New campgrounds in development

First Nation and the forestry company develop ʕaʔuk ʔaama kanis, meaning the ‘lake loon camp and rest area’

By Sam Laskaris Ha-Shilth-Sa Contributor

Port Alberni, BC – A new campground, off ering 27 sites, is expected to open just outside of Port Alberni this coming May. Work on the venture has begun after the Hupacasath First Nation and Mosaic Forest Management recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding to build the campground. The new facility, which will overlook Mount Arrowsmith, will be on Loon Lake, a stocked fi shing lake located about 10 minutes east of Port Alberni. “It’s something to celebrate,” Hupacasath First Nation Councillor Jolleen Dick said of the MoU. “We’re really proud of it. It gives us possession back of our land. It’s something we’ve been fi ghting for generations.” Hupacasath offi cials are also thrilled they have been allowed to name the campground. Its offi cial name is ʕaʔuk ʔaama kanis, which is pronounced ah-uk aah-ma ka-niss. Hupacasath elected Chief Brandy Lauder said the name translates to ‘lake loon camp and rest area’ in the Hupacasath language. “We value Mosaic recognizing Hupačasath traditional territories and the importance of our culture,” Lauder said. “We look forward to continue working together to explore more opportunities to benefi t our people.” Molly Hudson, the director of sustainability for Mosaic Forest Management, said her company has partnered with Hupacasath First Nation on various business and community ventures over the years. For example, the two have worked together in the identifi cation of archaeological sites, log purchases and marketing. But this marks the fi rst partnership between the two parties involving recreational use of land. The site where the campground is being constructed currently includes a boat launch. But that is being upgraded to a launch that is more accessible. A fi shing dock will also be constructed as will a recreational trail network for walkers. Dick said a kiosk will also be installed at the campground. “There be will signage welcoming people to the campground and sharing history of the area,” Dick said, adding she’s among those pleased with the Hupacasath name chosen for the facility. Dick believes it will mostly be residents from the province that will be utilizing the campsites. “I think British Columbians would like to camp in more rustic ways,” said Dick, who is serving her second term as a Hupacasath councillor. Hudson said Mosaic offi cials are pleased

Photo submitted by Mosaic Forest Management Hupacasath First Nation has partnered with Mosaic Forest Management to build the Lake Loon campground.

Jolleen Dick that representatives from the First Nation were keen to enter into a partnership to build the campground. “We’re really excited they wanted to take these steps with us,” she said. Hudson also said it will be determined in the future on whether to expand the campground and add more sites to it. “It’s always possible,” she said. “We’ll see how things go to start and then we’ll see how we are doing in terms of occupancy.” Hudson cautioned, however, there is only so much space available at the campground and offi cials would not want overcrowding to become an issue. News of the latest campground means Mosaic Forest Management has grown its investment in recreational access. The Loon Lake campground is the 14th one the company is invested in on Vancouver Island. Jeff Zweig, the president and CEO of Mosaic Forest Management, said his company is committed to building on its work with various communities to promote recreational access to forest lands. “The addition of this stunning campsite in the Loon Lake area gives visitors to the Alberni Valley a chance to explore wild places, learn about the culture of Indigenous nations, and connect safely with family and friends,” Zweig said. “It is part of Mosaic’s broader initiative to facilitate recreational opportunities in and around our working forest through dozens of access agreements with local organizations and our network of not-forprofi t campsites on Vancouver Island.” Josie Osborne, the MLA for Mid Island-Pacifi c Rim, is also pleased that a partnership was established between the two parties. That partnership will benefi t several others. “Spending time outdoors has always been a big part of who we are as west coasters,” she said. “It’s incredible to see the partnership between Mosaic and the Hupacasath First Nation moving forward with the naming of the new campsite. This work is something everyone involved should be proud of, and is an excellent way to share the best of our communities with visitors to the region.”

