When Dr. Luke Williston first heard about the Tla-o-qui-aht men’s group, his ears perked up. 

As one of Tofino's primary care and emergency room physicians, Williston often treats patients who struggle with alcoholism and substance abuse. 

When he started seeing the same three men returning to the hospital nearly every month, Williston was at a loss. He arranged for counselling and prescribed medication, but none of his methods seemed to help.

Vancouver Island’s West Coast Trail is re-opening to overnight visitors in June 2021. 

The 75-kilometre trail runs between Port Renfrew and Bamfield, passing through the territories of Huu-ay-aht, Pacheedhat and Ditidaht First Nations.

In consultation with Parks Canada, “the three First Nations came to a decision to open it with safety precautions in place,” said Ditidaht First Nation elected chief Brian Tate. 

As the darkness of night set in, Hayden Seitcher resorted to his headlight to guide the way up 5040 Peak. It was only the beginning of October but the mountain was already covered in snow. Pushing through, the Tla-o-qui-aht man mounted higher until he noticed faint lights glimmering in the distance. 

He immediately recognized them as the 5040 hut. 

Alongside youth warriors, Evan Touchie, Ethan Tom, Daniel Williams and Tyson Touchie, Seitcher made the journey for the naming ceremony of the hut. 

Stevie Dennis and Jordan White live in their respective boats that are moored across from each other on Strawberry Island, in the Tofino inlet. For the business partners and friends, the ocean is their very lifeline. 

Recently, they further cemented their ties to the sea by launching their new business, Keltsmaht Kelp. Their aim is to integrate the natural benefits of kelp into the every day, while conducting ecologically-minded business.

As they work towards establishing a kelp farm in Ritchie Bay, the duo recently released its first product, kelp probiotic.

Some people might have simply glanced over the recent news that the provincial government will be providing funding for some remote communities in British Columbia to improve their Internet capabilities.

But for Julie Colborne, the mayor of the village of Zeballos, located within the traditional territories of the Ehattesaht First Nation, the news is rather significant.

“Economically it’s a game changer,” Colborne said. “It puts us on an equitable and more equal playing field with everyone else.”

A Nuu-chah-nulth First Nation will soon no longer have to rely on diesel at one of its main facilities.

That’s because it was announced in late March that Hesquiaht First Nation will receive some substantial provincial funding which will allow it to proceed with a solar panel installation project at its community school located in Hot Springs Cove.

Through its Renewable Energy for Remote Communities (RERC) program, the province will provide $419,000 to construct a 136-kilowatt solar panel installation at the Hesquiaht Place of Learning.

Ten years ago, history was made when the Maa-nulth Treaty was signed on April 1, 2011.

The government-to-government agreement between Canada, British Columbia and five Nuu-chah-nulth nations was among the first Final Agreements reached under B.C.’s treaty process.

It established Huu-ay-aht, Uchucklesaht, Ucluelet, Toquaht and Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k’tl7et’h’ First Nations as self-governing nations. 

The Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council (NTC) education program is going paperless this year for their elementary and secondary scholarships.

Nuu-chah-nulth students in Kindergarten to Grade 12 from Ahousaht, Ditidaht, Ehattesaht, Hesquiaht, Hupacasath, Huu-ay-aht, Kyuquot, Mowachaht/Muchalaht, Nuchatlaht, Tla-o-qui-aht  and Tseshaht have until May 14, 2021 to submit their applications.

The four scholarship categories are academic, artistic, athletic and cultural.

When Ken Watts’ father, George Watts, passed away while he was in his third year of university, the elected chief of the Tseshaht First Nation made the decision to lead a healthier lifestyle and begin his wellness journey.

George Watts, a prominent Nuu-chah-nulth leader, suffered a massive heart attack at age 59 while he was helping his son move apartments.

Watts went on to finish university and became the Vice President of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council (NTC) from 2012 to 2017.

On the evening of March 31, close family members in Tofino gathered on the First Street dock to celebrate what would have been Chantel Moore’s 27th birthday.

It was a way to “keep her memory alive,” said Grace Frank, Moore’s grandmother.

Moore, of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation, was fatally shot in her New Brunswick apartment during a wellness check by an Edmundston police officer on June 4, 2020.