2018 ANNUAL REPORT
ABOUT GWAII TRUST The Gwaii Trust Society owns and manages a multi-million-dollar perpetual fund for the benefit of all the people of Haida Gwaii.
OUR HISTORY
In 1985, after more than a decade of attempts to work with the provincial government to protect the South Moresby Wilderness area, the Haida Nation designated what is now known as Gwaii Haanas, a Haida Heritage Site and a blockade was held on Lyell Island. The political standoff at Lyell Island brought worldwide attention to the issues of the land title dispute, the environment and economic matters. In 1988, the South Moresby Agreement was signed, which designated the area a National Park Reserve and created a Regional Economic Development Initiative fund. Representatives of the Council of the Haida Nation (CHN) and the Residents Planning Advisory Committee (RPAC) established an Accord on the Community Development Fund. In spite of legislative hostilities and other societal encumbrances to cross-cultural understanding, and after years of difficult work, the results evolved into the Gwaii Trust Interim Planning Society (GTIPS). The GTIPS was established in accordance with the Society Act of British Columbia in November 1991. Its purpose was to develop a permanent model for a locally controlled, interest-generating fund. The Gwaii Trust Society would be founded on principles to achieving a sustainable Islands community. The Gwaii Trust Society was formed in September 1994 to operate the perpetual Gwaii Trust Fund, and the GTIPS was dissolved as a society.
GWAII TRUST TODAY
In 1994 the Society started out with $38.2 million contributed by the federal government as part of the agreement that created Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site. At the end of 2018, our fund was worth approximately $83.3 million.
Our goals are clear: to work together to promote the health and well-being of our community, and make Haida Gwaii an even better place to live. We make our decisions by consensus, and we believe in fairness, equity, collaborating to solve problems, building trust, and being willing to change. We know that to ensure a sustainable community, we must plan and manage our development in ways that reflect our cultural and environmental uniqueness. Our fund is invested in equities, bonds and mortgage/real estate funds, and generates millions of dollars every year in investment income. Every year, we reinvest part of that income to protect our core value from inflation, and distribute most of the remaining money to communities, non-profit societies and individuals on Haida Gwaii through our grant programs. Our volunteer board is made up of eight directors and eight alternates, representing the Haida and civic communities equally. Our chair is nominated for appointment by the Council of the Haida Nation. We also have a youth board, modeled on our board, but with all positions filled by islanders between the ages of 13 and 21, which makes recommendations on our Youth Grants; and an arts committee to guide decisions on Arts Grants.
OUR MISSION
The Gwaii Trust will enhance environmentally sustainable social and economic benefits to Haida Gwaii through the use of the fund.
OUR VISION
The Gwaii Trust will advocate and support an Islands community characterized by respect for cultural diversity, the environment, and a sustainable and increasingly self-sufficient economy.
LEGAL STATUS
The Gwaii Trust Society is provincially registered as a non-profit society to maximize tax exemption for the Trust.
People are like trees, and groups of people are like the forests. While the forests are composed of many different kinds of trees, these trees intertwine their roots so strongly that it is impossible for the strongest winds which blow on our islands to uproot the forest, for each tree strengthens its neighbour, and their roots are inextricably intertwined. In the same way the people of our Islands, composed of members of nations and races from all over the world, are beginning to intertwine their roots so strongly that no troubles will affect them. Just as one tree standing alone would soon be destroyed by the first strong wind which came along, so it is impossible for any person, any family or any community to stand alone against the troubles of this world. Chief Skidegate – Lewis Collinson, 1966 This quote has served as a long-standing reminder to the Trust and its directors of the importance of unity and consensus.
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MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR Sin.Gaay’Laa Greetings As Chairman, on behalf of the Gwaii Trust Society and its Board of Directors, we would like to thank the community of Haida Gwaii for all your support in 2018. We’d also like to recognize the hard work of our staff. As an organization our ability to reach out and meet the needs of every community would not be possible without them. To the dedicated volunteers, non-profit organizations, community representatives, and youth leaders, we appreciate everything you do for your communities, helping to improve the well-being of people living on the island. One can begin by highlighting the value of our fund and its performance. In 2018, we experienced consistent and steady returns amidst an unstable marketplace. The Trust continues to maintain its commitment to provide grant funding for communities on Haida Gwaii. At the end of 2018 the fund was worth nearly $129 million (Athlii Gwaii Legacy Trust and Gwaii Trust). The Gwaii Trust administered over $4.3 million in grant funding through its many programs: Major Contributions, Education, Arts, Youth, Community Innovation, and more.
