Gwaii Trust Newsletter Fall/Winter 2017

Seafood Wars:

The newsletter of the Gwaii Trust Society

The taste buds strike back!

The Gwaii Trust joined HaiCo, Northern Savings Credit Union and Haida Gwaii Community Futures to sponsor the Seafood Wars event at this summer’s Tlell Fall Fair. Competitors cooked up their tastiest clam chowder using local razor clams, and the winner took home $1,000. From left to right, here’s winner Michel Labelle with Mike Racz of Community Futures, and competitors Reggie Roca, Ruby Bell and Alex Morrison.

The Gwaii Trust Haida caucus met with the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska in August. Tlingit and Haida Council president Richard Peterson reached out to the Gwaii Trust, saying the council admires the work the Trust is doing and wanted to learn more. Gwaii Trust directors attending the meeting were chair James Cowpar, Ken Rea (alternate director for Old Massett Village Council), Tyler Bellis (alternate director for CHN-Old Massett) and Jason Alsop (director for CHN-Skidegate).

Grants now available • 30 UNDER 30 YOUTH GRANT: apply by December 1, 2017 • TRAVEL ASSISTANCE: apply online at any time see website for eligibility.

• CONTINUING EDUCATION: apply online at any time - see website for eligibility • COMMUNITY INNOVATION: applications accepted monthly or until annual budget exhausted • VIBRANT HAIDA GWAII COMMUNITIES: applications accepted monthly or until annual budget exhausted

Education grant helps islander achieve teaching degree

Apply online at gwaiitrust.com/grants

Fund balances growing As of October 31, 2017:

Gwaii Trust $86,983,909 Athlii Gwaii Legacy Trust $46,501,443 Total $133,485,352

The newsletter of the Gwaii Trust Society

Masset resident Jaskwaan Bedard received a Gwaii Trust continuing education grant to help her study towards a teaching degree at Simon Fraser University. She completed five upper level education courses over the summer semester, achieving a 3.9 grade point average. Jaskwaan is now working on her final course, a practicum at Gudangaay Tlaats’gaa Naay Secondary School in Masset. She will be finished in December 2017. Congratulations!

Fall/Winter 2017

It’s

Fall/Winter 2017

About Trust Linking people and projects

Masset artist creates new series of paintings inspired by Haida Gwaii Maryanne Wettlaufer has spent much of the past year in her Masset studio, producing more than a dozen large-scale oil paintings depicting special places on Haida Gwaii, from SGang Gwaay to Rose Spit.

Logo marks 20 years The Gwaii Trust Society logo, Helping Hands, designed in 1997 by Haida artist 7idansuu (James Hart), reflects our vision: to advocate and support an islands community characterized by respect for cultural diversity, the environment, and a sustainable and increasingly selfsufficient economy. The three bars in the middle reflect the separation of the four chieftainship rings. Four is good luck in Haida culture, and chieftainship rings represent wealth and leadership in the community.

The logo symbolizes the leadership role we take in stewarding the Trust in perpetuity for the benefit of all residents of Haida Gwaii.

Linking people and projects

The idea for “Haida Gwaii – A Painted Journey” had been in her mind for the past 10 years, Maryanne says. It became reality this year thanks in part to a Gwaii Trust Arts Grant, which helped cover some of the travel and material costs associated with the ambitious project. As part of the undertaking, she opened her studio to visitors during the process of creating these works, and made regular postings on social media about her progress. She also hosted a kindergarten class, high school classes and a homeschooling student, teaching them technical details about canvases and oil paint, and sharing her creative process with them.

“I told people to drop by and see in person – as a result I have had dozens of visitors from locals and random visitors to Masset who heard word of mouth about the project,” Maryanne wrote in her final report. “I think people have taken pride in how I represent Haida Gwaii in my canvases, and it reinforces their own passion for the natural beauty of this place.”

OLD MASSETT OFFICE Toll free 1-800-663-2388 Phone 250-626-3654

A professional artist, Maryanne also works as a paramedic.

