In all of Joe Martin’s 68 years of living on the west coast of Vancouver Island, he said he’s only encountered a wolf once. 

Alone in the forest just outside of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation community of Esowista, Martin recalled when a pack of wolves ran past him over 20 years ago.

Their presence stopped him in his tracks, and with wide eyes he turned around to get another look. 

But just as quickly as the wolves ran by, they disappeared into the forest. 

Martin said the experience still plays vividly in his mind. 

Huu-ay-aht First Nations is planning a Bamfield-based fishing derby in support of C̕awak ʔqin Forestry Workers.

C̕awak ʔqin Forestry is a partnership between the Huu-ay-aht-owned Huumiiss Ventures and Western Forest Products to manage Tree Farm Licence 44, a large section of Crown land south of Port Alberni and Great Central Lake. Chief Counsellor Robert Dennis and Huu-ay-aht First Nations want to demonstrate their support with an event that forestry workers and their family can all enjoy.

A Royal Canadian Navy ship landed at Port Alberni today to a welcome from Tseshaht members.

Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship Ottawa came to the Port Alberni dock at approximately 10 a.m. to begin a two-day stay. The ship is open for free guided tours on Saturday from 1-4 p.m., giving the public a chance to see the vessel and its crew before HMCS Ottawa departs on Sunday morning.

A group of Tseshaht members sang for the 442-foot ship as it docked, while the vessel’s crew members tugged at ropes to secure it to the Port Alberni Port Authority’s Berth 3.

As community members from Ahousaht First Nation gathered inside the gymnasium at Maaqtusiis Secondary on Flores Island, deep roars of thunder penetrated the room.

“The ancestors are here in full force,” said Rebecca Atleo, Ahousaht Education Authority director of education. “It's very indicative of the excitement that we have for today.”

Addressing those gathered on August 10, Atleo revealed that the nation received $8.3 million towards the construction of a new bighouse through the federal government’s Cultural Spaces in Indigenous Communities Program. 

This year’s sockeye salmon return in the Somass River came in around double what the pre-season run size estimate was.

While the Somass River pre-season forecast hovered around 400,000, it was re-forecasted to 950,000 as of July 28.

It’s a trend that is being observed coast-wide – from Bristol Bay to the Fraser River, according to Tseshaht First Nation Fisheries Manager Dave Rolston.

“I think all the fisheries benefited from increased numbers,” he said. 

The 30th anniversary of Yuquot Summerfest included a screening of a recently completed film that introduces the ancestral home of the Mowachaht people to a wider audience.