It has been nearly ten months since the province declared a state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and seniors in care facilities remain in lockdown. Some fear that the impacts of long-term social isolation will negatively impact the mental health and well-being of those in long-term care homes.
One of his earliest memories is paddling around Hesquiaht territory with his grandmother, Katherine Lucas, collecting medicinal plants.
“She was my mom’s mother and when I was about seven or eight years old, I remember she would row us to places to pick medicine,” said Qaamina Hunter of Ahousaht.
He recalls seeing his grandmother standing by a river. She called her grandson to stand by her side while she did a prayer chant.
“Then we would go pick medicine,” said Hunter.
Indigenous leaders have reacted with surprise and dismay while cautiously lending support to a draft framework for entrenching Indigenous rights in Canadian law.
Federal Justice Minister David Lametti tabled Bill C-15 in the House of Commons Dec. 3, calling it “a significant step forward on the shared path to reconciliation for Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples alike.”
“Once passed, this will bring us another step closer to a brighter future for Canada, one where all our children and grandchildren can prosper and thrive,” Lametti said.
Amid a season of escalating COVID-19 cases across the country, a positive announcement from Ottawa surprised the country Monday morning. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that vaccines for the respiratory disease could be in Canada as early as next week, due to an agreement secured with the American drug company Pfizer.
As B.C.’s top doctor urges British Columbians to avoid all non-essential travel, many hotels and resorts in Tofino have closed their doors to leisure visitors.
Hotel Zed is among them. But as the newly established hotel continues construction, it has remained open to accommodate the tradesmen building its restaurant. Sitting otherwise empty, general manager and Tofino councillor Britt Chalmers said that they wanted “to do something to help out the community.”
It has been a week since Ahousaht went on lockdown while COVID-19 numbers escalated in British Columbia. In his daily leadership update, elected Chief Greg Louie announced on Dec. 2 that he was informed by health authorities that there are eight positive COVID-19 cases in Ahousaht living in four households. In addition, there are a total 15 people living in those four households that are considered close contacts to the positive cases.
Master carver Joe martin normally keeps an open-door policy.
It’s been customary for people from different territories and nationalities to drop by Martin’s workshop in Tofino and soak in his teachings. Theatrically waving his hands through the air, Martin would tell stories of how his ancestors used to pierce a whale under its left front flipper by launching a harpoon from a canoe with the strength of one arm.
Property owners of Port Alberni’s Wintergreen Apartments on Fourth Avenue are being held accountable for unsafe living conditions and are ordered to comply with city requirements to clean up and make improvements to the building.
Those who monitor the mental health of Nuu-chah-nulth-aht are urging people to find a healthy balance amid tightening COVID-19 restrictions that can lead to wintertime isolation.
Feed the People returns this December, but instead of a meal shared by hundreds, COVID-19 restrictions have forced organizers to individually deliver food to those who need it most in Port Alberni.