A beautiful new welcome sign has been erected at the entrance to the City of Port Alberni near the Walmart parking lot. City of Port Alberni councillors were joined by Hupacasath and Tseshaht leadership for the unveiling and placement of the metal sign on March 5, 2025.

According to Port Alberni city council, the sign was a collaborative project between the city, Hupacasath and Tseshaht First Nations. They describe it as another reminder of what can be accomplished when working as a team.

Huu-ay-aht First Nations has been awarded a $1 million Weaving Justice Grant that they plan to use to improve its tribunal process. The announcement was made February 10, 2025.

John Jack, Huu-ay-aht’s elected chief, said that, as a treaty nation, they have self government through the Maa-nulth agreement. 

“And while that gives us the ability to make our own laws and policies, we still have to make them,” he stated.

The Pacific Rim School District announced the sale of a Craig Road property in Port Alberni to cišaaʔatḥ (Tseshaht) following an extensive public consultation process. A field behind the former Mt. Klitsa Junior Secondary School was sold to the First Nation as part of a gesture of reconciliation.

The announcement was made in a Pacific Rim School District statement on Feb. 14, 2025.

The first claims for a system which provides funding across the country for those harmed by shortcomings in child welfare services will be eligible to be submitted in a few days.

Claims for compensation can be submitted starting March 10. This first claims period is for those in the Removed Child Class and the Removed Child Family Class.

These are two of the nine classes included in the First Nations Child and Family Services and Jordan's Principle Settlement, which was approved by federal court in October of 2023. 

The Haida Nation and the Government of Canada signed a historical agreement on Feb. 17, affirming Haida Aboriginal title on Haida Gwaii, including the islands’ land, beds of freshwater bodies, and foreshores to the low-tide mark. 

President of the Haida Nation Gaagwiis Jason Alsop said the milestone Chiix̲uujin/Chaaw K̲aawgaa “Big Tide (Low Water)” Agreement, which was initiated in 1913 by past Haida leaders, ushers in a new era of peaceful co-existence.

Clutesi Haven Marina is undergoing a major transformation that promises to bring a fresh, new look to the popular riverside gathering spot. The City of Port Alberni, in collaboration with Tseshaht and Hupacasath First Nations, will revamp Clutesi Haven Marina as part of their work through the First Nations-Municipal Community Economic Development Initiative (CEDI).

Friends and family of Patrick ‘He-Man’ Charleson IV took part in a short march on Feb. 27 to raise awareness about upcoming court hearings and community safety. Led by grieving father Patrick ‘Man’ Charleson III, who was pushing his infant daughter in a stroller, the small crowd gathered at the corner of Stamp Avenue and Roger Street in Port Alberni, waving placards and demanding justice for a young man lost.

Like a fog horn guiding ships through ocean waves, the deep sound of a conch shell called dancers to the floor as the slow, steady beat of a drum group reverberated off Vancouver’s PNE Forum walls. 

Over 10,000 loud and proud First Nations came together to take part in Hoobiyee 2025 Nisga’a Ts’amiks Edition and the Nis’gaa New Year on Feb. 28 and March 1, showing unity and strength in the journey to revitalize Indigenous culture; a culture the Canadian government nearly stamped out with potlatch bans, residential schools and the ‘60s scoop.

BC Transit has incorporated Nuu-chah-nulth language on all the new bus stop signs within the refreshed West Coast Transit System, a historical first for the province’s official transit service provider.

Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ (Ucluelet First Nation) language keepers Marge Touchie (ʔaʔasmacy̓ak) and Jeneva Touchie (Čakʷaasiqḥw̓iłim) worked on the translations for stops within Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ traditional territory. 

“It’s an honour to share language within our community, it connects us and shows that representation matters,” said Jeneva in a written statement. 

It’s in the very early planning stages, but a new supportive housing development could be coming to uptown Port Alberni in 2027, providing about 55 much-needed studio living units. 

BC Housing has submitted a rezoning application to the City of Port Alberni for vacant city-owned property at 3027 and 3037 2nd Avenue. If approved, and the Community Engagement process goes well, BC Housing will move forward with applications for building permits.