Over the coming months the Senate is tasked with finalizing legislation that pledges to hold the federal government accountable in improving Canada’s relationship with its Indigenous peoples.
But the day after Bill C-29 was unanimously passed by the House of Commons, the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami withdrew support for the legislation, while another national organization advocating for off-reserve Indigenous people stands against the act.
Canadian wilderness organizations are commending the B.C. government for committing to protecting 30 per cent of lands in the province by 2030, including through the creation of new Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs).
The government’s commitment would double what is currently protected in legislated areas in B.C.
British Columbia is the second province in the country to make this commitment.
There will be no bus service between Port Alberni and the west coast communities of Tofino and Ucluelet from January to May 2023.
A statement on the Vancouver Island Connector website reads:
“To our Valued Customers, after much consideration, we regret to inform you that the Tofino Bus and Vancouver Island Connector, will be pausing services on Tuesday, January 3rd, 2023, and will not resume services again until May 2023 as we look to move towards a more seasonal service.”
With the aim of thinning out the commercial fishing fleet to lessen its strain on threatened salmon stocks, the DFO has announced another round of licence buy backs, including an upcoming program that encourages First Nations’ communal operations to transition to other species of fish.
For Alberni District Secondary School, Totem is an annual basketball tournament that rallies ADSS and the broader community together with school spirit.
In the running for Totem Spirit, a competition that reflects school spirit, is Sophia Bill of Tseshaht First Nation. Bill is a Grade 12 student at ADSS and a member of the dance team.
A review of the province’s handling of the pandemic has painted a positive picture, but the recent report also notes that relations with First Nations could have been better as the government dealt with COVID-19.
The Alberni District Secondary School senior boys’ basketball team is jumping into Totem 67 revived after two years of cancellations and postponing of the tournament due to the pandemic.
The team is bringing a new spark with them to this season and Totem 67.
“I think the biggest thing is just the return to the full experience,” said coach Craig Brooks, the senior boys’ basketball coach of approximately six years. “We have some players returning this year that didn't get a chance to experience the band and a full packed house, and all the energy that comes with that,”
As Alberni District Secondary School gears up for their 67th annual Totem Tournament, set to begin Jan. 5, the senior girl’s basketball team are preparing to make this season the most memorable of their career.
Natalie Clappis of Huu-ay-aht First Nations is a Grade 12 student at ADSS and captain of the senior girl’s basketball team. As Totem approaches, this will be Clappis’ final year playing in the tournament.
This year the ADSS senior girl’s team are going into Totem carrying the winning title from last year.
First Nations leaders and the provincial government have been working to eradicate racism directed at Indigenous people in public health care settings, after a report documenting disturbing incidents caught the attention of lawmakers in late 2020.
“In November 2020, the In Plain Sight (IPS) report was published which contained overwhelming evidence of Indigenous-specific systemic racism in the B.C. health system,” stated Health Minister Adrian Dix stated in a follow-up report last month.
The families of two Nuu-chah-nulth men have been gathering at the Port Alberni courthouse as the preliminary inquiry gets underway following the March 2021 murder of 20-year-old Clifton Johnston, an Ahousaht member.
The accused is a Nuu-chah-nulth youth who was 16 years old when arrested in January 2022. He cannot be identified due the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Members of his family were in the courtroom to hear testimony on Dec. 13.