Diane Sam (səwəyələk)

Diane Sam – səwəyələk is lək̓ʷəŋən and a member of the Songhees Nation. She also has ties to Nuu-chah-nulth Territory. She works as the Cultural Protocol Liaison in the Office of Indigenous Academic and Community Engagement at the University of Victoria. She has extensive experience working in community as a Team Leader at Songhees Cultural Centre and an Education Assistant for over 20 years. Diane says that one of the highlights of her job is "working with the Elders and community." Her message to students is “when your knowledge keeper wants to share teachings be sure to open your heart to take it all in.” Diane has been taking lək̓ʷəŋiʔnəŋ language classes, her ancestral language.