In the premiere episode of the Kwakwaka’wakw episodes, host Suzette Amaya takes us to Alert Bay, B.C., to introduce us to language teacher and cultural knowledge keeper Pewi Alfred. Pewi shares her language journey and teaches Suzette what some of their dances mean.

One of the first things you see when you arrive in Alert Bay, B.C., is Andrea Cranmer’s shop Culture Shock. It is a gathering place, to learn and celebrate the kwakwaka’wawk and a place to listen to stories from community members.

Elder Julia Nelson is one of the oldest language speakers of Kwak’wala at 95 years old. She is a first language speaker, she is fluent, she has taught the language for decades. The tragedy is her 75 descendants are not fluent. Julia shares her life journey and teaches host Suzette Amaya some new words.

Elder Margaret Wilson is a retired nurse, an author, and holds a PhD in education from the University of British Columbia. She shares how she lived a traditional life with her grandparents until she was five, then was forced into residential school, and almost lost her language. But with grit and determination, Margaret held onto it and is a fluent speaker today.