As homelessness continues to be a major issue in all communities, the Sage Haven Society is working hard to raise funds and help out. For the eighth year in a row Sage Haven hosted their Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser on Saturday, Feb. 24.

Formerly known as the Alberni Community and Women’s Services Society, Sage Haven offers transitional housing and support services to women and their children In Port Alberni who face intimate partner violence.

Ahousaht, in partnership with Tseshaht First Nation, are inviting Indigenous people of Vancouver Island to a traditional food gathering at Maht Mahs on March 21 – 22.

The event will bring people together to share thoughts and traditions related to traditional food gathering and preparation. According to organizers, the event will bring together up to 200 participants from Vancouver Island.

It has been 20 years since FirstVoices launched its suite of online tools supporting First Nations in their efforts to revitalize Indigenous languages, and it’s celebrating by presenting a state-of-the-art version of its free platform.

According to First Peoples’ Cultural Council, the FirstVoices website offers a platform where communities can create, edit, host and maintain content on their own interactive “language site,” featuring a suite of online tools such as the interactive dictionary, custom search, games, kids’ area and more.

In mid-February, 4VI launched their second season of Indigenous Voices of Vancouver Island Podcast, featuring input from 12 First Nations throughout Vancouver Island, including stories from throughout Nuu-chah-nulth.

B.C.’s auditor general is pointing to shortcomings in how the province responds to hazardous spills – including cases where local First Nations were not informed of harmful incidents in their territories.

Although high-risk spills were assessed, monitored and referred to the province’s recovery staff, Auditor General Michael Pickup found that, overall, B.C.’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change “had not effectively managed hazardous spills”.

Gail Gus, a front line worker for Tseshaht First Nation, goes on her route three nights a week handing out naloxone kits and supporting people who use drugs in Port Alberni. Her work as a front line worker extends from crisis into wellness, serving community members beyond Port Alberni and even out of the province. 

“When I first started over three years ago, I just went to two places where I could visually see somebody,” said Gus. “Now I kind of know where our people are and where they hunker down and where their friends are.”

Since the start of the new year dozens of young Ahousaht members have been preparing to showcase their nation’s dances at an upcoming event in Vancouver.

At least 35 students will be making the trek from Ahousaht’s Flores Island village to the Hoobiyee event, which is scheduled for March 1-2 at the PNE grounds in Vancouver. For over a month the young dancers, who range in age from Grade 5 to 12, have been practicing two to three times a week in Ahousaht’s T-Bird Hall and the school gymnasium.