It’s been a very different summer in Yuquot. The ancestral home of the Mowachaht/Muchalaht normally serves as a popular summertime destination for members of the First Nation, as well as travellers from around the world hungry for adventure on the rugged coast of Nootka Island.

Travelers on Highway 4 between Port Alberni and the west coast can expect scheduled road closures as blasting resumes at the Kennedy Hill construction site.

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure said in their information bulletin, released Sept. 20, that it has revised the blasting strategy to bring consistent and predictable highway-closure times to the people of Tofino and Ucluelet.

From the moment Gloria Frank opened her eyes for the first time, her grandparents elected her as the one they had to teach.

Not even her mother was called upon for the responsibility.

“They said there was something in my eyes when I was brand new,” she said.

And so began her life’s study of traditional plant medicines.

Now, it’s normal to catch Frank talking to plants. If she accidentally steps on one of their green stems, you’ll hear her apologize.

It’s no laughing matter.

“They’re all sacred to me,” said the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation elder.

Development at the Caycuse Recreation site at Nitinaht Lake is well underway, with the campground upgrade now 80 per cent complete.

The site is a remote campground area on Ditidaht territory and adjacent to Nitinaht Lake—a world renowned destination for windsurfers and kite borders and the third access point to the West Coast Trail.

Originally, the campsite offered 65 sites and would operate at full capacity during high seasons, limiting tourists and development of new businesses.

Josie Osborne is ready to make the leap into provincial politics.

Osborne, who has served as the mayor of Tofino since 2013, announced that she will be seeking the NDP nomination for Mid-Island Pacific Rim for the next British Columbia election.

Osborne announced her intention to seek a provincial seat on Tuesday, Sept. 15. That was one day after Scott Fraser, the current MLA for the riding and minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, publicly declared he would not be running in the next B.C. election.

Shaunee Casavant is scaling back her commitments in the health industry.

But the Hupacasath First Nation member was more than willing to accept an offer to serve a two-year term with the Island Health board of directors.

Casavant, who turned 65 this past week, considers the position her most prestigious one to date.

“It’s acting at the most senior level of health on the island,” she said.

Hilda Hanson, Nuu-chah-nulth’s eldest elder and most treasured Kyuquot grandmother passed away peacefully at her home in Houpsitas on Thursday, September 10th. According to daughter Therese, Hilda was ’98 and three quarters.

“I don’t think mom wanted to make it to 100, but she would sometimes tell people she was more than 100,” Therese said with a chuckle.

Hilda was born Dec. 5, 1921 to Constant Harry (Nuukmiss) of Kyuquot and Frances Martin (Kwaakwatyiik) of Nuchahtlaht.

Back in 1962, Herbert Jack began his career as a logger. His days consisted of attaching a cable to a felled tree before choking the log so it could be removed from the forest. The arduous work earned him $2 per hour. 

Up to the 1990s, the logging industry on Vancouver Island thrived. Thousands of men just like Jack spent their lives tearing down trees for a living.

Back then, the 73-year-old recalls the majority of the trees were so wide a grown man couldn't wrap his arms around their trunks.

The B.C. government is taking their first step to protecting old-growth forests by calling for an immediate deferral of logging in nine old-growth regions across the province.

These actions were taken following an independent panel report titled, A New Future for Old Forests, which is meant to steer an overhaul of forestry regulations.

Developed by government-appointed panel members Garry Merkel and Al Gorley, 14 recommendations were submitted to the province.

As the number of B.C.’s coronavirus infections continue to rise, First Nations are left with no idea of how close these cases are to their communities, a vulnerability that a coalition of Indigenous governments is taking to B.C.’s Information and Privacy Commissioner.