We are looking for a wedding prayer or blessing (text) from any B.C.
(Canada) First Nations (Salish, Squamish, Sechelt, Nisga'a, etc.) We'd
also like to know, if possible, what First Nations area covers the
University of British Columbia region, but the blessing is the most
important to this question.

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Clarification of Question by jhabley-ga on 02 Feb 2003 13:24 PST

Thanks Missy -- it is indeed beautiful!  It's not a blessing and not
B.C., though, so I appreciate you posting it only as a comment -- but
it is a wonderful poem. Thanks for popping that on!  :)

Still looking for an actual blessing for a marriage...

Hi jhabley:

I was able to find only one wedding/marriage blessing from a First
Nations tribes of British Columbia.

Salish Marriage Blessing
************************
Now for you there is no rain, for one is shelter to the other.
Now for you the sun shall not burn, for one is shelter to the other.
Now for you nothing is hard or bad, for the hardness and badness is
taken by one for the other.
Now for you there is no night, for one is light to the other,
Now for you the snow has ended always, for one is protection for the
other.
It is that way, from now on, from now on. And now there is comfort.
Now there is no loneliness. Now forever, forever, there is no
loneliness.
 
Source: http://www.njsweddingshop.com/wedding_blessing_&_prayers.htm

As for which Frist Nations area covers UBC, the entire area of
Vancouver is encompassed by the "Coastal Salish". This is a "group
name" encompassing several Peoples. According to the following map:

The Central Northwest language area
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~dbeck/CNW_family_map.html

it appears that the particular First Nation you are looking for is the
Halkomelem.


I hope this helps! 

websearcher-ga


Search Strategy:

I found the following map of B.C. First Nations: 

http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/abed/images/map2.jpg

and then entered each name in the legend into the following search
string on Google:

"wedding blessing" OR "marriage blessing" [name]

Great answer and VERY QUICK!  :)  Researcher also provided information
on the extra info we were looking for. Very happy with the results. :)

Hi there!

I assume you're looking for a traditional First Nations blessing?

I've not been able to find one, but I did find a lovely wedding
blessing penned by a writer named Claywoman, a member of the
Confederated Salish and Kootanai Tribes of the Flathead Nation.  I'm
posting it as a comment for you, because it's just too pretty to leave
un-noticed.

Your Wedding Prayer
http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewpoetry.asp?AuthorID=2616&id=19725

Enjoy!

--Missy