By using the waste of Koi fish to grow fresh produce, Vancouver Island University (VIU) engineering student Jayden Corbeil (Iversen) is hoping to improve food supply issues in remote communities with an open-source aquaponics project.

A collaboration with the Haíɫzaqv Climate Action Team from Bella Bella in the central coast of B.C., the Hesquiaht member’s capstone project looks at manufacturing a small scale, semi-automated aquaponics system. The project will be placed in a classroom at the Bella Bella Community School. 

Editor’s note: The following story contains profanity and reference to child abuse.

British Columbia’s political landscape has changed overnight, creating a dynamic that has some concerned about how the complexities of an ongoing drug crisis will be handled.

Canadian commerce is in a paradoxical state with two economies existing; the mainstream while another operates according to the Indian Act.

This is part of what’s put forth in Carol Anne Hilton’s next book, which will not be publicly available until April of 2025. But Hilton, a member of Hesquiaht First Nation, has provided plenty of glimpses of material that will be included in her second book.

BC RCMP Federal Policing say they have taken down an organized crime group after raiding two Vancouver Island dispensaries, five residences and arresting six suspects who were believed to be involved in the distribution of illicit drugs, unregulated cannabis, and contraband tobacco.

The take down was executed on Oct. 3 at the Green Coast Dispensary in Port Alberni located on Hupacasath First Nation land and Coastal Storm Dispensary in Lantzville. 

Before there was an Island highway connecting the west coast to the rest of Canada and long before there was a food store bringing in fresh supplies, coastal First Nations hunted and ate seal for subsistence.   

To bring back this forgotten tradition, young Indigenous men from the Nuu-chah-nulth Youth Warriors Family harvested four harbour seals in October – two from Sarita Bay in Huu-ay-aht First Nations (HFN) modern treaty territory and two from unceded Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations (TFN) territory. 

“I’ve been through a lot of things and did a lot of healing,” says Stan Matthews, who has been working with Indigenous people in cultural healing for 36 years.

The Tla-o-qui-aht member shared his experiences during “Keep your mind wiikšaḥii (healthy), a cultural approach to loss”, a feature presentation that led day two of the DAC Health Ability Fair on Oct. 24 at the Alberni Athletic Hall.

The youngest of nine children, Matthews grew up in Nanaimo. His first, most profound experience of loss was when his father passed away when Mattews was only seven years old.

A pair of tragedies on a flooded Bamfield road during a recent heavy rainfall is bringing up critical questions about how the public should be alerted on the route, says Huu-ay-aht’s elected chief.

Nine little babies were the stars of a recent celebration of newness at the Port Alberni Friendship Center on Oct. 25.

Darlene Leonew of the Port Alberni Friendship Center planned the celebration, complete with lunch for the proud parents, grandparents, and babies. 

“We did this in Spring 2024…we try to do it a couple times a year,” said Leonew.

The Port Alberni Friendship Center offers many programs and services including support for infants, children, and young families. 

The Alberni Athletic Hall was filled with delights on Oct. 23 and 24 as Nuu-chah-nulth members soaked up all the offerings at the 2024 Health-Ability Fair. 

Spots for free haircuts, massages, reflexology and mini manicures filled up quickly and after digesting a hearty fish soup and fish sandwich lunch, attendees spent the afternoon laughing and learning about inner strength with Indigenous comedy hypnotist Scott Ward.

Connecting families to traditional foods and traditional healers is a central focus of the inaugural Food is Medicine Diabetes Gathering on Nov. 2 at the Echo Centre in Port Alberni from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This free, drop-in event is for people living with diabetes, their family members, supports and anyone who is interested in overall wellness. A healthy lunch will be served, and no pre-registration is required.