Lone Cone Hostel and Campground was buzzing with activity on Aug. 12 as the Ha’wiih and people of Ahousaht prepared for a visit from British Columbia Premier Christy Clark.
People cooked salmon over fire pits while drummers sang in the blazing summer sun. Children sang, played together and picked apples from a lonely tree, a remnant of Christie Indian Residential School.
In a ceremony held on the beach at Esowista Aug. 10, the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation honoured their newest babies and their parents.
The parents and the little ones were introduced to the community. Then Thlyik Carol Frank wrapped the babies in shawls that she had made.
See our photos here: http://www.hashilthsa.com/gallery/tla-o-qui-aht-baby-honoring-aug-10-2016
Hands up for the Tlu-piich Games! It’s time to volunteer for this annual event, which runs from Aug. 10 to Aug. 14.
Nuu-chah-nulth people have a strong tradition of pitching in to help when called. Many volunteer every year at the Games, but there is always room for more people to keep the events for Nuu-chah-nulth youth running smoothly.
This year, the Tlu-piich Games Volunteer Coordinator is Wally Samuel Jr. He’s a long-time supporter of youth care and development. He’s been a foster parent, a recreation worker, and he has five children, the eldest turning 30 this year.
A refreshing summer drizzle did nothing to dampen the spirits of the Mowachaht/Muchalaht people who gathered at Yuquot (Friendly Cove), the historic homeland of the Mowachaht for the annual summer camp called Yuquot Spirit Summerfest.
A large field by the church was packed with dozens of colorful tents as campfires struggled to stay lit in the wet weather. Children and young parents wandered from tents to the church, visiting one another and taking turns holding babies.
Carla Halvorsen-Lambert is the proud owner of a new boat charter business thanks to her determination and help from the Nuu-chah-nulth Economic Development Corporation (NEDC). Action Packed Charters began operating in the Alberni Inlet and Barclay Sound in early July and has enjoyed a remarkable start-up, keeping Carla and her staff busy all month.
Halvorsen-Lambert has grown up in the Alberni Inlet, often traveling by boat from her Ehthlateese home at the head of Kildonen Inlet nearly 40 km to the nearest city, Port Alberni.
“Welcome home. It’s good to see you… I’m Grandpa,” said Pat Charleson Jr., sitting around a fire at Hesquiaht on Aug. 3.
He was greeting his young relatives who he had never met before. The children, in the care of Usma, the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council’s child and family services department, had come to visit the Hesquiaht homeland that day. It was the first time the children had stepped foot on their ancestral territory and, by and large, the first time they had met members of their extended family.
It’s that time of year again. The Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council Tlu-piich Games are just around the corner. Games staff are working feverishly to prepare and organize the popular summer events held in the Alberni Valley, this year from Aug. 10 to Aug. 14.
Staff at the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council office had the chance to pick up some tasty baked goods on Thursday, and to help raise money for an upcoming Canadian Cancer Society/Cops for Cancer fundraising event.
NTC Health Promotion Worker Matilda Atleo set up the table, which featured a wide variety of pastries, tarts and squares (the cheesecake was staying cool in the fridge nearby).
“The majority of the items were donated by the [NTC] Nurses, and NTC staff also contributed,” Atleo told Ha-Shilth-Sa. “I was up at 5 o’clock this morning baking my blueberry muffins.”
Qaamina Sam said he was fishing today for the first day of the T'aaq-wiihak fishery and had just dropped his lines.
“There you go Stan; lines are all out,” he said.
Then a phone call came to say that Stan, Qaamina’s father, had passed away. So Qaamina traveled to Estevan and the Hesquiaht Provider “ran us all way down to Tofino” to be with the extended grieving family.
Stanley Sam, Ahousaht elder and historian, passed away at Tofino General Hospital on the morning of July 27, daughter Corina Beach confirmed.
Following a major drug seizure and a rash of local overdose deaths, two Nuu-chah-nulth women decided to take action, setting up a street protest outside apartments on Third Avenue.
Co-organizer Gail K. Gus said the goal of the protest was to confront the drug dealers and the drug users who are making the streets so dangerous.
“We’re scared. We want our families back and we’re scared were going to bury more people,” Gus said.
“We’re trying to bring awareness and hoping that the people we know who are drug dealers will find a conscience.”