Children, youth and adults gathered at Ty Histanis to celebrate Easter together. Allison Howard, social development worker, organized the event.
Allison contracted Bounce Arama from Campbell River and the crew set up and operated the slides and bouncey castles. There was bungy jumping and a basketball toss too.
The children lined up for some of the rides, and in all they all had a lot of fun.
“This is just like the fall fair,” said one child.
On a cold rainy day Feb. 28, about 100 people came out to join in the suicide prevention walk at Bob Dailey Stadium in Port Alberni.
Emcee Cliff Atleo opened the event with a prayer. Laura Moras, mother of late Daniel, who the walkers were commemorating, and his siblings were in attendance. Cassandra Martin of Tla-o-qui-aht, the organizer of the event, said the day would have been her late brother’s 19th birthday.” She said she was not aware that her brother had been depressed and the walk was meant to make people aware that there is help available to cope with depression.
On Feb 21, Gisele and Tsimka Martin presented Hugh Braker with a chuputz to thank him for helping their dad Joe Martin with a human rights complaint back in the year 2000. Joe had been fired from his job for attending the Makah Whale Feast in June 1999.
The complaint was eventually dropped, but Joe’s daughters wanted to show their appreciation for what Braker, a lawyer by trade, did to help their dad at the time.
Joe Martin started the presentation with a chant to support his daughters.
Lisa and Craig Devine are volunteers at the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation Community Garden, which was started in August 2015. Funding for the garden comes from the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
With the help of Matthew and Eric Seitcher and Joe Martin, the Devine’s built the garden’s 24- by 60-foot fence made out of old telephone poles and wiring.
Both Lisa and Craig are learning about gardening as they go along and would like other community members to join them.
Kaaceema, a foodbank located at Esowista for Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation members, began operations in April 2015.
Volunteers Marie Atleo and Deb David recognized the need to establish a food bank in the community, because members were having difficulty finding rides to the Ucluelet Food Bank.
The Ucluelet Food Bank is open every Tuesday. Eligibility requires clients to produce a piece of ID and a list of family members who live in their home. They can only access the food bank once a month unless an emergency arises.