Stinging Nettle has had a long history as a popular, nutritious and helpful plant. Used by North American First Nations for over 2000 years. Stinging Nettle is found in every region of North America except Hawaii. 

Stinging nettles, burn nettles or ʕiiłmakt is an upright annual herb, with a four-sided slender stem, and its leaves are narrowly lance-shaped to oval and coarsely saw-toothed. Flowers are pinkish green with four tiny sepals and no petals. Stinging Nettle can be confused with the Dog Nettle, which is a smaller species introduced by Europeans in the mid-1700s.

Sipping organic Spirit Bear Coffee and snacking on sweet Bannock scones, 150 attendees of B.C.’s first-ever Indigenous Tourism Conference were on the same page about the upcoming 2025 tourist season.

Despite the uncertainty of U.S. tariffs slowing economic growth across the country, tourism industry professionals around the room thought B.C. is on track for a full-on summer. They shared their perspectives at the conference, which was held April 28 to 30 in Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ (Ucluelet First Nation) territory.

Jennifer Touchie and the Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Government education department welcomed teachers and west coast community members to the Cixʷatin Centre in Hitacu on April 28 for a special day of learning about how to support youngsters impacted by generational trauma.

Indigenous counsellor and owner of Tiičmis Wellness Anita Charleson-Touchie opened the discussion in the morning and renowned parent educator Dr. Vanessa Lapointe gave a talk in the afternoon.

“The ultimate Nuu-chah-nulth law is the protection of its children,” said Charleson-Touchie. 

As the dust settles from the 2025 federal election, the Liberals have retained a minority government - but amid a growing Conservative presence in Ottawa and a devasted NDP party.

Canadian voters are becoming less concerned with climate change, according to a report by the Angus Reid Institute. The non-profit research organization recently surveyed that only 15 per cent of voters considered climate change to be a “top issue” for the country. 

Though similar polls done by Angus Reid show that voters do not deny that climate change is caused by human activity, the surveys illustrate a decline in priority amongst voters. 

Right now, Canada’s sovereignty is being threatened by the U.S. Administration and faces its greatest economic challenge in recent years. How does Canada respect the sovereignty of individual First Nations without compromising the greater interests of the country as a whole?  

One in five British Columbians are without a family doctor while others rely on the emergency department for primary care needs. Give us your best ideas to improve access to primary health care.

                                                                        Cowichan-Malahat-Langford

Alistair MacGregor, NDP 

Parental advisory: This story contains graphic content of animal cruelty. 

The Juan de Fuca trails have been declared off-limits by the Ministry of Environment and Parks for the upcoming summer. 

“British Columbians take pride in the amazing natural beauty these lands provide, and one of the most beloved is the Juan de Fuca marine trails, which normally welcomes thousands of visitors to the southern Vancouver Island every year,” stated the ministry in an official statement. “Which is why it is with deep regret that we will have to keep the trail closed for the summer.”