The works will be shown on Haida Gwaii as soon as she completes a couple of more pieces. After exhibiting them locally, Maryanne tells us she has had a positive response from galleries she visited this spring in Vancouver, Victoria, Prince George and Prince Rupert, so the show will likely travel off-island.

large painting a month, which was the timeline she had set for herself. This summer’s damp weather also provided a bit of a challenge, making the oil paint take longer to cure than it would normally. Overall, she said, the project has been a success, and she thanked the Gwaii Trust for making it possible.

Reflecting on how her project unfolded, Maryanne said it was a challenge to paint such enormous canvases, but she pushed herself to complete one

“I am compelled to honour the Gwaii Trust by working my hardest to continue to momentum this project has inspired,” she wrote. “I will endeavor to raise my creative pursuits to the next level of professionalism and I will share the lessons learned with fellow artists along the way – paying it forward.”

SKIDEGATE OFFICE Toll free 1-888-559-8883 Phone 250-559-8883

CARLA LUTNER, Chief Operations Officer ERROL WINTER, Chief Investment Officer DANA BELLIS, Project Officer PAM HILL, Travel & Education Program Coordinator ADRIENNE BERTRAND, Administrative Assistant

CHRISTINE CARTY, Finance/Administration Manager DEBBIE CROSBY, Senior Executive Administrator & Project Officer (on leave) JOEY RUDICHUK, Communications Officer

Expanding horizons The grade 4-5 class at Chief Matthews school made a fun and educational journey to Prince Rupert in June. The group of 19 students and eight adults visited the Museum of Northern BC and learned about the salmon cycle at the North Pacific Cannery. One of the highlights of the trip, principal Leslie Bellis told us, was two days of private swimming lessons at the pool in Prince Rupert, plus several “free swim” sessions. Students also enjoyed seeing the new Cars 3 movie. The school received a Gwaii Trust travel grant to help make the trip possible.

Speaking up, stopping violence

Welcome new directors Billy Yovanovich

More than two dozen men took part in a drum-making workshop in Old Massett earlier this year aimed at providing violence prevention training. The Bounce to Peace project was a joint effort involving the RCMP, Victim Assistance Program, Old Massett Youth Program, local basketball teams, local cultural facilitators and community members.

Lisa Bell

Introducing our new staff The Gwaii Trust office welcomed two staff members earlier this year. Our new communications officer, Joey Rudichuk, is a community relations professional with extensive experience in community investment and engagement, corporate social responsibility and partner relations in both the corporate and non-profit sectors. She is passionate about building stronger communities from the inside out; encouraging community members to share their voice, engage in the care and concern for others, and utilize local agencies and community buildings to their fullest potential. In her new role with the Gwaii Trust, she is managing internal and external communications, coordinating public events, and supporting the work of the board of directors and committees. From a military family, she Joey Rudichuk was raised in Masset and returned to Haida Gwaii in 2015. She lives in the Tow Hill Community with her dog, Marley.

Our new temporary project officer, Dana Bellis, was raised in Masset and attended Tahayghen Elementary and Gudangaay Tlaats’gaa Naay Secondary up to grade 10. She completed high school off-island and went on to complete a Bachelor of History and Women’s Studies at UNBC, and a Masters of Philosophy in Indigenous Studies from the University of Tromso in Norway. She brings extensive work experience to her new position, focused mainly on community engagement and economic development for both NGOs and industry. When she’s not working, Dana volunteers in the Masset Soup Kitchen and is supporting the development of a book on her Nanni Nora Bellis

by Jenny Nelson. As project officer, Dana is a community resource to support islanders and local organizations through the grant application process. She says the highlights of her job are working with the residents of Haida Gwaii and seeing their successful projects unfold, and working Dana Bellis with the team at the Gwaii Trust.

