career readiness and hands-on screen printing.
Custom t-shirts, hoodies and crewnecks for Victoria schools, sports teams, businesses, events and First Nations and Indigenous organizations. Send us an idea, get free design help and a full quote before anything is printed. We print in Saskatoon and ship to Victoria. 10-garment minimum, up to 4 colours per design.
Heavyweight cotton tees, hoodies, crewnecks and A-frame hats with Cree words and the stories behind them. Fitness is part of how XUSI started, so our pieces are built for the gym and the street, and we ship them to Victoria.
Orders leave within 1–3 business days. The shipping cost appears at checkout.
Returns can be requested within 30 days. Also worth knowing: orders of $90 or more ship free within Canada.
Yes. Custom screen printing starts at 10 garments, with up to 4 colours per design, and every order is quoted before printing. Design help is included. We print in Saskatoon, then ship across the mountains to Vancouver Island, so order well before the September 30 powwow.
Last reviewed . Facts on this page come from the sources listed below.
Orders to Victoria leave Saskatoon within three business days, printed on Gildan, ALSTYLE, Independent and Bella+Canvas blanks, in the same shop that prints XUSI’s own designs.
The brand is owned by two brothers from northern Saskatchewan, and every word on the clothing is Cree, with the meaning written by them. Browse all XUSI, or read the Meanings page.
