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Canada invests more in ocean protection
Boats were sent in November for elders, while chum salmon regularly swim over the fl ooded road by Nitinaht
By Karly Blats Ha-Shilth-Sa Contributor
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Nitinaht Lake, BC - Construction for a much-needed new bypass road will begin this summer for the Ditidaht First Nation to allow community members in and out of the village during bad fl oods. For decades, the Ditidaht First Nation have endured chronic fl ooding of a portion of the Carmanah Mainline that runs parallel to the Nitinat River. This is the main access into and out of the Ditidaht Village of Malachan at Nitinaht Lake. The San Group is donating funds and services to the nation to help construct the new road from the Malachan Village to the Lake Cowichan junction that bypasses the fl ood prone area along the Nitinat River. Past fl ooding caused by heavy rain and snowfall has resulted in waters reaching around fi ve feet in some areas of the road. There is a back access road to the village, but locals say it is not always open. Sometimes a forestry company locks the gates or downed trees block the road. “Imagine not being able to have access to your home or having emergency services restricted,” said Kamal Sanghera, co-owner of San Group, in a release. “Safe, reliable access to all our communities is something we all deserve. It should not be considered a luxury.” Kevin Somerville, vice president of operations at San Group, said the forestry company donated an undisclosed amount to the Carmanah Main Bypass Road project, coving a “signifi cant” portion of the construction cost. They also donated in-kind services and professional advice. The Ditidaht Economic Development Corporation (DEDC) will apply revenues generated from its forestry and tourism operation to help cover costs of the project. “The Ditidaht Economic Development Corporation decided to embark on generating its own funds to create an emergency bypass so that our people, in an emergency situation, have access to either go out to Duncan or Port Alberni during the fl ood seasons,” said Ditidaht First Nation Chief Councillor Brian Tate. Tate said last year’s winter storms were so bad they caused the road to close several times, resulting in community members being trapped in, or out, of the village. “We get heavy snows back there in the mountains where the other bypass was and there’s also other fl ooding zones out there now where there wasn’t before,” Tate said. “In November when the chum are running and the rains are hard enough that it fl oods the road, salmon will go across the road.” Tate added that last year a boat had to be sent to rescue a few of the community’s elders who were trapped in their homes by the fl oods. “I’m excited to have this road access out during the winter months when the roads are fl ooding so it’ll be less worry on our people and better safety for our people,” Tate said.
Photo taken from Crystal Watts video A video shared online by Crystal Watts shows her truck driving through a fl ooded road to the Nitinaht Lake community on Jan. 12.
By Melissa Renwick Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the next phase of Canada’s Oceans Protection Plan on July 19. It comes with a commitment to add $2 billion over nine years. This builds on the $1.5 billion that’s been directed towards the program, which was launched in 2016. Established to strengthen the protection of Canada’s coasts and wildlife, the Oceans Protection Plan is being labelled as a “Canadian success story” by the prime minister’s offi ce (PMO). “When Indigenous peoples, industry, communities, academia, and government work together to protect our environment, grow our economy, and support good jobs across the country, we deliver real results,” a release from the PMO read. Federal NDP Fisheries critic Lisa Marie Barron said that any commitment being made to protect Canada’s oceans, coastal communities and marine ecosystems is “excellent.” “I’m very excited about that,” she said. But, she said, “I also want to see that that money is actually being delivered and being used.” Of the $1.5 billion that was promised in 2016, only $1.2 billion of it has been spent, Barron said. “We’re in a climate crisis,” she said. “We have so many areas that need that funding allocated immediately. The fact that we’re carrying funds is concerning to me.” The Oceans Protection Plan focuses on mitigating and responding to pollution, said Barron. “I would like to see more happening on the prevention side,” she said. For instance, Barron noted it should be more diffi cult for boat owners to abandon their vessels in the ocean. “The incentives to actually take care of the boat properly are signifi cantly lower than it is to just abandon it,” she said. According to the federal government, the success of Canada’s Oceans Protection Plan is being measured through increased collaboration with Indigenous peoples and coastal communities, as well as the passing of new legislation. This includes the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act (WAHVA), which became law in 2019 and made it illegal to abandon a vessel in Canadian waters. And yet, the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) recently watched a fi shing vessel sink in the Alberni Inlet with 500 litres of diesel onboard in the middle of a salmon migratory route. A 34-foot gillnetter that was actively fi shing began