After the workshop, the completed drums were unveiled at a community dinner recognizing the work done by the men. In February, more than 300 people attended a Bounce to Peace Rally in Old Massett to send off local basketball teams to the All-Native Tournament in Prince Rupert. T-shirts were given out with a violence prevention commitment, reading in part “I will not be a bystander. I will not look away and pretend nothing is happening. I will speak up when you need help. I will encourage others to speak up too. I will get help if I need it because I know I’m not alone. We are the Haida Nation, and we are never alone!”

Old Massett Village Council received a $8,678 Community Innovation Grant to help with this successful project. In her report, organizer Harmony Williams noted that the project received a lot of community support, and that the men who attended the workshop have continued to get together one night every week.

Two new directors have joined the Gwaii Trust board. Billy Yovanovich represents the Skidegate Band Council, and Lisa Bell represents the Old Massett Village Council.

Both bring years of experience to the board table. Welcome!

In Remembrance This year, we lost our friend and long-time Gwaii Trust director John T. Jones of Old Massett. We send our deepest sympathies to his family. He will be greatly missed by all of us.

University program expands into Massett Building on its success in Skidegate, the Haida Gwaii Higher Education Society has extended its semester program into Massett with an innovative semester in Reconciliation Studies. One of the first courses of its kind to be offered in Canada, the Reconciliation Studies Semester has already attracted a full class of students from universities across the country. The program, which started in September and will wrap up in December, is exploring ideas about reconciliation and restitution, including an international perspective, as well as a focus on Haida Gwaii.

The course brings together indigenous and non-indigenous instructors to offer wideranging perspectives on a variety of content.

As the Higher Education Society explains, “In the local context, students are exposed to perspectives of reconciliation on Haida Gwaii through engagement with local guest lecturers both inside the classroom and out in the field, and through the close examination of protocols, shared decision-making processes, and comanagement systems specific to Haida Gwaii.”

The new semester complements the other two semesters already offered by HGHES, which focus on natural resources and are taught in Skidegate, in partnership with the Faculty of Forestry at UBC. HGHES says that Haida Gwaii offers a microcosm of the world, allowing students to learn first-hand about social, cultural, political, ecological and economic issues facing natural resource managers, as well as offering opportunities to engage with the community and immerse themselves in the lifestyle of the islands.

While these semesters have been successful, HGHES continues to look at ideas for new programming to ensure its long-term sustainability.

In 2016, the Gwaii Trust board approved a grant of $25,000 to help the society work on its new business plan, as well as up to $100,000 to fund the Reconciliation Studies pilot project. The Gwaii Trust recognizes the social and economic benefits that this kind of educational programming is bringing to our communities, and we applaud HGHES’s efforts to build a strong and sustainable post-secondary presence here.

To help attract local students to the Reconciliation Studies semester, Gwaii Trust directors also approved a request from HGHES for two $10,500 scholarships (a total of $21,000). One of the Gwaii Trust scholarships was awarded to Joel Richardson of Skidegate, who is in his third year of studies at Vancouver Island University, and hopes to return to the islands after he graduates and work with the Haida Nation. In a message to the Gwaii Trust, Joel told us he was grateful for the opportunity to take the Reconciliation Semester, which is allowing him to focus on what he cares about most: the wellness of Haida Gwaii and the people who live here. “I have nothing but gratitude to the committee,” he said.

“Thank you for your contribution.”

The other scholarship was awarded to Marijke Vanderlinden, who is originally from Masset and is now studying law at Dalhousie University. She wants to eventually work in government, law and policy on behalf of the indigenous and environmental communities. Marijke told us the course so far has been completely life-changing. “There’s so much pain and passion and strength here, and there’s so much to learn,” she said. “Thank you so much, I wouldn’t have been able to do this without you.”

Call for Arts Committee members We’re looking for a couple of volunteers who are passionate about art and willing to commit a few hours a month to join our Arts Committee. Our committee reviews all applications for Arts Grants and provides advice and direction to the Gwaii Trust on arts-related initiatives. One position is for a Haida member and the other is for a youth member. For more information and to apply, visit gwaiitrust.com or contact Joey Rudichuk at joey.rudichuk@gwaiitrust.com or 250-626-5139.

