General

The late Nuu-chah-nulth Ha’wilth Glee-soom-eth Kelly John was recognized for his contribution to Indigenous Studies at North Island College.

On Wednesday, Sept. 14, the college awarded the first Kelly John Memorial Bursary to an aboriginal student enrolled in the Human Services Diploma program.

Following a short ceremony and video presentation honoring a number of community bursary donors, John’s daughter, Janis John Smith, unveiled the new NIC Memory Wall.

The Uchucklesaht Tribe Administration/Thunderbird Apartments complex is nearing completion on the site of the historic Somass Hotel on Argyle Street.

On Monday, as a city work crew set up to complete the main sidewalk, Ha-Shilth-Sa toured the facility with Uchucklesaht Chief Administrative Officer Scott Coulson.

Coulson said the initial plan was to renovate the old hotel, but a close inspection of the century-old building brought about a change of plan.

There’s an old proverb that tells us it takes a village to raise a child. This summer’s Uu-a-thluk Science Camps brought that message home as children ages eight to12, elders, and youth participated in science and knowledge-based learning in Nuu-chah-nulth communities, with several individuals and companies pledging to send one child or more to science camps.                      

Residential school survivors and their families gathered at Papermill Dam in Tseshaht traditional territory to welcome in a new school year and to find healing from memories of school years past.

The Teechuktl (mental health) event began with lunch at noon on Saturday, which allowed participants to attend the Fall Fair Parade, which took place earlier in the morning.

Quu’asa organizer Ruby Ambrose said the timing of the event was important.

Update: On Sept. 13, Ha-Shilth-Sa contacted the Nootka Detachment of the RCMP for an update on the progress being made on the investigation into this incident.

Cst. Walker told us that this has become a priority file with the six members of the detachment, as well as an outside agency, which is actively seeking the vehicle and watching for it on area roads.

The RCMP has been in Tahsis every day since the incident, he said. This is an ongoing investigation.

Original Story

– The 2016 Tic-Kaa ii-Kwink (Northern Region Summer Games) was hosted by Kyuquot/Checlesaht First Nations during a weekend of glorious summer weather that saw families enjoy three days of sports, socializing and culture.

Coordinated by Allison Vincent, the games started on the afternoon of Aug. 26 with a very special welcoming home ceremony for northern region children in foster care. Ten children were paddled home, welcomed by their family and friends at the Kyuquot village of Houpsitas.

Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns is inviting his Nuu-chah-nulth constituents to take part in a series of three Town Hall meetings on Electoral Reform, starting in Port Alberni tonight, Sept. 6.

The meetings are part of a national process to change the way Canadians elect their representatives in Ottawa, Johns told Ha-Shilth-Sa.

“After the (federal) election, the Liberals made a promise that this would be the last unfair, ‘first-past-the-post’ election,” Johns explained.

For Hupacasath First Nation, an interruption in their on-reserve garbage collection has led to the creation of a brand-new residential/commercial waste-hauling business.

HFN Environmental Waste Disposal Services has been providing both services on-reserve since June, with five employees and two trucks, said Hupacasath CEO Rick Hewson.

“And today (Aug. 22), we just got the commercial license for operations off-reserve,” Hewson said. “We are at the ready and we will be soliciting commercial clients and residential clients.”

Ha-Shilth-Sa is Canada's Oldest First Nations Newspaper. It began publishing on Jan. 24, 1974. Ha-Shilth-Sa is published by the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, a non-profit society serving members of the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations located along the west coast of Vancouver Island. Ha-Shilth-Sa is a Nuu-chah-nulth phrase meaning "Interesting News." It can be found online at www.hashilthsa.comHa-Shilth-Sa is published each month in hard copy. It is distributed to Nuu-chah-nulth members on Vancouver Island, in Vancouver, or wherever they may live.

The children of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation gently wrapped blankets around the shoulders of their young cousins who were being welcomed home on Aug. 10.

Tla-o-qui-aht Ha’wiih, elected leaders and community members had greeted the children on the beach at Esowista. The children are living in the care of foster families, most a long way from their homeland.