to sink after getting caught on rocks as the tide was receding in the morning on July 11. The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) received a report around 3:15 a.m. CCG’s Bamfi eld lifeboat station crew were the fi rst on the scene and observed a “small non-recoverable light sheen about four cables south of the vessel, but no pollution was observed around the vessel itself,” said Michelle Imbeau, spokesperson for the CCG. Western Canada Marine Response Corporation (WCMRC) was mobilized to work alongside the Coast Guard to respond to the incident near Hocking Point. According to Michael Lowry, WCMRC senior communications manager, a boom was positioned around the vessel to contain the spill and sorbent pads were placed within the containment area to absorb diesel that had leaked out. At the time, the coast guard said the vessel owner had hired a contractor to salvage the vessel on July 12. WCMRC Indigenous Relations Advisor Jonathan Wray said that days later, the boat’s owner and the salvage company that was hired had gone “completely dark” and were not returning any calls. On July 13, the CCG assured that it was working towards a salvage contract, but did not have a salvage date. “As the vessel owner has failed to take action, the CCG is making plans to have the vessel removed from the marine environment,” the CCG said on July 13. The vessel is now believed to be 120 feet underwater and the CCG said “there are no plans to raise, salvage or remove the vessel.” This is based on the “diminished and minimal threat to the marine environment,” the CCG said. According to the Coast Guard, the containment and recovery of diesel on the water was “eff ective and no oil impacted the shoreline.” The boom was removed in consultation with Tseshaht First Nation after there was no observable hydrocarbons on the water for seven days, said the CCG. “A comprehensive hazard assessment under the authorities granted to the Coast Guard by the Wrecked Abandoned and Hazardous Vessels Act is currently underway and the results of the assessment will determine next steps,” according the CCG. Tseshaht First Nation Elected Chief Ken Watts said he hoped the boat would have been dealt with and pulled out of the marine environment “as soon as possible.” While Watts said the Coast Guard and WCMRC were quick to respond to the incident and recovered the upwelling of diesel using sorbent pads, the vessel should have been removed “immediately.” “It shows a gap in terms of how things are dealt with and who deals with them,” he said. “Get it done, and fi gure out who pays for it later. You can’t put a price tag on the environment.” A release from the PMO maintained that the expanded Oceans Protection Plan will help make further progress to improve the “effi ciency, safety and sustainability of Canada’s marine supply chains and mitigate their impacts on the environment, including by advancing research on marine pollution, ecosystems, and wildlife.” Meanwhile, Barron said the plan is “disjointed.” In October 2021, 109 shipping containers were knocked from cargo ship Zim Kingston while it was travelling through rough seas off the west coast of Vancouver Island. Only four were recovered. “It’s a horrible example of the lack of prevention and planning and work happening with local and Indigenous communities,” said Barron. Rather than responding by integrating local communities and First Nations, Barron said the ship’s owner hired contractors who were not familiar with the area. “What ends up happening is that there’s a delayed response time,” said Barron. The Zim Kingston container spill is an example of where there are gaps, she said. “If we had gold in one of these containers that had sunk, I can assure you we’d fi gure out pretty quickly where it is and how to get it out,” Barron added. There needs to be an “integrated response plan, similar to that of an oil spill,” she said. “We’re seeing more and more containers spilling into the ocean and they have horrible detrimental impacts on our ecosystems,” Barron said. “There’s a lot of work that needs to be done within diff erent areas of the federal government, but also alongside all levels of government. In particular, those who are local and on the ground in our coastal communities.” According to the PMO, the Oceans Protection Plan is a “whole-of-government eff ort,” with responsibility shared between Transport Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Canadian Coast Guard, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Natural Resources Canada, and Health Canada, with support from Public Services and Procurement Canada and Global Aff airs Canada. Joyce Murray, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, maintained in a release that whether it’s responding to marine emergencies, or restoring aquatic ecosystems, the government will be “working in partnership with Indigenous peoples and coastal communities to protect Canada’s mariners, waterways, and shorelines now, and for the generations to come.” Barron said the plan doesn’t go far enough and that prevention pieces need to be put into place. “We need to think holistically,” she said. “And stop committing to bandage solutions and instead focus on preventing disasters and pollution in the oceans from starting in the fi rst place.”
Photo supplied by Western Canada Marine Response Corporation Booms are placed around a sinking vessel in the Alberni Inlet on July 13. The fi shing boat remains sunk at the location.