Investing in programs and initiatives that contribute to healthy islands, healthy communities, and healthy individuals continues to be our goal as set out in our five-year strategic plan which launched in 2017. Facing challenges throughout the year, the Trust persevered and in doing so accomplished a great many things. From meeting the deadline of the new changes under the Societies Act to funding the Vibrant Haida Gwaii Community Initiative, Haida language, and the Gwaii Tel last mile upgrades we witnessed success on many levels. With programs underway and projects under construction or completed for the year, we have now become a major player in supporting our local economy. Over the past twenty-five years, the community of Haida Gwaii has benefited immensely from Gwaii Trust grant funding. As we witness declining enrollment in our schools and a transitioning economy our islands’ future is unclear. The prosperity of the Trust since its inception has grown to a point where we as an islands’ community have the potential to help revitalize our local economy. To make this possible, we require a greater commitment on behalf of the Council of the Haida Nation, local government, and the people of these islands to collaborate and establish a set of goals and priorities to guide local investment moving forward. Haawa thank you Sk’aal Ts’iid James D. Cowpar Chairman
MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER At its most basic level, the Gwaii Trust was created to bring islanders together and build partnerships between communities that had historically operated on very different tracks. Money is wonderful, but it doesn’t mean anything if we’re not also working towards increasing our understanding, our empathy, and our humanity. That’s why our grant programs have always emphasized and encouraged ideas that involve collaborations between individual islanders and projects that benefit more than one community. For the Gwaii Trust, 2018 was a year of continuing to build connections. We funded more Internet infrastructure for the islands, with a special project grant to GwaiiTel that will bring fibre optic Internet to hundreds of the most under-served households. We helped fund the creation of the first-ever Haida language feature film, SGaawaay K’uuna/The Edge of the Knife, which has had dazzling success on the national stage, winning awards and selling out theatres everywhere, from big cities to coastal villages. We continue to nurture initiatives that are bringing islanders together to gather and prepare local food, and to learn the Haida language.
But 2018 was also a year of disruption. It was the year our website crashed, taking all our online applications with it. It was the year that routine changes to our bylaws brought about questions from our Participating Communities that threatened to dissolve the legal standing of the society. It was the year we had to hold an unexpected by-election due to the resignation of a director. It was also the first year since the crash of 2008 that the fund posted a negative return. Disruption is uncomfortable and unwelcome. But it can also be a catalyst for change and growth. It can challenge old assumptions and uncover new possibilities. The disruptions we faced over the past year forced us to make changes. The website crash forced us to move ahead with the creation of a new website and to transition to a new - and better - grant management system. The unexpected by-election brought us a new director with a fresh perspective. And the conversations we’ve had with the Participating Communities, brought about by our bylaw changes, have led to more open dialogue and confirmed community support for our basic structure. All these changes have made our society stronger as we head into another year. In 2019, we’ll be marking 25 years since the Gwaii Trust Society was created in September 1994. Here’s to many more years of change and growth. Haawa thank you Carla Lutner Chief Operations Officer 2
GOVERNANCE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Back row, L-R: Billy Yovanovich, Christine Cunningham, Laurie Chisholm, James Cowpar, Kim Goetzinger (joined in 2019) Front row, L-R: Maureen Bailey, Devin Rachar, Lawrence Jones, Lisa Bell
CHAIR James Cowpar
GRAHAM ISLAND NORTH Dir: Bret Johnston Alt: Lareina Grosse
CHN MASSETT Dir: Robert Bennett Alt: Tyler Bellis
SKIDEGATE BAND COUNCIL Dir: Billy Yovanovich Alt: Michelle (Ooka) Pineault
GRAHAM ISLAND CENTRAL Dir: Maureen Bailey Alt: Christine Cunningham
CHN SKIDEGATE Dir: Jason Alsop Alt: William Russ
GRAHAM ISLAND SOUTH Dir: Clyde Greenough Alt: Devin Racher
OLD MASSETT VILLAGE COUNCIL Dir: Cecil Brown Alt: Lisa Bell
AREA E (MORESBY ISLAND) Dir: Warren Foster Alt: Laurie Chisholm
GRAHAM ISLAND NORTH Dir: Dion Lewis Alt: Sol Reynolds
SKIDEGATE BAND COUNCIL Dir: Alexis Buxton Alt: Jenna Shelford
GRAHAM ISLAND CENTRAL Dir: Bella Perry Alt: Kiya Bergstrom
GRAHAM ISLAND SOUTH Dir: Isabelle Romas Alt: Isaac Bowey
OLD MASSETT VILLAGE COUNCIL Dir: Destiny Davidson Alt: Mary Edgars
AREA E (MORESBY ISLAND) Director: Morgan Chisholm Alternate: Vacant
PEERS Sheila Karrow Reg Davidson
Vincent Collison Barb Rowsell Jack Litrell
YOUTH BOARD CHAIR Michelle (Ooka) Pineault DIRECTOR Devin Racher CHN OLD MASSETT Dir: Taylor Lantin Alt: Haana Edenshaw CHN SKIDEGATE Dir: Isaac Hill Alt: Avery Robson