Tla-o-qui-aht develops new campground sites

By Melissa Renwick Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Tofi no, BC - Large slash piles sit along the side of the highway leading into Tofi no near the Best Western Plus Tin Wis Resort. The wood is set aside to be ground down by a chipper and used towards the development of Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation’s new RV park and campground. Led by the nation’s new company, Hithuiis Spirit Construction Ltd. (HSC), the Tsawaak RV Resort and Campground is slated to have a soft launch in April. It will host 35 RV sites, at least 12 tent sites, and 13 mini cabins that will be built with longhouse facades. Painted by Tlao-qui-aht artists, each cabin will represent a diff erent moon. The logs that were felled for the construction of the project are being milled by San Group in Port Alberni so they can be repurposed and transformed into benches and fences, said Alex Masso Jr., HSC business and project manager. Tla-o-qui-aht artists will also have the opportunity to select felled trees for carving projects, he added. The job opportunities the project has provided is what Masso said excites him the most. “It’s really exciting to get to work with friends and family,” he said. “Everybody’s learning lots.” Around 10 employees from Tla-o-quiaht and Ahousaht First Nations have rotated in and out of the project, said Tlao-qui-aht First Nation Economic Development Offi cer, Jamie Basset. The $5-million project is currently on budget, but Basset said the weather has pushed scheduling behind. “Weather conditions in the last two months have slowed us down quite a bit,” he said. “And surprises in the ground.” It’s just the reality of building right above sea level, he added. After the soft launch in April, Basset said they plan to be fully operational at the beginning of May. Named after the Nuu-chah-nulth phrase

Photo by Melissa Renwick Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation’s new company, Hithuiis Spirit Construction Ltd., is developing the Tsawaak RV Resort and Campground near the Best Western Plus Tin Wis Resort, in Tofi no, on Nov. 10. His-shuk-nish-tsa-waak, meaning “everything is one,” the campground will be a place where people can learn about Tla-oqui-aht culture and way of life.

Despite living an active life, Wally Samuel was born with a hole in his heart, and wasn’t expected to live past 30

By Eric Plummer Ha-Shilth-Sa Editor

Port Alberni, BC - Looking back on the cancer diagnosis he received over two years ago, Wally Samuel refl ects that a terminal outcome never came to mind as he prepared for treatment. “I didn’t really think of death right away or anything like that,” says the Ahousaht member. “I just said, ‘How are we going to beat this? What do we have to do?’.” Samuel had experienced months of unexpected weakness before receiving the news of liver and colon cancer in September 2019. “Before that I was losing a lot of energy,” he recalls. “I barely could walk. I didn’t know what the heck was going on, I thought I was getting old.” A trip to the hospital found he was low in iron, but after 10 transfusions no improvement was evident. Subsequent tests fi nally uncovered the growths in his liver and intestine. “We were really shocked at the beginning,” recalls Samuel’s long-time wife, Donna. “I never ever thought we would hear that, but we did.” “I was up north at work and I was really scared when I got the news about the cancer,” says Samuel’s oldest son, Eddie. “I0 think what really touched my heart and encouraged me about life was we had a family meeting, and he told everybody, ‘We’re going to stay positive and stay strong. I’m going to be okay’.” A tumor was removed from his intestine, followed by six months of chemotherapy, entailing two pills in the morning, two in the evening, with monthly blood tests at the hospital. Samuel kept as busy as his health would allow, and even built a fence at his Port Alberni home during the treatment. “It drained me a bit,” he admits. “I couldn’t move around as much as I wanted to. My skin changed colour, my hands and my feet, they got black.” “It was up to me to make sure that he kept up his meals so that his body could handle the chemo,” says Donna. “I cooked everything that he really liked, his favourite foods to give him strength.” “He got really, really weak at home sometimes,” adds Eddie, refl ecting on his parents’ bond. “My mom was there. She was always up and making sure he was on his medication, making sure he was eating what he’s supposed to be eating. They’re together forever and he couldn’t have done that without her. They support each other all the time.” In September of 2020 Samuel underwent surgery to remove a piece of his liver, taking out what cancer remained. By the following spring the elder’s doctors declared him cancer-free. The family credits the support of loved ones and friends over Samuel’s treatment for helping him get through, including fi nancial contributions that helped fund the many stays in Victoria, where his cancer clinic is located. With the relentless November rain pouring outside the Alberni Athletic Hall, the family held a gathering and dinner for nearly 100 of these people on Nov. 27 to express their gratitude, marking Samuel’s 75th birthday. “Throughout his journey on his cancer a lot of people supported him, so we’re just acknowledging those people that helped him throughout that time,” says Samuel’s son, Richard. This wasn’t the fi rst health scare he

