Picture this: You’re exploring Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites with your child when they spot an intriguing looking bird standing in the water.
“What’s that bird called?” they ask. You tell them it’s a heron, but what if you could also share its name in French or lək̓ʷəŋən (lekwun-gen), the Indigenous language of the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations?
Canada is a country rich in languages and cultures. Alongside the two official languages—English and French—many families speak additional languages, and Indigenous communities work tirelessly to pass along their unique languages to new generations. This diverse linguistic landscape offers children endless opportunities to grow and connect. Learning multiple languages from a young age strengthens cognitive skills while fostering curiosity, empathy and creativity. It helps kids appreciate perspectives, embrace new cultures and feel a deeper sense of belonging in the world around them.
Fort Rodd Hill’s Historic Nature Trail
At Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites, nature and history come together, offering the perfect outdoor playground for curious minds. Interactive displays are written in both English and French, and at times words are in lək̓ʷəŋən to highlight local plants, history and the shared knowledge of lək̓ʷəŋən-speaking peoples, today known as the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations. These interpretive panels can be found along the Historic Nature Trail, which provides an immersive journey through both natural beauty and historical significance.
Follow this former sentry path shaded by Garry oak, Arbutus and other coastal trees. Breathe in the fresh scent of moss and ferns as you wander through the Garry oak forest ecosystem. The trail begins just past the Garry Oak Learning Meadow, winding from the Second World War Officers’ Quarters to the Belmont Battery. Keep an eye out for the fascinating “elbow trees”—topped long ago to improve visibility from the Upper Battery to the Juan de Fuca Strait, their branches have grown into unique, angular shapes.
As you wander through the grounds or take a walk at your local park, look for signs of spring. In the Garry Oak Learning Meadow, look for blooming camas lilies, the delicate white fawn lilies of early March, and later, splashes of sea blush, buttercups, purple camas and chocolate lilies. Garry oak ecosystems, which include woodland, meadow, rocky outcrop and coastal ecological communities, are one of the rarest in Canada. They were once cultivated by the lək̓ʷəŋən People, who harvested camas bulbs for food. This unique landscape tells a story of ecological and cultural significance. Did you know that the English word Camas is Quamassie in French and qʷəɫāʔal in lək̓ʷəŋən?
Want to make language learning even more fun? Try our matching game or set off on an outdoor scavenger hunt to bring new words to life!
How about challenging your family to match the names of local plants and animals in English, French and lək̓ʷəŋən, bringing the richness of these languages to life? Ready to play? Here are a few words to get you started. You can search for them online or visit Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites, where they appear on interpretive panels. It’s a two-in-one game: a matching challenge and a treasure hunt! The language-learning fun is endless.
Make Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites your go-to spot to learn and practice new language skills.
