The Nuchatlaht are celebrating a victory amid a recent court decision recognizing Aboriginal title over a portion of its traditional territory, although it appears the small First Nation’s legal fight to gain authority over the whole claim area is far from over.
This spring Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation (MMFN) will be opening the doors of their new hotel, Baymont by Wyndam, previously known as the Gold River Chalet, alongside new tourism information services aiming to bring more visitors to the region.
Gold River Chalet closed its doors in April of 2023, according to the hotel manager Rohinton (Roy) Kharadi. Over the last year the building underwent “complete renovations,” he noted.
“Total wow,” said Kharadi, when asked what past hotel visitors can expect with new renovations.
In early April the provincial government introduced legislative amendments to the B.C. Land Title and Property Law Act, that, if passed, will remove barriers for First Nation bands to acquire, hold and register land.
“Many people in Canada do not know that First Nations could not own land in the province of British Columbia,” said Hugh Braker of the First Nations Summit. “Many people don’t know that in British Columbia, other provinces and in the federal system there are still laws that discriminate against Indigenous people that are founded in racism.”
The team overseeing the rescue of a stranded killer whale is rethinking its strategy, after previous attempts have not managed to move the young orca from a lagoon near Zeballos.
A change in federal funding parameters is causing the end of the Nuu-chah-nulth Education Worker program after 36 years of operating, forcing school districts to adapt to stay on track with their Indigenous students.
In March the Victoria region opened its first culturally supportive housing for Indigenous youth aged 12 to 19. Operated by Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness (ACEH), the program is designed to connect youth to their culture and build skills that support their transition as they age out of care.
For several years ACEH has been providing services to the Indigenous population in Victoria’s downtown, said Julia O’Quinn, director of community programming for the organization.
Fifty plus years ago they were very small children being herded onto boats destined for Indian residential schools in Ahousaht territory – those raised in the Catholic faith went to Christie Indian Residential School on Meares Island while the Protestants went to Ahousaht Indian Residential School on Flores Island.
Today, the remaining survivors are elders, some walking with the support of a cane. On April 10 those that were able boarded boats heading to Ahousaht, to reflect on their experiences and to be supported in their healing. This time, they boarded the boats willingly.
Funded by both the provincial government and Island Health, Orca Lelum Youth Wellness Centre will open its doors to Indigenous youth aged 12 to 18 for detox and stabilization services, as the first of its kind in the province.
“The toxic drug crisis is a tragedy, one that disproportionately affects Indigenous people,” said Premier David Eby, in a recent press release. “Rooting treatment for addictions and mental-health issues in Indigenous knowledge has the power to transform a young person’s life.”
The smell of fresh paint wafts through the halls of Tofino’s new Headwaters North rental apartment building as site superintendent Keith Glen takes Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation officials on a tour of the mint 35-unit condo.
Easter Weekend was a celebrated move-in day for 30 or so west coasters, having likely endured vexing housing struggles over the years.
“This is needed in the worst way,” said Glen from the kitchen of one of five accessible, wheelchair-friendly units.
A Specific Claims Tribunal has found that Canada breached its fiduciary duty when it allowed a logging company to harvest timber on Huu-ay-aht’s IR 9 without a license.