'Accessibility, affordability and availability’: Food delivery services support remote communities

On July 26, Rachel Blaney, NDP MP for North Island-Powell River, joined Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank on their monthly journey to deliver to Kyuquot, Gold River, and Tahsis, pointing to the need for essential food items in remote communities.

For Ka:'yu:'k't'h' / Che:k'tles7et'h' First Nations, their home territories are only accessed by air or water.

Water taxi suffers huge blow to bow while parked at Tofino’s First Street Dock

James Uukwaqum Swan is left scratching his head and out-of-pocket after his water taxi Pegasus experienced a hit-and-run at Tofino’s First Street Dock on July 10.

Pegasus, a 22-foot Hewescraft boat used to shuttle folks to places like Hot Springs Cove in the northwestern part of Clayoquot Sound, was knocked so hard in the bow it suffered a crack about 10-inches wide and a quarter inch thick.

UPDATE: Wildfire burning near Port Alberni is being held, police arrest suspect

A wildfire burning close to Tseshaht’s main reserve, located between Sproat Lake and Port Alberni, is being held, according to the Aug. 7 update from BC Wildfire Service, while police have announced an arrest in the incident.

The wildfire was reported by BC Wildfires on Tuesday, Aug. 6 at 6:34 p.m. The latest report says the fire size has grown from 0.009 hectares to 0.5 hectares. There are no current evacuation orders in place.

Out-of-control wildfire burning near Port Alberni

There is an out-of-control wildfire burning close to Tseshaht’s main reserve, located between Sproat Lake and Port Alberni.

The wildfire was reported by BC Wildfires on Tuesday, Aug. 6 at 6:34 p.m. It is 0.009 hectares and there are no current evacuation orders in place.

“The fire began on Crown land and moved into Mosaic private land,” reads an Aug. 6 bulletin posted by Tseshaht First Nation at 8:30 p.m.   

“Please be advised there is NO immediate danger to lives or infrastructure. The fire continues to move away from our reserve,” reads the bulletin.

Mowachaht/Muchalaht welcome visitors for 32nd Yuquot Summerfest

The Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation once again welcomed a boatload of visitors to its ancestral home of Yuquot for the 32nd annual Summerfest celebration.

The MV Uchuck III departed from the Gold River dock on Aug. 3 to land for an afternoon at the ancient village site on the southern shore of Nootka Island. Since 1992 Mowachaht/Muchalaht members have returned to Yuquot each summer to camp at the remote site, which served as the First Nation’s main reserve community until it was moved to the Gold River area in the early 1970s.

Puppies abandoned on logging road near Ucluelet

Two Rottweiler mix puppies have a safe home in Ucluelet after being found down a logging road on Ukee Days weekend, July 26 to July 28.

It is unclear as to why they were on the backroads alone, but a post on social media by their rescuer (who declined to be interviewed) describes the pups as likely being abandoned.

“No collars, no people anywhere to be found, covered in fleas and terrified,” reads the Facebook post on Ucluelet’s public community board.

The puppies were given de flea medication and days after being found, long-term locals took them in.

Fire scare near Hupacasath reserve a reminder of critical preventative measures

On July 6, a fire broke out near the Hupacasath reserve, prompting more preventive measures to protect First Nations from future fires.

“[The fire] was a big scare considering how close it was to the reserve,” said Jonathan Porter, housing manager of the Hupacasath First Nation. “The fire department showed up in a timely manner and worked out the best it could for an unfortunate situation.”

Men’s fastball tournament draws crowd at historic Rec Park

Ball fans packed the grandstands at Port Alberni’s historic Rec Park Stadium on July 26 to July 28 for a glorious weekend of men’s fastball.

Dubbed “Bringing it Back to the Valley”, the tournament was hosted by the Parksville Red Sox and featured eight teams from Nanaimo, Victoria, Lillooet, Chase, Prince George and California, USA.

“It was a great turnout,” said Tseshaht member Thomas Dick, a first-time tournament organizer and second baseman for the Parksville Red Sox.

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