ARTS COMMITTEE CHAIR Michelle (Ooka) Pineault 3
GOVERNANCE
DIRECTOR AND ALTERNATE ATTENDANCE 2018/2019 TERM The following chart presents the attendance record for the Gwaii Trust Chair, Directors, and Alternates at Board meetings from April, 2017 to March, 2018 Notes: Names in bold are current directors • Alternate attendance is not mandatory
Director James Cowpar
Community n/a
Role Chair
Attendance 7/11
Cecil Brown Lisa Bell Adeana Young Richard Williams
Old Massett Village Council Old Massett Village Council Old Massett Village Council Old Massett Village Council
Director Alternate Alternate Alternate
9/11 1/7 1/2 2/2
Lawrence Jones Trevor Russ Robert Bennett Tyler Bellis
CHN Old Massett CHN Old Massett CHN Old Massett CHN Old Massett
Director Alternate Director Alternate
2/2 0/2 3/9 2/9
Kim Goetzinger Jason Alsop Jason Alsop Willy Russ
CHN Skidegate CHN Skidegate CHN Skidegate CHN Skidegate
Director Alternate Director Alternate
2/2 0/2 8/9 0/9
Billy Yovanovich Michelle (Ooka) Pineault
Skidegate Band Council Skidegate Band Council
Director Alternate
7/11 8/11
Clyde Greenough Devin Rachar
Graham Island South Graham Island South
Director Alternate
5/11 11/11
Maureen Bailey Christine Cunningham Berry Wijdeven
Graham Island Central Graham Island Central Graham Island Central
Director Alternate Director
8/8 6/8 1/3
Bret Johnston Lareina Grosse
Graham Island North Graham Island North
Director Alternate
9/11 4/11
Warren Foster Laurie Chisholm
Area E (Graham Island) Area E (Graham Island)
Director Alternate
8/11 9/11
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FEATURED PROJECTS TURNING PLASTIC INTO FUEL
Gudangaay Tlaats’gaa Naay secondary in Masset is a hotbed of green ideas. One of the most innovative came from teacher Daniel Schulbeck, who applied for a $10,000 Youth Grant to help the school buy a second-hand Plastic to Fuel Machine. These machines can melt, evaporate and re-condense waste plastic into a petroleum product similar to diesel. Before applying for the grant, Daniel put a lot of time into research, talking to others about their experiences with these machines, and figuring out how to separate the school’s plastic waste. The fuel the machine produces can be put to use by the school to evaporate sea water to make salt, a venture being undertaken by the school’s food program. Potentially, the school will be able to mix the salt with dried herbs from the greenhouse and create a marketable product.
The Plastic to Fuel machine. Photo courtesy of Daniel Schulbeck
“Having one of these machines in the classroom turning plastic waste into useable and highly in-demand products is, in my opinion, an excellent way to engage students with the science of hydrocarbons, alternate fuel technologies, environmental stewardship, and entrepreneurial solutions to current global challenges,” Daniel wrote in the grant application. “This is the goal: student engagement not only with the curriculum, but with the social, economic and environmental issues that face us as islanders.”
YOUTH TAKE ACTION TO STOP PLASTIC BAGS
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A group of young people at the north end of Haida Gwaii took action last year to reduce plastic bag use at local stores and clean up plastic from local beaches. Tlagee ‘laa Eilgang is a youth-lead society with a mission to keep plastic out of landfills, off our beaches, and out of our oceans by reducing the amount of disposable plastic we’re using. With help from a $3,200 Youth Grant, the society’s volunteers made presentations to local youth to raise awareness and encourage mindfulness, held beach cleanups, and designed posters to raise community awareness about the issue of disposable plastic and the harm it’s doing. They also recycled old t-shirts into cloth bags and gave them to local stores, along with reusable, compostable bags. The grant went towards food for the volunteers, printed material, and biodegradable bags. In total, about 50 young people got involved in the project, making a definite dent in plastic bag use here.
OUR STAFF
CARLA LUTNER Chief Operations Officer
ERROL WINTER Chief Investment Officer
JOEY RUDICHUK Communications Officer
DANA BELLIS Project Officer
PAM HILL Education Program Coordinator
CHRISTINE CARTY Finance & Administration Manager
ADRIENNE BERTRAND Administration Assistant & Travel Program Coordinator
FEATURED PROJECT
BUILDING SKILLS IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT More than two dozen islanders learned essential project management skills at a one-day workshop organized by the Gwaii Trust in October 2018. The “Introduction to Project Management for Non-Profits” workshop, held in both Masset and Skidegate, covered subjects such as project planning, timelines, communication, and risk identification – all directly related to managing the kind of projects funded by Gwaii Trust and other organizations. Facilitators Shawn Hawkins and Bruce Hill brought years of experience in project management work in both government and industry. Islanders filled all the available spots in both workshops, gaining expertise that will directly benefit their communities and non-profit organizations.
Learning essential skills in project management.
