The Grassroots Homelessness Coalition (GHC) will once again be providing temporary warming places for Port Alberni’s unsheltered population during the colder months. 

As part of Port Alberni city council’s commitment to reconciliation and infrastructure renewal, the city has begun the process of repurposing the 40-year-old clock tower at the Harbour Quay.

The clock tower will be redesigned to highlight Tseshaht First Nation culture. The two large clocks will be removed at the top of the tower and replaced with two larger pieces of Tseshaht art depicting the wolf. The redevelopment will highlight the narrative of the former site of Tlukwatkwuu7is, the Tseshaht Winter Village, where Tlookwaana (wolf ritual) was held.

Hupacasath First Nation artist Klehwetua Rodney Sayers was granted one of three Jurors’ Choice Awards during the Salt Spring National Art Prize’s (SSNAP) ceremony on Oct. 23.

The $3,000 prize was selected by Art Gallery of Nova Scotia senior curator David Diviney and recognized Sayers’ piece, “Hot Rod Pink.”

As one of Canada’s largest visual arts competitions, SSNAP received over 2,750 submissions from across the country that were narrowed down to 52 finalists.

Sayers was among them for the second time in the four years it’s been running.

Booster shots will soon be coming to remote Nuu-chah-nulth communities, as health authorities prioritize First Nations that got their first two vaccinations for COVID-19 early this year.

“We will be focusing on communities that have had significant outbreaks,” noted Dr. Shannon McDonald, the First Nation Health Authority’s acting chief medical officer.

Organizers are preparing for what could potentially be the largest All Native Basketball Tournament ever.

The event, which features Indigenous intermediate men’s (21 and under), women’s, men’s and masters (35 and over) squads from across British Columbia, was not held this year because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

But officials of the annual tournament, which is always staged in Prince Rupert, announced earlier in October that they have started to accept registrations for the 2022 event.

The tourney has been staged annually since 1960.

After 109 shipping containers were knocked off a cargo ship near Vancouver Island on Friday, Oct. 22, communities on the west coast are left with many unanswered questions.

The number of containers has grown from the original estimation of 40. The containers went overboard when the vessel, known as MV Zim Kingston, encountered rough seas.

A single-vehicle accident has claimed the life a Huu-ay-aht man just one week after physical work on road improvements began.

The BC RCMP issued a statement saying that there were four occupants in the single-vehicle accident.

“On October 24th, 2021, just before 1:30 a.m., the Port Alberni RCMP were advised of a single-vehicle collision on Central South Main Forest Service Road near Frederick Lake near the Centre Main Connector,” stated the RCMP press release.

Another traveler saw the accident, gave assistance and called for emergency services.

Dozens of Nuu-chah-nulth people are receiving preventative foot care services closer to home, thanks to the efforts of NTC Health Promotion Worker Matilda Atleo.

With the elevated risk of Type 2 diabetes for Indigenous people in general, specialized foot care is especially important to avoid the risk of amputation and also to help keep people mobile. But there are very few professional pedorthists north of Nanaimo, according to Atleo. And with the COVID-19 pandemic, fewer people are willing to travel away from home for foot care.

On Monday, Oct. 25 the Nickel Bros moved a building from the Best Western Plus Tin Wis Resort to the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation’s main administration office, which sits off the Pacific Rim Highway in Tofino.

The relocation makes way for a new outdoor swimming pool the nation is building for the resort and its new development project, the Tsawaak RV Resort and Campground.

It will also provide additional office space for the nation’s economic development corporation.

Judith Sayers and Mariah Charleson have been re-elected as president and vice-president of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, after running uncontested for the roles.

Both were named to serve for another term of four years on Oct. 26 at the NTC’s Annual General Meeting, which was hosted online via Zoom due to the ongoing risk of gathering during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sayers and Charleson were the only candidates to submit their names for the leading roles in the summer, but a vote from NTC society members was still held in order to follow the tribal council’s existing bylaws.