Life histories are a form of contemporary social history and convey important messages about identity, cosmology, social behaviour, and one's place in the world. This first-person oral history documents a period of profound social change through the lens of Sti'tum'atul'wut—also known as Mrs. Ruby Peter—a Cowichan elder who made it her life's work to share and safeguard the ancient language of her people: Hul'q'umi'num.' Over seven decades, Sti'tum'atul'wut helped thousands of people to de...