Ken Watts
Pope visit addresses residential schools survivors
Appearances took place at events in Edmonton, Iqaluit and Quebec City over Francis’s fi ve-days in Canada
By Melissa Renwick Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Pope Francis toured three regions in Canada between July 24 and 29 on what was called a historic journey of “healing and reconciliation.” Earlier this year at the Vatican, the Pope apologized to Indigenous representatives from across Canada for “the deplorable behaviour” of members of the Catholic Church who caused harm to Indigenous communities through the residential school system. “I feel shame,” he said in his apology speech on April 1. “Shame and sorrow” for the abuse and lack of respect shown for Indigenous identity, culture and spiritual values, the Pope said. The last of Canada’s 139 residential schools didn’t close until the late 1990s. During the 19th and 20th centuries, it’s estimated that over 150,000 Indigenous children were forced into the system, which tried to strip them of their language, culture and heritage. Many never returned. Barney Williams was only six years old when he was taken from his home in Opitsaht, on Meares Island, and transported to the Christie Residential School. To this day, he is triggered by the years of abuse he endured while attending the school on Vancouver Island. Williams never spoke of his abuse, hiding it from everyone he knew – including his wife – until he bared his soul to a set of strangers while giving his testimony during a hearing for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2005. The 82-year-old, who has been living with the impacts of his time at residential school his entire life, said an apology “should have been made a long time ago.” “It’s about time,” he said. In May, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a statement embracing Pope Francis’ visit to Canada. “I welcome the news of his holiness Pope Francis’ visit to Canada this summer to formally deliver the Roman Catholic Church’s apology for its role in operating residential schools that caused lasting pain and suff ering to Indigenous Peoples in this country,” Trudeau wrote. The formal, in-person apology to survivors and their families responds to one of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action, Trudeau said. This is an “important and necessary step,” he added. “For far too long, this has been a burden carried by Indigenous Peoples alone,” Trudeau said. “I encourage all Canadians to watch this historic moment and refl ect on the impacts of colonialism.” Pope Francis will be visiting Edmonton, Iqaluit and Quebec City. According to a release from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, the limited locations and time period of the visit was in consideration of Pope Francis’ health. “The locations will limit travel for the Holy Father while still allowing an opportunity for both intimate and public encounters, drawing on participation from all regions of the country,” the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops wrote. Edmonton is home to the second largest number of Indigenous peoples living in urban Canadian centres. There were 25
Photo supplied by the Vatican Pope Francis had appearances in Edmonton, Iqaluit and Quebec City over fi ve-days in Canada from July 24 to 29.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
residential schools that operated in Alberta – more than any other jurisdiction in Canada. Iqaluit is home to the highest population of Inuit of all Canadian cities and towns, and Quebec City provides an eastern hub for those who wish to see the Pope. The federal government committed to provide $30.2 million to Indigenous communities and organizations for community-led activities relating to the papal visit. These include healing activities, events, ceremonies and travel for survivors. Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Aff airs Canada said an additional $3 million was available to support coordination in the three host regions by Indigenous partners. An added $2 million was provided to support translation of the apology into Indigenous languages, as well as interpretation of the events. The British Columbia Assembly of First Nations (BCAFN) was allocated tickets for each site during the papal visit and worked to coordinate with residential school survivors who wanted to witness the Pope’s apology through online registration. BCAFN Regional Chief Terry Teegee said Indigenous communities called for an “unqualifi ed apology.” Overwhelmingly, Teegee said survivors hoped the Pope apologized on behalf of the Catholic Church that allowed this to happen, rather than on behalf of certain members of the church. There were 18 Indian Residential Schools that operated in B.C., along with over 100 day schools. The majority of these were “run by the Catholic Church under contract by the government of Canada,” said Teegee. “This apology also needs to go further,” he said in a statement after the Pope’s initial apology on April 1. “The Pope’s claim that only some church members were responsible for these crimes continues to sidestep the role the entire institution played in committing this horrifi c abuse.” While an apology won’t “off er full closure,” Teegee said he hoped it would help many First Nations in their healing journeys. “There’s more issues to be dealt with,” including addiction issues that were “born” from the residential school system, he said. Williams echoed the sentiment and said “you just have to look to the streets to see the impacts.” “We’re still suff ering,” he said. “There are First Nations on the streets with addiction problems from having parents who went to residential [school] – they’re products of that as well.” Indeed, First Nations people have been disproportionately impacted by toxicdrug poisoning. According to the First Nations Health Authority, First Nations people died at 5.3 times the rate of other B.C. residents in 2020. Teegee said he planned to travel to Edmonton for the event to help BCAFN off er support to survivors. Traditional healers, elders and other mental wellness supports were available to residential school survivors, their families and communities throughout the papal visit, according to Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Aff airs Canada. Williams said he wasn’t able to travel to Edmonton because of his health and wondered how many others are in a similar position. “I would like to [attend],” he said. “But it’s too much for many of us that are not well anymore.” The Tla-o-qui-aht elder said he hoped for “sincerity” from the Pope’s apology, as well as a plan for how the Catholic Church intends to repair the damage that’s been done. “What are they going to do about the damage that’s been done over all the years that these places were operated by the Catholic Church,” Williams questioned. “It’s not over by a long stretch.”
