On Friday, Aug. 16 hundreds packed Tseshaht’s Maht Mahs gymnasium to mark the passing of the First Nation’s eldest member.

At the age of 93 Cody Gus passed of natural causes on Aug. 7, still living on the property that had been in his family on the Tseshaht reserve for as long as he could remember. He was born March 16, 1931 to Gladys and George Gus on Nettle Island at the northern end of the Broken Group, which is recognized as the origin site of the Tseshaht.

Jenna Pearce, coordinator for the West Coast Community Resource Society’s (WCRS) Sexual Assault Response Program (SARP), hopes “more than anything” that survivors living in the Clayoquot region “feel seen and heard” when seeking new support services.

“I want them to feel safe,” she said. “And like they're not alone because they're not. There's so many people that are here for them and want to support them in whatever way that looks for them.”

When a wildfire broke out near Tseshaht’s main reserve on Aug. 6, elected Councillor Leisa Hassall says she could almost instantly smell the smoke.

“My house is actually 1.6 kilometres away,” said Hassall. “We have infrastructure that is close too, like the Maht Mahs (Gym), the NTC building and a few other buildings are all within less than two kilometres (of the fire).”

It is said that, “when the tide is out, the table is set.” Aquaculture is and has always been a lifeline for First Nations people. Sadly, climate change and environmental factors are threatening their safe, sustainable marine resources.

Albert Lara has always felt some sort of a connection with Indigenous peoples. As a boy he was drawn to totem poles. In his professional life he worked with Aboriginal organizations in California, and while with the California State Retirees he became chair of its Indigenous Peoples Committee.

Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation (TFN) opened two recycling transfer stations at the beginning of August.

One is located at the Ty-histanis maintenance yard and the second is in Opitsaht where the heritage dump used to be.

The depots feature three large green bins for storing oversized items like mattresses and construction debris as well as electronics, small appliances, automotive items and household hazardous waste. Opitsaht’s site also has a Jora Composter for community organic waste.    

Maddexx George is recovering from being hit while riding his scooter in Port Alberni, an incident where he was left on the sidewalk after a truck fled without stopping, according to witness reports.

On Aug. 14 at 6:15pm the 15-year-old was riding his scooter up a Roger Street sidewalk across from the Best Western Barclay Hotel, when a brown pickup truck being driven by what George describes as an older man came out of the alleyway, onto the sidewalk and struck him. The vehicle immediately took off heading down Roger Street and turned right onto Gertrude.

The floodwaters have receded along the Fraser and Chilcotin Rivers, and 30,000 cubic meters of wooden material have been captured in the Fraser River Debris Trap near Agassiz. Yet, the effects of the July 30th Chilcotin landslide on this year's salmon migration have yet to be realized. 

The passenger boat sliced dense coastal fog on the early morning ride to Hot Springs Cove, but by time family, friends and guests stepped foot on the village dock, the sun was breaking.

Wearing two shades of pink, grey pants and a ponytail, Hesquiaht First Nation’s (HFN) elected Chief Councillor Mariah Charleson (łučinƛcuta), 36, greeted her visitors warmly at the entrance of the school as a mound of freshly knifed sockeye sat ready for the grill. 

The Tlu-Piich Games concluded this year with a day of baseball, including slo-pitch for adults and a T-ball session for young ones.

Baseball was the third sport to be hosted by the Nuu-chah-nulth event, which was held Aug. 10 to 13 in Port Alberni. On Tuesday, Aug. 13 slo-pitch games took over Rec Field, engaging dozens of adults.

For young children learning the game, T-ball took place nearby, with batting and base running.