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FEATURED PROJECT
CELEBRATING THE SUCCESS OF EDGE OF THE KNIFE It wowed audiences on Haida Gwaii and continues to gather acclaim across Canada and around the world. The movie SGaawaay K’uuna / Edge of the Knife – filmed entirely on Haida Gwaii, with Haida actors speaking the Haida language – was shown for the first time to full and enthusiastic community halls in Skidegate and Old Massett in September 2018. From there, it travelled to the Toronto International Film Festival, where it received rave reviews, and on to the Vancouver International Film Festival in October, where it was named Most Popular Canadian Film. The film’s success came after four years of careful and creative work, with goals of supporting the Haida language, building Haida skills in film production, creating local employment, and promoting Haida culture. This project had the strong support of the Haida community and received funding from a variety of sources, including the Gwaii Trust.
The Gwaii Trust provided two Major Contributions grants, totaling $179,642, for initiatives related to the Edge of the Knife. The first grant was for pre-production workshops and training, which took place in Skidegate, Old Massett and Taalungslung in the spring of 2017. The workshops focused on providing basic acting training, voice coaching, and movement/stunt choreography to the 24 community members who acted in the film, none of whom were professional performers, as well as creating authentic costumes and props, and building an authentic set. The second grant allowed the film’s producers to hold the first screenings on Haida Gwaii in celebratory style, with speeches, performances and formal acknowledgment of all involved, and to send the key creative team and lead actors to the film festivals in Toronto and Vancouver. It has also allowed some of those involved in the film to make presentations at academic conferences and events, to showcase the innovative and collaborative spirit of the Haida Nation.
Photos courtesy of SGaawaay K’uuna / Edge of the Knife
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WHAT WE DID IN 2018
238 125 21 18 $215,000 TO FOOD SECURITY $125,000 TO THE HAIDA LANGUAGE
PROGRAMS
$90,000 FOR YOUTH OUTDOOR CAMPS $40,000 FOR OFF-ISLAND UNIVERSITY
CONTINUING EDUCATION GRANTS TO HELP ISLANDERS PURSUING POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION TRAVEL GRANTS TO HELP PEOPLE ATTEND OFF-ISLAND EVENTS AND TOURNAMENTS ARTS PROGRAM GRANTS AWARDED TO INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS AND NON-PROFIT GROUPS
GRANTS TO YOUTH-FOCUSED INITIATIVES
$1,000,000 TOWARDS THE NEW
SKIDEGATE WELLNESS CENTRE
$45,000 IN BURSARIES FOR ALL STUDENTS GRADUATING FROM ISLAND HIGH SCHOOLS
$457,000 IN VIBRANT COMMUNITY
TOURS FOR LOCAL HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENTS
GRANTS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
$35,000 FOR COMMUNITY EVENTS
$395,000 IN MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS
GRANTS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND NONPROFIT GROUPS
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FEATURED PROJECTS YOUTH ON SKATEBOARDS
Photos courtesy of Will Murphy
Community Innovation grants funded several healthy youth initiatives in 2018, including new equipment for the Masset Skate Park Society. Twenty sets of skateboards, helmets, wrist guards, elbow pads and knee pads are now available in Masset, as well as mobile ramp equipment. The society, in partnership with the Haida Gwaii Recreation
Commission, has been running popular skateboarding programs at the Masset Roller Rink and is fundraising to build a skate park at the north end. The skateboarding equipment is now available for school and community use, providing islanders with another opportunity for physical activity.
SKIDEGATE HOSTS ALL-GIRLS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT The Skidegate Saints Junior Girls Basketball team fundraised to hold an all-girls under-18 tournament in December 2018 with girls’ teams from Masset, Hazelton and New Zealand participating. A Community Innovation grant helped with the cost of plane tickets between Vancouver and Masset for the Maori team as well as accommodations, food and on-island transportation. The tournament was a great opportunity for the Skidegate team to showcase their hosting skills, culture and community support, and sharpen their basketball skills. Big audiences came out to cheer the teams, sparking interest in younger girls. The Maori team has now invited Skidegate to play in a tournament in New Zealand later this year. Photo courtesy of Tracy Hageman
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2018 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 2018 Financial Highlights
Summary Statement of Financial Position As at December 31
2018
2017
257,550
692,318
83,190,167
87,535,685
48,750
48,750
9,747 298,068
6,528 315,380
83,804,282
88,598,661
223,002
161,646
5,133,873
3,763,789
755,064
768,257
6,111,939
4,693,692
60,875,633
59,681,993
298,068
315,380
Unrestricted net assets
16,518,642
23,907,596
Net assets
77,692,343
83,904,969
83,804,282
88,598,661
Report of the Independent Auditor on the Summary Financial Statements
Assets
To the members of The Gwaii Trust Society
Cash and receivables
Opinion
Investments at fair value
The summary financial statements, which comprise the summary statement of financial position as at December 31, 2018, and the summary statements of operations, changes in net assets and cash flows for the year then ended, and related notes, are derived from the audited financial statements of Gwaii Trust Society (the "Trust") for the year ended December 31, 2018.
