Inside this issue... Housing project for abused women underway

The upcoming 22-unit complex on City of Port Alberni-owned land is set to be complete in the summer of 2023

By Denise Titian Ha-Shilth-Sa Reporter

Port Alberni, BC – A new multi-unit facility is being built in Port Alberni, providing safe living spaces for women and their children escaping violence. The Attorney General and Ministry Responsible for Housing made the announcement on Nov. 25. Sage Haven (formerly Alberni Community and Women’s Services Society) offers fi rst-stage transition homes to women and their children. This new development is set to off er a temporary place to stay for women and children escaping violence. Sage Haven identifi ed a need for second-stage housing in the community, which provides short-term accommodation with on-site supports. Residents will typically live in the units for six to 24 months before moving to more permanent housing.

Tofi no highway opens to two-way traffi c this winter By Denise Titian Ha-Shilth-Sa Reporter Kennedy Lake, BC – The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure announced that the Kennedy Hill section of Highway 4, which has been under construction since the fall of 2018, will soon open to two-way traffi c. The announcement came in a November 22 ministry update on the project, which was originally scheduled to be complete by fall 2020. The 1.5-kilometre section of highway is being made safer and will include a rest area with washrooms. “The road has been straightened and fl attened, with better visibility, wider travel lanes and shoulders, and new roadside barriers between the highway and Kennedy Lake,” according to the ministry statement. They went on to say that, weather per-

Citaapi Mahtii signs deed for housing development By Alexandra Mehl Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Port Alberni, BC - On Tuesday, Nov. 29, Gina Amos, Wally Samuel, George Frank, and Ed Ross met with Port Alberni Mayor Sharie Minions. They came together for the signing of the deed to the former Cedarwood Elementary School, where they plan to build an aff ordable mitting, two-way traffi c will start fl owing housing complex for Ahousaht members again this winter on the Kennedy Hill living in Port Alberni. section of Highway 4, reducing delays for Roughly four years ago Ahousaht’s people travelling between Port Alberni elected chief and council initiated the and the west coast of Vancouver Island. search for housing for the First Nation’s The Ministry of Transportation says the members living in Port Alberni, said project, which is now more than 90 per Ahousaht elder Wally Samuel. cent complete, has removed overhanging “A lot of us [have] been living here rock, which was a hazard for commersince the ‘60s, and we have almost 500 cial vehicles and a source of rockfalls Ahousahts that live in Port Alberni,” said onto the highway. A new rest area with Samuel. washroom facilities and viewpoint will “It’s something I know we’ve been be accessible for all vehicle types. An striving for years and years,” said George improved drainage system will meet new Frank (Ma’tuah), of Ahousaht, specifi cal- standards that increase resiliency to the ly, Kelthsmaht and Qwaats’wii. “Most of changing climate. our people are in Port Alberni, and that’s The project is expected to be completed why we chose Port Alberni.” in the spring of 2023. Once both lanes With units varying from studios to are open, traffi c impacts will be reduced four-bedroom, the complex will provide to nighttime closures and minor interrupaff ordable housing for urban Ahousaht tions during the day. members living in Port Alberni. For up-to-date information on Highway “It’s [going to] be important, especially 4 conditions, visit DriveBC.

Photo from BC NDP Caucus “Having a safe, supportive space to call home is essential for women and their children who have faced violence,” says Grace Lore, parliamentary secretary for Gender Equity. for the younger generation that can’t afford housing,” said Frank. Rent will be determined by income to support the younger generation, he continued. They are also looking at including much needed daycare, he said. Sharie Minions, Port Alberni’s mayor, said that the way that Ahousaht approached acquiring the land stood out to her. “It’s really exciting to see Ahousaht come in and seek to follow that proper protocol,” said Minions. “Then to see Tseshaht here for the signing is really meaningful.” The site of the former Cedarwood School is located at 4210 Cedarwood Street, near the fall fair grounds. “We know there’s a lot of work yet to actually have the project completed,” said Samuel. “Hopefully, we’ll create jobs for our local guys.” “We look forward to that economic opportunity for our city here,” added Samuel. Samuel said that they will include local nations and partners in planning the building’s outer design. “We’ve been waiting to sign the document for the land and today’s the day,” said Frank.