Photos by Eric Plummer Almost 100 people gathered at the Alberni Athletic Hall on Nov. 27 to celebrate Wally Samuel’s 75th birthday and his successful treatment for colon and liver cancer. Pictured are Samuel, (above), with Keesa Watts (below) and Rachel Titian.

encountered over his life. “When I was a child I was born with a hole in my heart the size of a silver dollar,” says Samuel, who was born in Ahousaht. By the age of 16 open-heart surgery was performed to patch up the hole, but doctors didn’t expect the boy to live a long life. “They told my dad when they were sending me home that I would be lucky to live past 30,” he refl ects. “I never really worried about it. I just carried on and done what I had to do. It never really affected my mind that I might die young.” Although Samuel had to be careful to not play too aggressively, he enjoyed an active youth. “That’s how I gained my friendships, we played together,” says Samuel. “We were always playing games. It wasn’t really thought of as sports. It was outdoor games, playing on the beach, playing on the fi eld, playing in forest.” He did live past 30, but there was a close call. On his 31st birthday it was the Grey Cup, when Wally recalls driving friends somewhere. He was waiting outside on the steps when he suddenly keeled over. His friends eventually found him unconscious outside, rushing Samuel to Port Alberni’s nearby West Coast General in his station wagon. There were no vital signs when he was admitted. “They had my wife on the edge, saying, ‘We don’t know if we can bring him back. If we bring him back, he might be a vegetable’,” says Samuel, who is also diabetic. “They weren’t sure how long I was out.” Since that heart attack he has been equipped with a pacemaker. But this hasn’t slowed Wally or Donna down. He has worked as a marine mechanic up north and lived in Prince Rupert for fi ve years working for CN Rail. The family settled in Port Alberni, where Samuel worked for the city’s public works department, and has been involved with the friendship centre in various capacities since 1980. “He made sure that he had some sort of income coming in, especially when our kids were little. It can be done,” recalls Donna. “From when we were young, there wasn’t a time when Wally didn’t have a job. If he’s out of a job, he’s out there looking right away. He never wanted to be in the lineup to go for help from the government.” Wally and Donna have been together since 1966, after meeting while attending the Alberni Indian residential school a few years before. The couple raised fi ve children, had 16 grandchildren and so far 10 great grandchildren. “I never gave up, I just kept moving and doing things,” says Samuel. “We all worked together as a family. That’s my strength, that’s what keeps me going. Family, friends and our culture. We relearned our culture, luckily we had those cultural people around us.” “I didn’t see his resiliency in the residential school, but I sure did see it in his cancer,” admits Donna. “I had never seen that kind of strength in him.” “Keep positive. You’ve got a lot of strength in you if you believe in something,” says Wally. “You’ve got to believe in yourself.”

Nuu-chah-nulth Child and Youth Services Program

Bringing services together, for Nuu-chah-nulth children and families Connecting with Your Children

As your kids grow they may forget what you said, but won’t forget how you made them feel – Key in Health. Help show your child how much they mean to you by engaging in fun activities. Here are some simple ideas for daily fun with kids.

Make Kool-Aid Playdough

Ingredients: • 1 1/4 cup fl our • 1/4 cup salt • 1 pkg unsweetened Kool-aid (just the dry kool-aid, don’t mix it into juice) • 1 cup boiling water • 1 1/2 Tbsp vegetable oil Directions: 1. In a bowl, mix fl our, salt and kool-aid. 2. Stir in water and oil 3. Knead with hands for about 5 minutes. 4. Store in ziploc bag for up to 2 months. 5. Use like playdough. 6. Smells great and is the color of kool-aid.

Have a picnic

Whether its going to the beach or park or just laying out a blanket on your front lawn and eating together, kids love connecting with their parents.

Go for a Walk

We live in such beautiful communities, there is no shortage of things to see and do. Count how many birds you see, name the fl owers, pick berries, balance on logs.