This summer the Ditidaht are making another step in self determination, as the First Nation takes authority over the education path that will guide its community school.

A group of five Nuu-chah-nulth-aht have earned the first ever Bachelor of Education degree specializing in Indigenous Language Revitalization, offered by the University of Victoria. The community-based Bachelor of Education in Indigenous Language Revitalization (BEDILR) seeks to support communities to retain their language, through educational programming.

In their annual report, Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks states that voluntary participation in their Tribal Parks Allies programs is steadily increasing and they hope to reach their $1 million contribution goal before March 2024.

Launched in 2018, the Tribal Parks Allies Program is a voluntary certification system set up to charge a fee to businesses that operate within or benefit from Tla-o-qui-aht territory.

On June 15, Mercediese Dawson of Ditidaht walked the stage, marking the completion of her four years in the Canadian common law and Indigenous legal orders joint degree program at the University of Victoria. The joint degree is the world’s first degree program to combine Canadian common law and Indigenous law.

Her 10-year journey through academia was, as her mother Karen Mack said, a struggle through to triumph. Dawson is in the second class to complete the joint degree program at UVic.

As the school year comes to a close, John Howitt Elementary unveiled its new logo, with a design created by a local Nuu-chah-nulth artist.

The logo was presented at the Port Alberni school on June 27, a brightly coloured design appearing as a mural before students and staff. The logo was created by Geena Haiyupis, who formerly worked as a Nuu-chah-nulth education worker at the school.

During the unveiling Principal Steve Brown explained that it was in early 2022 that the school decided a new design was needed.

For many of us, June 16 was just another Friday. But for Port Alberni’s Phoenix Gates, it was the first step of a brand new career that many dream of.

Gates, who grew up in Port Alberni and is a member of the Ditidaht First Nation, released his debut album across all major music streaming platforms. Titled “INFINITE,” its release has been a goal many years in the making.

“I started playing guitar when I was about 13. Sports didn't interest me. Nothing else really interested me, music always got a hold of me. So that was my, my number one hobby,” explained Gates.

As Ucluelet Secondary School held its grand opening on National Indigenous Peoples Day, the doors and windows at the front entrance of the school were dressed in a vinyl installation of Nuu-chah-nulth art. The work was created by Yaaʔałʔat Jackelyn Williams of Tseshaht and Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ, in collaboration with and ƛiiłumqa Rose Wilson of Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ.

In September of 2022, Marika Swan of Tla-o-qui-aht, began working with the Ucluelet Secondary School to install Nuu-chah-nulth art throughout the building, which has undergone extensive seismic renovations in recent years.

It’s been 21 years since Lisa Marie Young went missing, precisely the age she was when she was last seen in the early morning of June 30, 2002 in Nanaimo.

Since 2003, Lisa Marie Young’s family, friends, and community members have gathered for an annual walk to honour her memory as they search for answers. On the morning of Sunday, June 25, they gathered, once again, meeting outside of the Nanaimo RCMP detachment.

National Indigenous Peoples Day also marked the grand opening for Ahous Adventures, an eco-cultural tour company that offers whale watching, bear watching, and the hot springs tour through the lens of Ahousaht nation.

On June 21 the day started early in Tofino, before guests arrived, with the blessing of the boats, shared Tyee Ḥaẁilth Maquinna Lewis George. After, at the Ahous Adventures office, a ceremony was held where staff were brushed and when it was time to cleanse the floor, guests were asked to move outside.

After three years of construction, Western Canada Marine Response’s (WCMRC) new spill response base in Port Alberni is now fully operational.

The Port Alberni response base is now the primary spill response centre for spills on the west side of Vancouver Island, home to a warehouse, office and nine response vessels docked at new purpose-built moorage at the Water Street Dock on Harbour Road. The base has created 20 new full-time jobs in the area.