Due from Athlii Gwaii Legacy Trust
In our opinion, the accompanying summary financial statements are a fair summary of the audited financial statements, in accordance with Canadian accounting standards for not-for-profit organizations.
Liabilities and Net Assets Current liabilities
Summary Financial Statements The summary financial statements do not contain all the disclosures required by Canadian accounting standards for not-for-profit organizations. Reading the summary financial statements and the auditor's report thereon, therefore, is not a substitute for reading the audited financial statements and the auditor's report thereon. The Audited Financial Statements and Our Report Thereon We expressed an unmodified audit opinion on the audited financial statements in our report dated April 25, 2019. Management’s Responsibility for the Summary Financial Statements Management is responsible for the preparation of the summary financial statements in accordance with Canadian accounting standards for not-for-profit organizations.
Due from Haida Gwaii Community Foundation Other assets
Program commitments Other liabilities Restricted net assets Invested in tangible capital assets
Summary Statement of Operations and Changes in Net Assets For the Year Ended December 31
2018
2017
Revenue Investment income
8,432,624
7,305,651
Unrealized gain on investments Other income
(9,406,211) 74
(317,546) 1,138
(973,513)
6,989,243
Expenses
Auditor’s Responsibility
Investment management and regulatory
488,144
481,544
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on whether the summary financial statements are a fair summary of the audited financial statements based on our procedures, which were conducted in accordance with Canadian Auditing Standards (CAS) 810, Engagements to Report on Summary Financial statements.
Administrative
808,166
720,639
Project commitments
4,220,631
2,767,461
Project de-commitments
(277,828) 5,239,113
(200,912) 3,768,732
Excess of revenue over expenses for the year
(6,212,626)
3,220,511
Net assets – beginning of year
83,904,969
80,684,458
Net assets – end of year
77,692,343
83,904,969
Terrace, BC April 25, 2019
Chartered Professional Accountants
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FEATURED PROJECT
CONNECTING COMMUNITIES: GWAIITEL BUILDS NEW FIBRE LINKS A Special Project grant of $500,000 enabled GwaiiTel and partner Gwaii Communications to embark on an ambitious project to build new fibre optic lines, bringing high-speed Internet to some of the most under-served locations on Haida Gwaii. Tow Hill, Port Clements, Tlell, Lawn Hill, Miller Creek and Sandspit were all identified as areas with limited or no internet service. With funding from the federal government, the Northern Development Initiative Trust, and the Gwaii Trust, Operation Connect Haida Gwaii is building fibre optic connections in these areas capable of delivering Internet speeds well above the minimum CRTC objective of 10 Mbps. The project will also construct a subsea fibre cable between Skidegate and Sandspit. A total of about 475 households will be affected, as well as many businesses and two schools. Once the project is complete, the vastly improved Internet service will allow them to access the same education, training and marketing opportunities as other islanders.
Digging the fibre optic line throughout Haida Gwaii. Photo courtesy of Gwaii Communications.
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WHAT WE FUNDED IN 2018
7% 12%
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT ADMINISTRATION
63% 18%
PROJECTS
INFLATION PROTECTION
The Gwaii Trust spent approximately $5.5 million in 2018, and set aside a further $1.2 million to protect our perpetual fund from inflation. Our expenses fall into four main categories: project spending, investment management and other professional fees, administration, and inflation protection. As always, in 2018 the biggest portion of our spending was on projects: the grants we distribute to communities, local non-profit organizations and individual islanders, through our suite of programs.
PROJECTS:
$4,220,631 (63%) ADMINISTRATION:
$808,166 (12%)
This represents the total amount distributed by the Gwaii Trust as grants in 2017, providing direct benefits to Haida Gwaii. Our funded projects are listed on pages 16-17.
Almost all of this money is spent on Haida Gwaii. It includes wages for our staff, honoraria for our board of directors, and rent and other expenses for our two offices.
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT: $488,144 (7%)
INFLATION PROTECTION: $1,193,640 (18%)
This pays for investment managers and a custodian to look after the trust fund and make sure it is generating as much income as possible.