Expanding horizons The grade 4-5 class at Chief Matthews school made a fun and educational journey to Prince Rupert in June. The group of 19 students and eight adults visited the Museum of Northern BC and learned about the salmon cycle at the North Pacific Cannery. One of the highlights of the trip, principal Leslie Bellis told us, was two days of private swimming lessons at the pool in Prince Rupert, plus several “free swim” sessions. Students also enjoyed seeing the new Cars 3 movie. The school received a Gwaii Trust travel grant to help make the trip possible.

Speaking up, stopping violence

Welcome new directors Billy Yovanovich

More than two dozen men took part in a drum-making workshop in Old Massett earlier this year aimed at providing violence prevention training. The Bounce to Peace project was a joint effort involving the RCMP, Victim Assistance Program, Old Massett Youth Program, local basketball teams, local cultural facilitators and community members.

Lisa Bell

Introducing our new staff The Gwaii Trust office welcomed two staff members earlier this year. Our new communications officer, Joey Rudichuk, is a community relations professional with extensive experience in community investment and engagement, corporate social responsibility and partner relations in both the corporate and non-profit sectors. She is passionate about building stronger communities from the inside out; encouraging community members to share their voice, engage in the care and concern for others, and utilize local agencies and community buildings to their fullest potential. In her new role with the Gwaii Trust, she is managing internal and external communications, coordinating public events, and supporting the work of the board of directors and committees. From a military family, she Joey Rudichuk was raised in Masset and returned to Haida Gwaii in 2015. She lives in the Tow Hill Community with her dog, Marley.

Our new temporary project officer, Dana Bellis, was raised in Masset and attended Tahayghen Elementary and Gudangaay Tlaats’gaa Naay Secondary up to grade 10. She completed high school off-island and went on to complete a Bachelor of History and Women’s Studies at UNBC, and a Masters of Philosophy in Indigenous Studies from the University of Tromso in Norway. She brings extensive work experience to her new position, focused mainly on community engagement and economic development for both NGOs and industry. When she’s not working, Dana volunteers in the Masset Soup Kitchen and is supporting the development of a book on her Nanni Nora Bellis

by Jenny Nelson. As project officer, Dana is a community resource to support islanders and local organizations through the grant application process. She says the highlights of her job are working with the residents of Haida Gwaii and seeing their successful projects unfold, and working Dana Bellis with the team at the Gwaii Trust.

After the workshop, the completed drums were unveiled at a community dinner recognizing the work done by the men. In February, more than 300 people attended a Bounce to Peace Rally in Old Massett to send off local basketball teams to the All-Native Tournament in Prince Rupert. T-shirts were given out with a violence prevention commitment, reading in part “I will not be a bystander. I will not look away and pretend nothing is happening. I will speak up when you need help. I will encourage others to speak up too. I will get help if I need it because I know I’m not alone. We are the Haida Nation, and we are never alone!”

Old Massett Village Council received a $8,678 Community Innovation Grant to help with this successful project. In her report, organizer Harmony Williams noted that the project received a lot of community support, and that the men who attended the workshop have continued to get together one night every week.

Two new directors have joined the Gwaii Trust board. Billy Yovanovich represents the Skidegate Band Council, and Lisa Bell represents the Old Massett Village Council.

Both bring years of experience to the board table. Welcome!

In Remembrance This year, we lost our friend and long-time Gwaii Trust director John T. Jones of Old Massett. We send our deepest sympathies to his family. He will be greatly missed by all of us.

University program expands into Massett Building on its success in Skidegate, the Haida Gwaii Higher Education Society has extended its semester program into Massett with an innovative semester in Reconciliation Studies. One of the first courses of its kind to be offered in Canada, the Reconciliation Studies Semester has already attracted a full class of students from universities across the country. The program, which started in September and will wrap up in December, is exploring ideas about reconciliation and restitution, including an international perspective, as well as a focus on Haida Gwaii.