“Second-stage housing is key to freeing up space in fi rst-stage housing, which is vital for a woman’s safety,” said a BC Housing spokesperson. “The development will provide women and their children leaving violence with housing where they can comfortably take the time need to stabilize.” Construction is underway on the 22-unit building on land owned by the City of Port Alberni, and is expected to be complete in summer 2023. The City of Port Alberni has entered into a long-term lease with the province, through BC Housing, to enable this development. According to the provincial government, BC Housing is investing approximately $8.6 million to the project through the Building BC: Women’s Transition Housing Fund and will provide annual operating funding. The development is also part of B.C.’s 10-year, $7-billion housing plan. Since 2017, the province has funded more than 36,000 aff ordable homes that are either complete or underway, including 365 homes in Port Alberni. Operated by Sage Haven, the new building off ers studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom homes for women and gender-diverse people leaving violence, including transgender women, Two-Spirit and non-binary people, and their dependent children in Port Alberni and surrounding areas. The site is located on the territory of the Tseshaht and Hupacasath First Nations and both First Nations participated in the ground-breaking ceremony on Friday, Nov. 25. Sage Haven is committed to working with them in further ceremonies at the site. Once complete, women will be off ered on-site support services, such as safety planning, crisis intervention, parenting support and tenancy resources, according Photo by Alexandra Mehl to Sage Haven. Rent will be calculated at On Nov. 29 Wally Samuel and other representatives from the Citaapi Mahtii met 30 per cent of residents’ income, or the with Mayor Sharie Minions to sign the deed for an aff ordable housing project. provincial shelter rate for those who are receiving income or disability assistance. Construction is expected to be complete in summer 2023. As with all projects for women and children leaving violence, BC Housing is asking the media not to disclose the address of the Sage Haven project for safety reasons. “Having a safe, supportive space to call home is essential for women and their children who have faced violence and is something every British Columbian should have,” said Grace Lore, Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity. “I am grateful to all those involved in making these new safe homes a reality for the people of Port Alberni, which will be life-changing for so many women and transgender, Two-Spirit and non-binary people as they build their lives in safety and stability.” BC Housing has also granted $10 million for the recently announced, Huu-ayaht-led Oomiiqsu (women’s transition home) facility. According to BC Housing, funding comes through the Women’s Transition Housing Fund. The Oomiiqsu facility will use an Indigenous-led model of care developed by Huu-ay-aht in consultation with its members that will help improve the lives of Indigenous peoples and their families in Port Alberni and the west coast of Vancouver Island. Located in Port Alberni, Oomiiqsu will provide a safe and culturally appropriate home for up to 48 mothers and children who are experiencing violence, mental health and addictions challenges, poverty or other traumas.

Ha-Shilth-Sa newspaper is published by the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council for distribution to the members of the NTC-member First Nations, as well as other interested groups and individuals. Information and original work contained in this newspaper is protected by copyright and may not be reproduced without written permission from:

Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council P.O. Box 1383, Port Alberni, B.C. V9Y 7M2. Telephone: (250) 724-5757 Fax: (250) 723-0463 Web page: www.hashilthsa.com facebook: Hashilthsa Ntc

2022 Subscription rates:

$35 per year in Canada and $40 per year in the U.S.A. and $45 per year in foreign countries. Payable to the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council.

Manager/Editor/Reporter Eric Plummer (Ext. 243) (250) 724-5757 Fax: (250) 723-0463 eric.plummer@nuuchahnulth.org

Reporter Denise Titian (Ext. 240) (250) 724-5757 Fax: (250) 723-0463 denise.titian@nuuchahnulth.org Reporter Alexandra Mehl (Ext. 286) (250) 724-5757 Fax: (250) 723-0463 alexandra.mehl@nuuchahnulth.org

Audio / Video Technician Mike Watts (Ext. 238) (250) 724-5757 Fax: (250) 723-0463 mike.watts@nuuchahnulth.org

Editorial Assistant Holly Stocking (Ext. 302) (250) 724-5757 Fax: (250) 723-0463 holly.stocking@nuuchahnulth.org

DEADLINE:

Please note that the deadline for submissions for our next issue is

December 9, 2022 After that date, material submitted and judged appropriate cannot be guaranteed placement but, if material is still relevant, will be included in the following issue. In an ideal world, submissions would be typed rather than hand-written. Articles can be sent by e-mail to holly.stocking@nuuchahnulth.org (Windows PC). Submitted pictures must include a brief description of subject(s) and a return address. Pictures with no return address will remain on fi le. Allow two - four weeks for return. Photocopied or faxed photographs cannot be accepted.

COVERAGE:

Although we would like to be able to cover all stories and events, we will only do so subject to: - Suffi cient advance notice addressed specifi cally to Ha-Shilth-Sa. - Reporter availability at the time of the event. - Editorial space available in the paper. - Editorial deadlines being adhered to by contributors. Ha-Shilth-Sa will include letters received from its readers. Letters MUST be signed by the writer and have the writer’s full name, address and phone number on them. Names can be withheld by request. Anonymous submissions will not be accepted. We reserve the right to edit submitted material for clarity, brevity, grammar and good taste. We will defi nitely not publish letters dealing with tribal or personal disputes or issues that are critical of Nuu-chah-nulth individuals or groups. All opinions expressed in letters to the editor are purely those of the writer and will not necessarily coincide with the views or policies of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council or its member First Nations. Ha-Shilth-Sa includes paid advertising, but this does not imply Ha-Shilth-Sa or Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council recommends or endorses the content of the ads.