Every year, we reinvest a portion of our income back into the perpetual fund so that its value won’t be eroded by inflation, protecting the original investment for future generations. This year’s amount reflects the Canadian Consumer Price Index of 2.0%. The core value of the Gwaii Trust was just under $61 million at the end of 2018. Under our constitution, this money can never be allocated or expended. 12
FEATURED PROJECTS
AT SEA: EXPANDING OCEAN RESCUE RANGE The ocean surrounding Haida Gwaii can be dangerous. Wind and waves can be extreme, and the area is remote. When people get into trouble in the waters of Northern Haida Gwaii, the closest help comes from the Massett Marine Rescue Society, a group of dedicated volunteers who have been responding to calls from their base in Masset since 2004. Last year, the society was notified that their zodiac fast response rescue vessel had surpassed its 10-year operations period and would require a full inspection, re-fit and re-certification. The Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue recommended that the society acquire a new vessel, and keep the old one as a backup. Thanks in part to a Major Contributions grant of $100,000, the society was able to acquire a new vessel that meets higher standards, increases rescue range, and greatly increases the safety of the crew and rescued persons with better protection from the elements, better navigational and communication systems and better first-aid delivery. The new rescue vessel will benefit islanders and visitors who may need marine emergency services. It will also benefit the volunteers, who will receive up-to-date training and experience on a well-equipped, modern vessel. New rescue boat build underway • Photos courtesy of Chris Ashurst
ON THE LAND: ROAD REPAIRS BRING A CAMPSITE BACK TO LIFE Spectacular Gray Bay, a popular camping and day-use site within the Kunxalas protected area, is only about a 30-minute drive from Sandspit. But by last spring, the road had become so pitted with potholes that it was almost impossible to get there. The Sandspit Community Society came up with the idea of fixing the road so that both locals and tourists could continue to access and enjoy the site. A $55,413 Vibrant Communities grant allowed the community society to hire local companies to grade and brush the 25 kilometre road, and maintain regular grading throughout the summer. Project lead Ellen Foster said the improvements led to economic spin-offs for local businesses as more tourists were able to get to the campsite, created several jobs, and fulfilled the wishes of the many community members who visit the site regularly.
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Top: trees down on the road. Below: After clearing.
WHERE THE MONEY COMES FROM The Trust’s rate of return for 2018 was -0.9%; year to date the Trust has returned 4.85% (March 15th, 2019).
18 0 2
-0.9%
7 1 0 2
8.4%
6 201
7%
10.8%
2014
2015
16.08%
2013
7.9%
12.33%
The Gwaii Trust Board continues to look for additional revenues through conservative incremental portfolio adjustments as markets evolve.
2012
6.04%
2011
7.13%
2010
2009
12.98%
Our fund is well diversified over a number of economic sectors, geographic areas, and fund managers. We invest in Canadian and global equities, mortgages, bonds, and real estate. We utilize the expertise of three separate fund managers with all trades managed by our custodial teams at RBC & National Trust.
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CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SUCCESSFUL GRANT APPLICANTS FOR 2018 ARTS GRANT Ravenstail Weaving in Gaaw
Individual
$10,000
Tluu Carving Project
Individual
$9,975
Children's Book “I Am a Kitty”
Individual
$2,344
Cocoon Exhibition
Individual
$1,285
Individual
$2,116
Expressions of Haida Gwaii Nature HGAC 2018-19 Performing Arts Haida Gwaii Singing Retreat
Haida Gwaii Arts Council Tow Hill Community Association
$10,000 $7,300
ARTS MENTORSHIP Individual
$3,000
Traditional Haida Hat Weaving
Individual
$2,940
ARTS WORKSHOP Edge of the World Music Festival Edge of the World Music Festival
$2,468
Skateboard Equipment Haida Gwaii Ham Radio Repeater Replacement Girls Basketball Tournament Woodstove, Landscaping and Maintenance Meals on Wheels & Green House Seeds Feed the People Food Bank ADP North End Food Bank
$2,293 $5,245 $8,884 $10,000
Skidegate Band Council
$10,000
Mount Moresby Adventure Camp
$7,557
Skidegate Health Centre
$9,000
Islands Wellness Society
$32,000
Adult Day Program Masset Local Foods to School Program and Northern Health c/o Masset in Motion
$35,000
Haida Gwaii Local Foods Pantry
Individual
$2,895
Feed the Hungry
Health Communities
$5,000
Individual
$2,106
Caring and Sharing
Noni Lil's
$5,000
Individual
$910
Individual
$1,875
Xaad Kil Strengthening Project
Sk'aadgaa Naay Elementary School