The course brings together indigenous and non-indigenous instructors to offer wideranging perspectives on a variety of content.

As the Higher Education Society explains, “In the local context, students are exposed to perspectives of reconciliation on Haida Gwaii through engagement with local guest lecturers both inside the classroom and out in the field, and through the close examination of protocols, shared decision-making processes, and comanagement systems specific to Haida Gwaii.”

The new semester complements the other two semesters already offered by HGHES, which focus on natural resources and are taught in Skidegate, in partnership with the Faculty of Forestry at UBC. HGHES says that Haida Gwaii offers a microcosm of the world, allowing students to learn first-hand about social, cultural, political, ecological and economic issues facing natural resource managers, as well as offering opportunities to engage with the community and immerse themselves in the lifestyle of the islands.

While these semesters have been successful, HGHES continues to look at ideas for new programming to ensure its long-term sustainability.

In 2016, the Gwaii Trust board approved a grant of $25,000 to help the society work on its new business plan, as well as up to $100,000 to fund the Reconciliation Studies pilot project. The Gwaii Trust recognizes the social and economic benefits that this kind of educational programming is bringing to our communities, and we applaud HGHES’s efforts to build a strong and sustainable post-secondary presence here.

To help attract local students to the Reconciliation Studies semester, Gwaii Trust directors also approved a request from HGHES for two $10,500 scholarships (a total of $21,000). One of the Gwaii Trust scholarships was awarded to Joel Richardson of Skidegate, who is in his third year of studies at Vancouver Island University, and hopes to return to the islands after he graduates and work with the Haida Nation. In a message to the Gwaii Trust, Joel told us he was grateful for the opportunity to take the Reconciliation Semester, which is allowing him to focus on what he cares about most: the wellness of Haida Gwaii and the people who live here. “I have nothing but gratitude to the committee,” he said.

“Thank you for your contribution.”

The other scholarship was awarded to Marijke Vanderlinden, who is originally from Masset and is now studying law at Dalhousie University. She wants to eventually work in government, law and policy on behalf of the indigenous and environmental communities. Marijke told us the course so far has been completely life-changing. “There’s so much pain and passion and strength here, and there’s so much to learn,” she said. “Thank you so much, I wouldn’t have been able to do this without you.”

Call for Arts Committee members We’re looking for a couple of volunteers who are passionate about art and willing to commit a few hours a month to join our Arts Committee. Our committee reviews all applications for Arts Grants and provides advice and direction to the Gwaii Trust on arts-related initiatives. One position is for a Haida member and the other is for a youth member. For more information and to apply, visit gwaiitrust.com or contact Joey Rudichuk at joey.rudichuk@gwaiitrust.com or 250-626-5139.

Seafood Wars:

The newsletter of the Gwaii Trust Society

The taste buds strike back!

The Gwaii Trust joined HaiCo, Northern Savings Credit Union and Haida Gwaii Community Futures to sponsor the Seafood Wars event at this summer’s Tlell Fall Fair. Competitors cooked up their tastiest clam chowder using local razor clams, and the winner took home $1,000. From left to right, here’s winner Michel Labelle with Mike Racz of Community Futures, and competitors Reggie Roca, Ruby Bell and Alex Morrison.

The Gwaii Trust Haida caucus met with the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska in August. Tlingit and Haida Council president Richard Peterson reached out to the Gwaii Trust, saying the council admires the work the Trust is doing and wanted to learn more. Gwaii Trust directors attending the meeting were chair James Cowpar, Ken Rea (alternate director for Old Massett Village Council), Tyler Bellis (alternate director for CHN-Old Massett) and Jason Alsop (director for CHN-Skidegate).

Grants now available • 30 UNDER 30 YOUTH GRANT: apply by December 1, 2017 • TRAVEL ASSISTANCE: apply online at any time see website for eligibility.

