As the Tseshaht work to determine the future of a former residential school site, the First Nation’s representatives and other Nuu-chah-nulth leaders received a visit from Canada’s Indigenous Services minister on Wednesday.

Marc Miller was welcomed by Tseshaht hereditary chiefs, followed by meeting with the First Nation’s elected leaders. Foremost in this talk was Tseshaht’s plans for the site of the Alberni Indian Residential School, where two of the institution’s buildings still remain: Maht Mahs gym and what was formerly known as Caldwell Hall.

As ocean temperatures rise during the summer months, the BC Centre of Disease Control (BCCDC) is cautioning the public about the higher concentrations of Vibrio bacteria found in warm ocean waters.

Ten cases of Vibrio illness were recorded between July 12 and 21. At least six of the reported cases are from self-harvesting seafood, or environmental exposure to the water, said Lorraine McIntyre, BCCDC food safety specialist.

Vibrio is a naturally occurring marine organism that multiplies and grows when water temperatures get above 15 degrees Celsius, she said.

A new report is highlighting the importance of restoring a focus on matriarchal roles for the health and strength of First Nations communities.

Published by the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) and British Columbia’s Office of the Provincial Health Officer, Sacred and Strong: Upholding our Matriarchal Roles examines the health and wellness journeys of First Nations women and girls in British Columbia.

Roy Jack has become an inspiration for many in recent years.

But in an effort to drum up some support for the fifth year he’ll be participating in a cycling fundraiser.

Jack, 46, will take part in the Great Cycle Challenge once again. The event sees cyclists set a goal of how far they wish to travel in a month.

Canadian cyclists involved in the challenge will be pedaling during the month of August. And they’ll be raising funds for childhood cancer research.

The Beaufort Hotel in Port Alberni’s Uptown could soon see renovations and upgrades that would convert the former convention centre into supportive and low-barrier housing.  

The Bread of Life and the Lookout Housing and Health Society from Vancouver have entered into a purchase agreement to buy the hotel.  

Two weeks into her term as national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, RoseAnne Archibald has shown an active interest in Nuu-chah-nulth communities with three days of visits July 22-24.

Archibald was elected to head the national advocacy organization in July 8, becoming the first woman to hold the high-profile role. A member of the Taykwa Tagamou Nation from Ontario, Archibald first heard from Nuu-chah-nulth leaders as she sought the AFN position.

After hitting a sandbar upon takeoff, an Atleo River Air Service float plane tipped in the Tofino harbour around 11:45 a.m. on Monday morning.

All four passengers and the pilot aboard the plane survived with minor injuries and are being treated at the Tofino General Hospital, according to Tofino RCMP Sgt. Colin Douglas.

Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council (NTC) President Judith Sayers was one of the passengers onboard the aircraft, which was on route to Hot Springs Cove. 

Ancestral remains were discovered during a beach cleanup led by Rugged Coast and Ka:'yu:'k't'h'/Che:k'tles7et'h' First Nation, in Kyuquot.

A newly identified burial site was reported to the Port McNeill RCMP and BC Coroners Service on July 21, after a Kyuquot First Nations member found a skull and other remains around 30 metres inland from the high tide line, according to the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development.

In the aftermath of an eight-day inquest into the death of Jocelyn George, a jury is calling for a systemic overhaul in how Indigenous youth are handled within the justice system, with recommendations for facilities that may have prevented the 18-year-old’s fate five years ago.

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.