$583
$44,000
HAIDA LANGUAGE
Immersion Classes
Secretariat of the Haida Nation Skidegate Haida Immersion Program
$50,000 $50,000
KIDS CAMPS
Individual
$2,865
Forest Stewardship Program
Haida Gwaii Arts Council
$2,045
Swan Bay Rediscovery
Individual
$3,000
Soda Firing Workshop
Individual
$796
2018 Capital Project
Yarnbombing 2018
Individual
$1,955
Introduction to Post Secondary Thinking Celebrating Healthy Aging and Elders Mental Health First Aid and Suicide Intervention Training Haida Gwaii Youth Stewardship Program
$1,000
$2,238
Rediscovery Haida Gwaii
Mount Moresby Adventure Camp Swan Bay Rediscovery Society Old Massett Village Council
$30,000 $30,000 $30,000
MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS Sandspit Volunteer Fire Department
$50,000
Village of Masset
$50,000
Massett Marine Rescue Society
$100,000
Literacy Haida Gwaii
$4,565
Tsunami Evacuation Facility Vessel Acquisition Project
Haida Gwaii Society for Community Peace
$10,000
Celebrating and Sharing Edge of the Knife
Secretariat of the Haida Nation
$79,642
Skidegate Health Centre
$9,459
Skidegate Band Council
$115,687
Ministry of FLNRO & RD
$10,000
Elder Complex and Wellness Centre Servicing and Site Preparation
COMMUNITY INNOVATION
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Storage Facility
GidGalang Kuuyas Naay Secondary Secret Garden Community Society Haida Gwaii Funeral Services Masset Skate Park Society Haida Gwaii Amateur Radio Club
FOOD SECURITY
Summer Haida Art Apprenticeship
Edge of the World Music Festival Spoken Word Poetry Slam Workshop Public Outreach Workshops Tony Clennell Pottery Workshop Maiwa Workshop "Garden Dye Pot" Comics Camp in Juneau Alaska Drum Making Workshop Art & Yoga Mentorship & Teacher Training LOOSEN UP! Workshop. All Island Art Show London International Filmmakers Festival Workshop
Boating and Food Safe Certificates Masset Cemetery Pioneer Project
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SUCCESSFUL GRANT APPLICANTS FOR 2018 VIBRANT HAIDA GWAII COMMUNITIES Fire Hall Maintenance and New Gear Gray Bay Road Sewer Treatment Infrastructure Public Outreach Water Tower Demolition Pavement Restoration Project Moresby Market Committee - Table Purchase Cemetery Boundary Survey Fire Hall Construction Design Spring Clean Up Wharf Street Beach Access Heating Efficiency Project
Tlell Volunteer Firefighters Association Sandspit Community Society
$20,000 $55,413
Village of Queen Charlotte
$7,000
Village of Port Clements
$10,000
Village of Masset
$191,248
Sandspit Community Society
$906
The Tlell Cemetery Society Village of Queen Charlotte Village of Queen Charlotte Village of Queen Charlotte Village of Masset
$6,272 $119,750 $1,915
Climbers GTN Climbing Wall
Sandspit Community Society Village of Queen Charlotte Skidegate Youth Centre Old Masset Youth Centre Port Clements Elementary School Gudangaay Tlaats'gaa Naay Chief Matthews School
Youth Mentorship Program
QC Support Services Society Tahayghen Elementary School
Comic Book Week Annual Summer Program 2018 Stop Plastic Bags Project Limestone Soccer Equipment Pacific Unity 22U Summer Series
Haida Gwaii Recreation Gudangaay Tlaats'gaa Naay Laskeek Bay Conservation Society Haida Gwaii Youth Soccer Association Skidegate Saints Basketball Club
$6,775
School District 50
$10,000
School District 50
$10,000
Navy League of Canada
$2,690
SPECIAL PROJECTS Gwaii Tel Last Mile Upgrades Athlii Gwaii Reunion Tour Programs Expansion on Haida Gwaii Wellness Centre
Gwaii Communications
$500,000
Old Massett Village Council
$168,377
Haida Gwaii Institute
$189,520
Skidegate Health Centre
$1,000,000
COMMUNITY EVENTS GRANT Village of Masset
$5000
$38,870
Christmas Dinners, Hampers, Community, Clean Up, Christmas Classic Jerseys
Old Massett Village Council
$5000
$10,000
Danish Consulate Visit
CHN Old Massett
$5000
$10,000
Canada Day, Tlell Fall Fair, Edge of the World Music Festival
Village of Port Clements
$5000
Easter Event, Swap & Shop, Movies in the Park, Halloween Haunted Walk, Tree Lighting
Village of Queen Charlotte
$5000
Loggers Sports Days
Sandspit Community Society
$5000
$6,383
$10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000
YOUTH GRANT Outdoor Adventure
Royal Canadian Sea Cadets Corps Start Up
School District 50
Harbour Days, Tow Hill Clean Up
YOUTH CENTRED COMMUNITIES Youth Sports Equipment 2018 Youth Centre Operations Peer2Peer Support Staff Wages Youth Mentorship Program
Caring Community Schools GTN Plastic to Fuel Machine GKNS Senior French Class Cultural Trip to Ottawa
$6,177
WINTER HOLIDAYS GRANT
$5,000
Annual Christmas Turkey Allocation
$1,500
Food Bank Donation
$10,000
Community Christmas Hampers Christmas Allocation, Port Bucks
$3,190 $10,000 $8,088 $8,000
Skidegate Band Council Village of Queen Charlotte Old Massett Village Council
$10,000 $10,000 $10,000
Village of Port Clements
$10,000
