General

“Reconciliation is akin to paddling a canoe. Unless everyone is working together, you are not going anywhere,” said Wilfred Cootes, representing the Uchucklesaht Tribe.

Cootes, along with representatives of the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District, City of Port Alberni, and districts of Tofino and Ucluelet, sat down June 20th with representatives from the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, as well as Tseshaht, Toquaht and Hupacasath first nations, to talk about reconciliation.

The Victoria Aboriginal Cultural Festival was held June 17 thru June 19, and includedspectacular performances on an outdoor stage in the plaza at the Royal BC Museum. Each day started with performances from the two local host nations, the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations, and followed with shows from Aboriginal performers from across the province .

On the scene for Ha-Shilth-Sa was photographer Melody Charlie to capture some of the Nuu-chah-nulth participation.

June 16 marked a preschool graduation celebration for 14 Tla-o-qui-aht children ages four and five.

Carol Frank, education coordinator, organized the event which was held at the Tin Wis Conference Centre.

Throughout the school year the children are taught the Tla-o-qui-aht language and to start the graduation off the teachers and the students said a prayer in the Tla-o-qui-aht dialect.

This year’s celebration included a potluck style lunch. The graduates entered the hall though the kitchen, dressed in their blue robes and hats.

A Coming of Age party was held in Ahousaht on June 18 for two girls and two boys. Jolie Franks, daughter of Iris Frank and Patrick Dick, Keyondra Frank, daughter of Sharon and Walter August, Jamal Campbell, son of Ivy Campbell, and Brandon Mark, son of Ramona Mark and John Mark were celebrated in a traditional way.

Photos were taken and supplied by Sheldon Touchie.

Ahousaht member Georgina Sutherland, and by extension, Nuu-chah-nulth culture, took centre stage at the John Howitt Elementary School's year-end assembly on June 23.

Three Howitt students, Payton Lucas of Hesquiaht First Nation, Hayleigh Watts (Tseshaht) and Jaden Warner (Huu-ay-aht), welcomed guests to Nuu-chah-nulth territory.

Emcee Dani McLean introduced Sutherland and her role as Nuu-chah-nulth Education Worker.

Staff and students at Haahuupayak School held a ribbon-cutting ceremony  June 22 to honour five residential school survivors who made a significant contribution to the school.

When the Indian Residential School Survivors Settlement was finally paid out, Joe Charleson Sr., Phillip Lucas, George Clutesi Jr., Anita Schievink and Millie Watts each donated their personal education credits (for a total of $14,500) to Haahuupayak.

Charleson, Lucas and Watts were able to attend the event to introduce two commemorative benches now installed in the school playground.

The Uchucklesaht Tribe Government celebrated National Aboriginal Day by hosting a Wellness Fair at Alberni Athletic Hall on June 21.

Acting as emcee, Uchucklesaht Ha’wiih Thomas Rush welcomed attendees to the event, which he acknowledged was taking place in the traditional territories of Tseshaht and Hupacasath First Nations.

The opening prayer was delivered by Joe Tom of Quu’asa of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council’s Mental Health team, followed by two welcoming songs led by Jason Titian, who acknowledged his roots in both Uchucklesaht and Ahousaht.

To all our Nuu-chah-nulth people,

On June 21st, we take the time to honour all Indigenous people across Canada. We celebrate and share our culture, our songs, our dances with not only each other but with our non- Aboriginal friends, neighbors and communities with great pride. We do this together to celebrate our successes, contributions and struggles.

 It is important to remember that not only on this day, but every day, we must stand together in support of one another against all barriers and especially in celebration of each other’s achievements.

Updated: June 22, 2016 2:50 p.m.

The Ahousaht Search and Rescue Team invited the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) to the community June 20 to demonstrate some maneuvers for saving people in distress in a marine environment.  

And the RCAF brought with them a Cormorant helicopter and a Buffalo airplane from Comox.

The demonstration started at 10 a.m. at the front beach with the Cormorant lowering two SAR techs safely.

Harvesting cedar for basket weaving requires knowledge, skill, physical wellness, and to know when and where to pick, and not to over harvest in one area.

It is not good to venture out on your own and it's not good to strip a cedar tree of all its bark. Stripping the tree completely of its bark  will kill the tree.