With nearly all of Vancouver Island under a heightened risk of forest fires, those on both sides of a logging conflict in the south are continuing operations, with pledges to take extra precautions.
To improve emergency care for remote First Nations communities, the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council (NTC) partnered with the University of British Columbia’s department of emergency medicine to create Kwiis-hen-niip, meaning “change” in Nuu-chah-nulth.
In collaboration with BC Emergency Health Services, the First Nations Health Authority, Island Health, among others, four Nuu-chah-nulth nations are involved in the project.
Most families from Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation had four totem poles displayed in front of their homes before European settlers arrived on the west coast in the late-1700s.
When a woman married into a tribe, a totem pole was raised to depict her family’s history. It would stand next to three poles. One for her husband’s history, another for his parent’s history and the fourth for his grandparent’s history, according to teachings given to Joe Martin, master carver and Tla-o-qui-aht elder.
Help is on the way.
Though news of a newly created federal Tourism Relief Fund is welcome, a couple of Nuu-chah-nulth leaders are wondering if enough is being done.
At a news conference this past week, Melanie Joly, the minister of Economic Development, announced the Canadian government has established a $500 million Tourism Relief Fund.
Funds will be distributed during the next two years.
The Tseshaht First Nation have implemented a new beach keeper fee for companies who operate within the Broken Group Islands—the birthplace and territory of the Tseshaht First Nation.
The new $10 a day, per use fee will be charged by the companies who participate and that revenue will be given to Tseshaht, who will put all the funds directly back into their Beach Keeper Program.
Singing and drumming rang throughout the streets of Esowista and Ty-Histanis on Friday, as Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation (TFN) council representatives, community members and RCMP joined together for a march near Tofino.
“We’re taking back our community from all the abusers and drug dealers,” said Barb Audet.
The topic of drugs and alcohol was a recurring theme during a leadership retreat for chief and council, said Anna Masso, TFN language coordinator.
One year after his body was found in a Duncan shelter, those who were close to James Williams fear that authorities have given up on finding the true cause of his death.
A year ago today Williams, a 52-year-old father of five and member of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation, was found lifeless on the floor of the room where he was staying at the Warmland Shelter. The staff member who found him described Williams’ neck being still warm, but his hands were cold.
British Columbia is the first Canadian province to introduce a new policy that will expand access to a safer drug supply.
The Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions said that once the Prescribed Safer Supply initiative is fully implemented, people who use or are at risk of dying from drugs will have access to alternatives covered by Pharmacare. These will include a range of opioids and stimulants that will be determined by programs and prescribers.
Vic Amos, a west coast Vancouver Island commercial troller since the 1970s, hasn’t been fishing yet this season.
“No, we’re not fishing yet, but we’re hoping,” Amos said when Ha-Shilth-Sa called him for comment on a plan to close 60 per cent of commercial salmon fisheries and scale down B.C.’s commercial fishing fleet, already a shadow of its former self.
As one of only three remaining Nuu-chah-nulth commercial fishermen on the west coast of the Island, Amos is not so optimistic about long-term prospects for small-boat, family-run commercial fishing.
Emil Anderson Construction, the contractor for the Kennedy Hill road improvement project on Highway 4 has announced that the area is closed in both directions at Kennedy Hill due to a large volume of rock fallout.
The announcement was made at approximately 2:20 p.m. on July 14.
The latest update says the road, which links Port Alberni to the western communities, may re-open at 6:00 p.m., with medium confidence. Assessment is ongoing.