Healing centre moves to Duncan

Tsow-Tun Le Lum society prepares to move to new, more spacious facility in 2023

By Denise Titian Ha-shilth-Sa Reporter

Lantzville, BC – It has served thousands of people on their healing journeys since opening its doors in June 1988 at its home in Nanoose, and now, Tsow-Tun Le Lum is spreading its wings with a move to brand-new facility in Duncan, BC. Tsow-Tun Le Lum, which means Helping House, is a fully accredited, registered, non-profi t treatment society. But Executive Director Nola Jeff rey prefers to call it a healing house, because they off er holistic and cultural supports for people, not only in addictions, but also for survivors of trauma. The current facility occupies fi ve acres of land, leased from the Nanoose First Nation. The building includes 10 rooms for up to 32 client beds. Jeff rey said there is a women’s side and men’s side and clients sleep in bunk beds. But the new building off ers 16 bedrooms that will house up to 32 clients. In addition, there will be space set aside for gender-fl uid people. “It’s very exciting!” said Jeff rey. Jeff rey said the new building, which they are still fundraising to complete, was to be ready by October 2022 but there have been delays in construction. They now hope to move in by February 2023 and have taken in their last cohort of clients in the old facility at the end of November 2022. Tsow-Tun Le Lum off ers programs to treat people that misuse substances and another for those dealing with trauma. In order to access the trauma program, clients must have six months sobriety and be working with a counsellor or similar support person. There are short-term programs like the grief and loss, which runs three weeks. Tsow-Tun Le Lum has 40 staff members, 20 to 35 cultural workers as well as several elders that live in the facility to support the programs in a cultural way. The new building, located at 2850 Miller Road in Duncan, was painstakingly designed, keeping in mind the daily activities that will happen there. “The building faces east because that is where everything starts,” said Jeff rey. Glass walls in the entryway overlook the courtyard and the three fi res, representing the three families that pushed for having an addictions treatment centre on Vancouver Island. Inside the new building will be a place called the Spiritual Room. Jeff rey said it is a space where elders will do cultural work with clients and where closing ceremonies will be held. A new space for Tsow-Tun Le Lum is the exam room reserved for clients accessing medical services. “Sometimes drug use masks illnesses,” said Jeff rey. They’ve seen clients entering sobriety discover illnesses that they were not previously aware of. “It’s important to stay on top of illnesses,” said Jeff ery. She said the First Nations Health Authority is working on getting a nurse and maybe even a doctor to serve the facility when it is in session. “We do our utmost to take care of the people’s needs so that they can focus on healing,” said Jeff rey. Clients at Tso-Tun Le Lum will have access to fi tness and yoga rooms as well as a space for arts and crafts. “People using substances stay out of their bodies; when they give up their addictions, being back in their bodies can feel painful,” said Jeff rey. “This is why it is important help them get back into their bodies.” “Tsow-Tun Le Lum is a safe place where people learn new coping skills and feel good about who they are, let their light shine,” she added. “We use western methodology but most importantly, we use culture.” The new building came in at a cost of $18 million. First Nations Health Authority took care of the bulk of the cost and there were other donors. But the society is $2 million short and is seeking donations. If you would like to donate to Tsow-Tun Le Lum go to https://www.tsowtunlelum. org/resources/donate/

Photo submitted by Tsow-Tun-Le-Lum Like the old building, the new facility can serve up to 32 clients, but with more rooms and space for support services It is expected to be complete in February.

Ha-Shilth-Sa belongs to every Nuu-chah-nulth person including those who have passed on, and those who are not yet born. A community newspaper cannot exist without community involvement. If you have any great pictures you’ve taken, stories or poems you’ve written, or artwork you have done, please let us know so we can include it in your newspaper. E-mail holly.stocking@nuuchahnulth.org. This year is Ha-Shilth-Sa’s 48th year of serving the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations. We look forward to your continued input and support. Kleco! Kleco!

Legal Information

The advertiser agrees that the publisher shall not be liable for damages arising out of errors in advertisements beyond the amount paid for space actually occupied by the portion of the advertisement in which the error is due to the negligence of the servants or otherwise, and there shall be no liability for non-insertion of any advertisement beyond the amount paid for such advertisements