A recent tragedy in Nitinaht has highlighted the inadequacy of signage to the village, as many travelling to be with loved ones became lost in the complicated web of logging roads to the remote community on southwest Vancouver Island.
After a harrowing weekend emergency that saw dozens of first responders, law enforcement and support workers pour into the Ditidaht community at Nitinaht Lake, Chief Councillor Judi Thomas is calling on the government of Canada to fulfill their commitment to bring reliable, high-speed internet and cellular service to the remote community.
BC Hydro saw “a strong response” for its call to diversify the province’s sources of power generation, but it appears that for the time being Vancouver Island will remain heavily reliant on mainland sources for electricity.
Closing on Sept. 16, the competitive call for power was the first issued by the provincial utility in over 15 years. For the first time BC Hydro introduced the stipulation that the proposed projects have “a meaningful First Nations partnership component” through at least 25 per cent Indigenous ownership.
Future development and raw water supply needs were the focus of Tofino’s Aug. 26 Committee of the Whole (CoW) meeting, but Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation (TFN) has asked mayor and council for an exemption from any planning or policies pertaining to the future growth of Canada’s Surf Capital.
Three levels of government have provided sufficient funding for a submarine watermain project that will take place next year to supply potable water to the community of West Bamfield.
The Barkley Sound community is adjacent to Huu-ay-aht First Nations.
The $1.2 million project is expected to commence next spring and expected to be completed by next June.
The federal government is providing $470,095 towards the project, the Province of British Columbia government is chipping in with $391,707 and the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District (ARCD) will contribute $313,436.
West Coasters won’t be surfing in their own poop anymore after the District of Tofino officially opened its new $77.5M wastewater treatment plant on Aug. 22.
The environmental impact of historically dumping raw sewage into the beautiful waters of Clayoquot Sound wreaked havoc on shellfish harvesting areas, according to a Nuu-chah-nulth cultural lifeways guardian.
“The north waterfront of downtown Tofino was a clam garden until recent decades,” said Gisèle Martin.
The Maggie Lake Forest Service Road (Toquaht Bay Road), located about 10-kilometres northwest of Ucluelet, and the Canal Main Forest Service Road (FSR), which runs for about 38-kilometres parallel to the Alberni Inlet south of Port Alberni, are getting upgrades.
Work includes widening and realigning the roads in multiple places, building new bridges to replace narrow ones and improving road surfacing, reads an Aug. 6 news release from the BC Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation (MIRR).
Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation (TFN) opened two recycling transfer stations at the beginning of August.
One is located at the Ty-histanis maintenance yard and the second is in Opitsaht where the heritage dump used to be.
The depots feature three large green bins for storing oversized items like mattresses and construction debris as well as electronics, small appliances, automotive items and household hazardous waste. Opitsaht’s site also has a Jora Composter for community organic waste.
The passenger boat sliced dense coastal fog on the early morning ride to Hot Springs Cove, but by time family, friends and guests stepped foot on the village dock, the sun was breaking.
Wearing two shades of pink, grey pants and a ponytail, Hesquiaht First Nation’s (HFN) elected Chief Councillor Mariah Charleson (łučinƛcuta), 36, greeted her visitors warmly at the entrance of the school as a mound of freshly knifed sockeye sat ready for the grill.
On July 26, Rachel Blaney, NDP MP for North Island-Powell River, joined Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank on their monthly journey to deliver to Kyuquot, Gold River, and Tahsis, pointing to the need for essential food items in remote communities.
For Ka:'yu:'k't'h' / Che:k'tles7et'h' First Nations, their home territories are only accessed by air or water.