• CONTINUING EDUCATION: apply online at any time - see website for eligibility • COMMUNITY INNOVATION: applications accepted monthly or until annual budget exhausted • VIBRANT HAIDA GWAII COMMUNITIES: applications accepted monthly or until annual budget exhausted

Education grant helps islander achieve teaching degree

Apply online at gwaiitrust.com/grants

Fund balances growing As of October 31, 2017:

Gwaii Trust $86,983,909 Athlii Gwaii Legacy Trust $46,501,443 Total $133,485,352

The newsletter of the Gwaii Trust Society

Masset resident Jaskwaan Bedard received a Gwaii Trust continuing education grant to help her study towards a teaching degree at Simon Fraser University. She completed five upper level education courses over the summer semester, achieving a 3.9 grade point average. Jaskwaan is now working on her final course, a practicum at Gudangaay Tlaats’gaa Naay Secondary School in Masset. She will be finished in December 2017. Congratulations!

Fall/Winter 2017

It’s

Fall/Winter 2017

About Trust Linking people and projects

Masset artist creates new series of paintings inspired by Haida Gwaii Maryanne Wettlaufer has spent much of the past year in her Masset studio, producing more than a dozen large-scale oil paintings depicting special places on Haida Gwaii, from SGang Gwaay to Rose Spit.

Logo marks 20 years The Gwaii Trust Society logo, Helping Hands, designed in 1997 by Haida artist 7idansuu (James Hart), reflects our vision: to advocate and support an islands community characterized by respect for cultural diversity, the environment, and a sustainable and increasingly selfsufficient economy. The three bars in the middle reflect the separation of the four chieftainship rings. Four is good luck in Haida culture, and chieftainship rings represent wealth and leadership in the community.

The logo symbolizes the leadership role we take in stewarding the Trust in perpetuity for the benefit of all residents of Haida Gwaii.

Linking people and projects

The idea for “Haida Gwaii – A Painted Journey” had been in her mind for the past 10 years, Maryanne says. It became reality this year thanks in part to a Gwaii Trust Arts Grant, which helped cover some of the travel and material costs associated with the ambitious project. As part of the undertaking, she opened her studio to visitors during the process of creating these works, and made regular postings on social media about her progress. She also hosted a kindergarten class, high school classes and a homeschooling student, teaching them technical details about canvases and oil paint, and sharing her creative process with them.

“I told people to drop by and see in person – as a result I have had dozens of visitors from locals and random visitors to Masset who heard word of mouth about the project,” Maryanne wrote in her final report. “I think people have taken pride in how I represent Haida Gwaii in my canvases, and it reinforces their own passion for the natural beauty of this place.”

OLD MASSETT OFFICE Toll free 1-800-663-2388 Phone 250-626-3654

A professional artist, Maryanne also works as a paramedic.

The works will be shown on Haida Gwaii as soon as she completes a couple of more pieces. After exhibiting them locally, Maryanne tells us she has had a positive response from galleries she visited this spring in Vancouver, Victoria, Prince George and Prince Rupert, so the show will likely travel off-island.

large painting a month, which was the timeline she had set for herself. This summer’s damp weather also provided a bit of a challenge, making the oil paint take longer to cure than it would normally. Overall, she said, the project has been a success, and she thanked the Gwaii Trust for making it possible.

Reflecting on how her project unfolded, Maryanne said it was a challenge to paint such enormous canvases, but she pushed herself to complete one

“I am compelled to honour the Gwaii Trust by working my hardest to continue to momentum this project has inspired,” she wrote. “I will endeavor to raise my creative pursuits to the next level of professionalism and I will share the lessons learned with fellow artists along the way – paying it forward.”

SKIDEGATE OFFICE Toll free 1-888-559-8883 Phone 250-559-8883

CARLA LUTNER, Chief Operations Officer ERROL WINTER, Chief Investment Officer DANA BELLIS, Project Officer PAM HILL, Travel & Education Program Coordinator ADRIENNE BERTRAND, Administrative Assistant

CHRISTINE CARTY, Finance/Administration Manager DEBBIE CROSBY, Senior Executive Administrator & Project Officer (on leave) JOEY RUDICHUK, Communications Officer