St. Ann's Roman Catholic Church

"Father Pierre Rondeault established a mission to the Cowicahan Indians in 1858. In 1870 he built the old stone "Butter Church" on Comiaken Hill. But in 1890 he was forced to abandon that church and build St Ann's just down the road where the diocese had clear title to the land. The original St Ann's was destroyed by fire in 1902 and the current structure built in 1903. It continues to serve the Cowichans."

"Father Rondeault died in 1900 after 41 years with the Cowichan. He is buried beneath the small chapel at the back of St Ann's."

"The oldest gravestone is marked 1891." (www.waymarking.com)

Many Cowichan First Nations people are buried in this cemetery.

"A recent spike in suicides and suicide attempts on reserve has prompted Cowichan Tribes to declare a state of emergency."

"Cowichan Tribes is calling upon our own government and our various centres and programs to respond to the state of emergency, and we've been doing that since April with the three community forums we've hosted to date," said Maureen Tommy. "Also, we are submitting our state of emergency to the provincial and the federal governments."

"Cowichan's move was applauded by elder Joe Thorne."

"It's about time," he said. "This is Canada-wide, and it's not just Aboriginal people. There is just so much sadness, and confusion, and a lack of economic development for employment, for education, for money to do anything."
(www.cowichannewsleader.com)