Christmas Allocation
Village of Masset
$10,000
Christmas Allocation
Moresby Island Management Standing Committee
$10,000
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FEATURED PROJECT
GWAII TRUST HAIDA LANGUAGE PROGRAM – CELEBRATING FIVE YEARS Since 2014, the Gwaii Trust has made $550,000 available for Haida language programming, with $367,405 allocated to date to programs in Old Massett and Skidegate. At the south end, the Skidegate Haida Immersion Program has been offering immersion classes and writing a glossary of Skidegate Haida. At the north end, the Xaad Kil Strengthening Project was launched in 2018, as a multi-faceted approach aimed at increasing language health in Old Massett. The project is now delivering programs, creating resources, and building community infrastructure for an effective and healthy revitalization strategy, with help from a $50,000 Haida Language grant. The Xaad Kil office in Old Massett, which receives matching funds from the Council of the Haida Nation, has three part-time staff: a resource coordinator, a program coordinator and an administrative coordinator. This team offers resources and culture programs to schools, offices and any community member willing to learn Xaad Kil. The structure of the office is based on community input and needs, through an advisory committee and community
engagement meetings. Through the coming year, the project plans to create resources for every household in Old Massett to learn Xaad Kil, host 24 dinners to speak Xaad Kil, and host 10 regalia/sewing/craft workshops. In addition to the three staff in the office, the project will employ elders to help create resources, mentor learners, and ensure proper pronunciation. It will also employ language instructors, a resource creation specialist, workshop facilitators to lead activities like weaving, food preserving and song creation, and artists to create signage for the “Naming Our World” project. “The Xaad Kil Strengthening project will greatly benefit the Northern Haida Gwaii communities where Xaad Kil is meant to be spoken and thrive. Promoting and using the language of Haida Gwaii is paramount to the survival of the worldview and expression that honours this land that sustains us,” wrote Leslie Brown in the grant application. “The Xaad Kil goal is to reach every household and support every learner, no matter their skill level, while teaching them skills that deepen their Haida roots through language and culture.”
Photos courtesy of Jaskwaan Bedard
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THOSE WHO STOOD ON THE LINE ATHLII GWAII, 1985
NOVEMBER 16
NOVEMBER 22
NOVEMBER 27
Ethel Jones Watson Price Ada Yovanovich Adolphus Marks
Kenneth John Davis John Thomas Jones Christopher M. Collison Barry Deon Bell Teddy Elroy Williams
Marchel Ann Shannon Shelley Louise Lavoie Waneeta Ruth Richardson Jennifer F. Davidson Ronald Torres Souza Alfred Setso James Irvin Stanley
NOVEMBER 18 Brad Collinson Frederick Donald Davis Mervin James Dunn Andrew Harold Edgars Lawrence Morris Jones Colin Stuart Richardson Ronald Richard Russ Noel Douglas White Martin Williams John Yeltatzie
NOVEMBER 20 Harold L. Yeltatzie Willard Wilson Diane Kathleen Brown Rose Lynn Russ Laura Carol Williams Richard Craig Williams Reginald Max Wesley James Franklin McGuire Merle Emily Adams Henry Grady Wilson Barbara Grace Stevens Jacqueline Kim Yovanovich
NOVEMBER 25 Valerie Jones Laverne Collinson Diana Jacqueline Hans Patricia Ann Gellerman Paulette Laverne Robinson Marni Lynn York Colleen Marissa Williams Audra Charlyn Collison David James M. Brock James Thomas Stelkia Mervin James Dunn Joey Abel T. Parnell Vincent Paul Pearson Jody Henry Russ Ronald Ernest Wilson Lawrence Drager Sally Ann Edgars Kathleen Marie Pearson Russell Clive Edgars Harold Owen Wilson Herman Collinson Clayton E. Gladstone Gordon Donovan Russ Stuart McLean Michael Earl Allen Troy Pearson Frank Coleman Baker Fred M. Richardson
NOVEMBER 28 Dorothy Eva Russ
NOVEMBER 29 James Young Linda Louise Day Beatrice Mae Drager Ronald Alexander George Nigel Marc Pearson Harold George Williams
THOSE WHO WERE CHARGED & CONVICTED Miles Richardson Jr. Guujaaw John Yeltatzie Diane Brown Arnie Bellis Frederick Davis Colin Richardson Roberta Olsen Lawrence Jones Martin Williams Michael Nicoll Yaghulanaas Willard Wilson
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HUNTED TO DANCED REGALIA MAKING PROJECT Youth learned to tan deer hides with traditional methods. The finished hides were cut and sewn into regalia, adorned with Haida design, and brought to life through a celebration of song and dance. Photographs by Jack Litrell.
PO Box 588, Masset, BC V0T 1M0 162 Raven Ave, Old Massett Phone: 1-800-663-2388 • 250-626-3654
gwaiitrust.com
PO Box 1257, Skidegate, BC V0T 1S1 226 Front Street, Skidegate Phone: 1-877-559-8883 • 250-559-8883