Our Team
PEPAḴIYE Ashley Cooper
Program Director
(ȽÁU,WELNEW Tribal School)
PEPAḴIYE is not available for consultation, collaboration, projects, plant walks, or any work in general.
PEPAḴIYE Ashley Cooper (she/they) is a Plural-Spirit (Genderfluid/ Non-binary/Indigiqueer) Salish (W̱SÁNEĆ, Lək̓ʷəŋən, Quw'utsun) and Nuu Chah Nulth (Tlaoquiaht, Mowachaht, Hesquiaht) Mother/Parent. PEPAḴIYE is proudly Neurodivergent (c-PTSD, AuDHD, Dyslexic). PEPAḴIYE lives and works in their community of W̱JOȽEȽP where they are raising their child.
PEPAḴIYE is continuously learning about plants, plant medicines, food ecosystems, and the SENĆOŦEN language through family, community members, and elders. PEPAḴIYE graduated W̱,SENĆOŦEN,IST in 2016 with a Diploma in Indigenous Language Revitalization through The University of Victoria.
She is the Program Director for the PEPÁḴEṈ HAUTW Native Plant and Garden Program and hateaching weekly workshops since 2016 for the ȽÁUWELṈEW̱ Tribal School and W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Secondary School students. PEPAḴIYE became a Co-Founder of the PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ Food Systems Education Foundation in 2017. PEPAḴIYE has been on the Environment Committee for the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council since 2019. PEPAḴIYE has helped advise with the Plant Relative signs at SMONEĆTEN Park, and will be a part of the restoration planning for ȾIKEL (maber flats) Restoration. PEPAḴIYE supported with her cultural knowledge with the development and planning for the W̱SÁNEĆ Ethnobotany Trail at the Horticulture Center of the Pacific. She is also team member of University of Victoria's Living Lab.
Judith Lyn Arney
Ecosystems Director
Judith is an ethnoecologist of British ancestry raised here in W̱SÁNEĆ territory. In addition to her experience working in the food sovereignty movement and forestry sector in British Columbia, she has also worked internationally on the restoration of traditional food ecosystems in Japan, Italy, and Mexico. Judith founded the PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ program in 2011 during her graduate work with York University. Her passion for restoring ecosystems supports her work at PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ nurturing connection to the natural world for children and youth! Currently, Judith leads on the PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ restoration projects and native plant nursery operations, teaches in the programs and works with project partners to encourage the restoration of indigenous ecosystems in W̱SÁNEĆ territory and beyond.
Contact: judithlynarney@gmail.com.
XEṮXÁṮEN Earl Claxton Jr.
Elder
Earl is a respected SȾÁUTW̱ elder, plant knowledge keeper and community historian. He was an integral team member in the precedent-setting Claxton vs Saanichton Marina (1987) case which protected Saanichton Bay from development, ensuring a future for the fishery of the W̱SÁNEĆ people. Earl came to his career in plants after years in recovery following a double aneurysm; his intention was to learn a skill that would be useful to his community. Earl has been working at PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ since its earliest days, contributing his plant knowledge, storytelling, and plant stewardship skills to the school program and maintaining the gardens throughout the year. Earl also does storytelling and cultural teachings - and of course his famous salmon and clam bakes! - for many schools and organizations in the region, sharing his invaluable knowledge as well as his personal message of kindness and compassion.
Contact: earlclaxtonbc@gmail.com
Sarah Jim
Senior Crew
Sarah is a member of the W̱SÁNEĆ nation from the Tseycum village and has been working with PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ since 2018. Since then, she has learned all she knows about native plants and restoration by working intimately with the land, asking questions, reading, and being surrounded by mentors, knowledge keepers, and community members. She helps at PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ teaching the kids about plants, carrying out garden duties, and doing restoration work at ȾIKEL. Although SṈIDȻEȽ is the main restoration site she typically works at. Sarah has a Bachelor’s Degree of Fine Arts from the University of Victoria and emulates her plant knowledge through her artwork. Her love for the outdoors and native plants continues to propel Sarah in a direction that helps heal the community and herself through plant medicines, native foods, and restoration work.
Kyle Clarke
Education Coordinator
Kyle is of Ukrainian, Irish, and Métis ancestry who grew up on the W̱SÁNEĆ territory. Recently, Kyle graduated from the University of Victoria with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Environmental Studies. He is excited about utilizing his skills and knowledge of land stewardship to promote ecosystem restoration, protection, and education as a way to heal the places that shaped his adoration for the natural world. He has designed an Indigenous Foodplant garden in Sylix territory (Okanagan) that promotes food sovereignty and reintroduces culturally significant food plants to communities. Kyle has run outdoor elementary programs for two years and focuses his work around developing deep relationships with the students. He hopes that his knowledge and passion for nature inspires the students at the PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ Native Plant Nursery and Garden to generate a deeper connection to their land and culture.
Hannah Glass
Restoration Crew
Hannah is of Cree, Métis, and Scottish ancestry. Hannah was born and raised in the Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ territory. Growing up around the beauty of S¸ELE₭TEȽ (Goldstream River), a deep appreciation and respect for the natural world was fostered and encouraged. Hannah is passionate about environmental restoration and has worked for the last two years removing invasive plants from native ecosystems. She is currently in her third year of Indigenous Studies at the University of Victoria. Hannah is grateful to work with PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ and be a part of the healing work happening at SṈIDȻEȽ (Tod Inlet).
Contact: hannahglass96@gmail.com
Wendy Jim
Accounting & Admin
Wendy Jim was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay area and is of Russian, Jewish and English ancestry. She has resided in the Tseycum Village for over 30 years and is a proud mother of Sarah Jim, Rebecca Jim, Stephanie Jim and Jacqueline Jim. Raising her children in their W̱SÁNEĆ culture with her husband David Jim was a very important decision in relocating to Canada. Wendy has a background in banking and finance for over 40 years with certificates from Camosun College, too. Wendy hopes to bring this knowledge to do her part in making PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ Foundation's vision come alive and succeed. Sarah Jim, her youngest daughter, has been a big inspiration to her for learning more about environmental restoration and doing her part to help the program thrive.
Contact: pepakenhautw@gmail.com