Canada’s Oldest First Nation’s Newspaper - Serving Nuu-chah-nulth-aht since 1974 Canadian Publications Mail Product Vol. 30 - No. 18 - September 11, 2003 haas^i>sa “ Interesting News ” Sales Agreement No. 40047776
NTC takes top prize at Alberni Fall Fair By David Wiwchar Southern Region Reporter Port Alberni - The Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council’s Fall Fair booth was given the Chairman’s Award; the top award for displays at the popular, 58th annual event. Designed by Kelly Porier (nee Foxcroft), the booth was a magnificent display of Nuu-chah-nulth culture in both modern and past times. The challenge was to meet the fall fair’s annual theme, which this year was ‘sheep’. “I spent quite a few hours combing through museum archives to find a Nuu-chah-nulth connection to sheep and wool,” said Porier. “It was a really interesting and educational opportunity to explore issues of intermarriage and coast-wide trading with other Nations that brought wool and wool clothing into our communities.” Inside a small longhouse-type structure draped with cedar boughs, old black and white photos blended with colourful contemporary pictures of a vibrant Nuuchah-nulth culture. Wool sweaters knitted by the late Rosie
Ross and Ellen Tatoosh hung above intricately woven ornamental grass baskets. NTC staff contributed their time and efforts, working to develop ideas into reality, and staffing the booth throughout the weekend, answering questions about the tribal council and its role in west coast communities. "There is great value in cross-cultural education, and this type of event allows us to showcase some of the many ways in which NCN have in the past, and continue to make rich contributions to society, in both historical and contemporary sense,” said NTC Executive Director Florence Wylie. “Being awarded top prize reflects the outstanding care and committment the dedicated NTC staff have for our organization,” said co-chair Shawn Atleo. “Well done to all who were involved,” he said.
Kelly Porier (Foxcroft) holds the “Chairman’s Award” ribbon in front of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council’s fall fair booth in Port Alberni last weekend.
Thunderbirds battle BC’s biggest fire By David Wiwchar Southern Region Reporter The Thunderbirds Fire Crew continues to be exceptionally busy this year, fighting fires around the province in this, the driest summer on record. The Thunderbirds, a largely First Nations crew based in Port Alberni, have been fighting the 10,000 hectare Lamb Creek fire near Cranbrook for the past month, and could be there for at least another month, according to crew member John Swift.
The Thunderbirds, a largely First Nations crew based in Port Alberni, have been fighting the 10,000 hectare Lamb Creek fire near Cranbrook for the past month, and could be there for at least another month, according to crew member John Swift. “We’ve spent the past month in Cranbrook fighting the Lamb Creek
fire,” said Swift. “Before that we were in Hope, Nakusp, and a few other small places in the Interior. We average 12 hour shifts but some days we’ve gone for 28 hours straight. Even though our contract ends on September 6th, and some of the guys have left to go back to university, we’ll probably be here for at least another month, and that’s if the weather cooperates,” he said. There are almost 800 fires currently burning in British Columbia with 284 in the southeast part of the province. The Lamb Creek fire (15 km SW of Cranbrook) was discovered on Aug 7th and is one of the largest fires burning in the province today. The fire remains at approximately 10,637 hectares in size, and more than 1,000 people have been evacuated from 598 homes in the fire area, but there have been no serious injuries, and no structures have been lost. “In my 31 years I’ve never seen this many fires and this complexity of fire,” said Bob Pfannenschmidt, Thunderbirds’ leader, and Incident Commander for the
Alarm bells ring for Nuu-chah-nulth language ....... Page 2 NTC organizes Oil & Gas Symposium ...................... Page 4 Maa-nulth conducts study for Oil & Gas Team ....... Page 5 Controversy over Alaskan Subsistence Rights ........ Page 6 Central Region opens Industrial Park ....................... Page 7 Dick family hosts reunion ............................................ Page 10 NEDC Business News ................................................... Page 20
Lamb Creek and Moyie Lake fires. “The Lamb fire is the ugliest fire you’re ever going to see, steep-terrain wise, and wind wise. We got hammered for 4 days with 30 to 70 km/h winds. There’s nothing you can do but get the people out of the way,” he said.
“In my 31 years I’ve never seen this many fires and this complexity of fire,” said Bob Pfannenschmidt, Thunderbirds’ leader, and Incident Commander for the Lamb Creek and Moyie Lake fires. “The Lamb fire is the ugliest fire you’re ever going to see, steep-terrain wise, and wind wise. We got hammered for 4 days with 30 to 70 km/h winds. There’s nothing you can do but get the people out of the way.,” he said. “No one I’ve spoken with has ever seen anything close to this,” said Swift. “It’s
total destruction. Nothing is left of the forest except for gray dust,” he said. The Thunderbirds constructed primary, secondary and tertiary fireguards. The fire managed to jump almost two kilometers over the first two fire guards, but the third guard has held for the past week. There are 500 Forest Service fire fighters and 170 structural fire fighters battling the blaze, helped by 17 helicopters, 120 pieces of heavy equipment, and 2 boats. “It’s really fatiguing, and not just physically. It’s mentally challenging too,” said Swift, adding there’s a very good chance the crew could go on to fight other forest fires. “Everybody, including the division supervisors, has been really impressed by our crew,” said Pfannenschmidt. “The T-birds are an integral part of the organization here. They’re a top notch crew, that’s for sure. I wish I had more of them,” he said.
If undeliverable, please return to: Ha-Shilth-Sa P.O. Box 1383, Port Alberni, B.C. V9Y 7M2
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