A Huu-ay-aht person has died after contracting COVID-19. Edward Johnson of Huu-ay-aht’s Executive Council confirmed that their member died on Nov. 25 in a hospital located on the Lower Mainland. The member’s name will not be released out of respect for the privacy of the family and at the request of Huu-ay-aht leadership.

Huu-ay-aht Chief Councillor Robert Dennis is asking people to abide by provincial health authority pandemic restrictions, including avoiding all non-essential travel.

COVID-19 spread through the Ehattesaht Chinehkint First Nation reserve this week, resulting in nine active cases as of Nov. 26.

With the small community of Ehatis under a lockdown order, Councillor Ernie Smith gave an online update to members on Thursday afternoon through the First Nation’s Facebook page. He said 11 cases in total had been detected, although two had recovered.

“We are on day seven of COVID reaching into our community of Ehatis,” said Smith. “Please everybody, stay home, we don’t want to spread this virus any further than it already has.”

The owner of a popular sushi restaurant in downtown Victoria invited the family of Herb Dick to his restaurant to ‘break bread’ and receive his apology.

It was an effort to amend the events of Oct. 21, when Herb and his fiancé went to the restaurant for a celebratory dinner. Nubo Kitchen & Bar is one of their favorite sushi restaurants. Dick has said the couple like the upbeat, friendly atmosphere there.

A Port Alberni advocate for the homeless wants to open her property to shelter those who have resorted to living in tents.

Lisa George has been working around the clock with the group of homeless individuals evicted from the Eighth Avenue lot and then the Roger Street Gazebo. She owns the former Redford House care home that will be vacant until April 1, which has the capacity for 24 beds.

A third COVID-19 case has been reported from Tsawaayuus Rainbow Gardens, after a staff member initially tested positive on Nov. 16.

Two days later, a resident in the long-term care home became Rainbow Gardens’ second confirmed case, and on Wednesday (Nov. 25) another person living at the facility was reported to have the coronavirus. According to Island Health, the second case was transported to hospital “as a precautionary measure.” Both residents did not show any symptoms of COVID-19, and there was no transportation announced for the third case.

When Mehana Vaughan spoke over a Zoom call to celebrate the book launch of Plants, People, and Places, she was inside her home in Hawaii making leis with her children.

“We are plant people,” said the professor of natural resources and environmental management of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.  “This is an art shared by my grandmother and a way we share our love.”

Volunteers at the forefront of Port Alberni’s homelessness issue are feeling frustrated with the city and other community stakeholders who they say aren’t offering immediate housing solutions for the most vulnerable. 

On Nov. 19 the second dwelling made by a group of homeless individuals and advocates was torn down by City of Port Alberni officials and members of the Port Alberni RCMP.

Some members from Ahousaht First Nation are involved with a historic initiative.

But a celebration to recognize being part of the first Indigenous-led Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary will in all likelihood have to wait until the COVID-19 pandemic subsides and it is safe to do so.

Ahousaht is one of the five First Nations that are part of the Coastal Nations Coast Guard Auxiliary (CN-CGA). The CN-CGA is an official partner of the Canadian Coast Guard.

A new award has been launched by the lieutenant governor of British Columbia that aims to honour those who have demonstrated a commitment to furthering reconciliation with Indigenous peoples within the province.

In partnership with the BC Achievement Foundation, the British Columbia Reconciliation Award was established to help inspire British Columbians to work together to help forge a new future.

A youth worker that visited Ahousaht from Nov. 17 – 20 has tested positive for COVID-19, raising concern among parents whose children engaged in recreational activities with the visitors.

According to Curtis Dick, director of Ahousaht’s Emergency Operations Center, a group of two or three “youth-type” workers arrived in the village by chartered water taxi on the evening of Nov. 17. The following day the school was closed due to a power outage.