Should there be a universal basic income?

Reforms are urgently needed during the pandemic, Green Party says, as more study into First Nations poverty continues

By Mike Youds Ha-Shilth-Sa Contributor

An independent panel examining inequality and poverty in B.C. will continue to work with First Nations after handing a report to government that recommends against the idea of a universal basic income. The expert panel on basic income was set up three years ago as part of a confi dence and supply agreement with the B.C. Green Party during the 2017-2020 NDP minority government. In early February they weighed in, recommending against a universal income pilot project and in favour of broad reforms to the existing social support system. Universal basic income implies guaranteed income for all, although the idea is largely untested. The concept has gained renewed interest in the face of widespread unemployment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Spain, for example, introduced minimum basic income last spring. “The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us how important a strong social safety net is to protect people and the economy,” said Nicholas Simons, minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, after receiving the panel fi ndings. “The panel has made 65 recommendations on how to improve our existing support systems.” Professors David Green, Lindsay Tedds and Jonathan Rhys Kesselman worked with a team of researchers for more than two years, examining not only basic income but also overarching considerations

Photo by Mike Youds Input from participants at a workshop on poverty reduction strategies held at Port Alberni Friendship Centre in 2018. of inequality and poverty. Along with the inclusive consideration as we recognized research, workshops and consultations with planning our work,” the report says. on poverty reduction strategies were held “The pandemic crisis prevented the colaround the province, including in Port laborative process that had begun from Alberni. being completed and we have recomIn its report, Covering All the Basics: mended that it continue as a separate Reforms for a More Just Society, the process.” panel explains it struggled with how best Through a partnership between the to address questions of basic income and First Nations Leadership Council and systemic reforms in an Indigenous con- B.C.’s Ministry of Social Development text. Poverty rates are 60 per cent higher and Poverty Reduction, a research study among people who identify as aboriginal is looking at income and social support and 40 per cent higher for visible mi- issues unique to Indigenous populations. norities overall. Base line data to inform Prof. Anke Kessler of SFU leads the policy was limited. research project, the main goal of which “This reinforces the need for Indigenous is to gather data on Indigenous incomes. people as a group to be given careful and The research was delayed by the pandemic, however. “Given the limitations we faced due to the pandemic, we recommend postponing any discussions or decisions until this aspect of the research can be fully completed through a process that includes respectful and inclusive consultation with Indigenous peoples,” the report notes. No date was mentioned for completing this part of the panel’s work. “There is ongoing research with the First Nations Leadership Council and we hope to release something later this year,” a ministry spokeswoman told Ha-ShilthSa. Mariah Charleson, vice president of Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, said the panel’s inequality and poverty research is on their radar but there is a general sense that enough reports have been done. “As First Nations, we’ve been studied enough, we have enough reports,” Charleson said, citing reports on the UN Declaration on Rights of Indigenous People, the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and most recently, on systemic racism in the province’s health care. What’s lacking is political accountability and a failure on the part of governments to follow through with implementing recommendations, she said. “We know their value and we want to see action on these documents,” Charleson said. Despite its rejection of universal basic income, the panel’s initial fi ndings were welcomed last week by Green Party MLAs, who urged swift adoption of the recommendations to help people cope with worsening conditions. Basic income for people with disabilities, youth aging out of care and women fl eeing violence, along with a permanent supplement for emergency income assistance — are needed more urgently now due to the pandemic, said Green Leader Sonia Furstenau. “There is no time to waste,” she said. “Many British Columbians were feeling left behind and left out of the benefi ts of our economy well before the pandemic hit last year. COVID-19 has worsened inequality in our society and left far more people facing serious economic insecurity.” Other panel recommendations include: Reforming temporary assistance Providing extended health-care benefi ts to all low-income individuals. Providing housing support to all lowincome renters. Improving support for low-income families with children. Enhancing fi nancial and support services for people with disabilities, young adults and people fl eeing violence. While basic income would have some of the benefi cial eff ects that proponents claim, there are more direct ways to achieve the same eff ects, the panel concluded. “We believe that it would be more effective in general to address these issues directly, and that a combination of cash transfers and basic services reformed to better align with our justice-based objective would be a better approach,” the report states. In order to provide tax revenue to pay for reforms, the panel recommends elimination of the provincial homeowners grant, which would yield about $800 million annually. A pledge made in the 2017 confi dence and supply agreement between the NDP minority government and the Green Party demanded a multi-faceted poverty reduction strategy addressing causes of homelessness and including a review of basic income.

This†online†film†program†will†bring†together†Hesquiaht† Nation†youth†to†learn†film†making†skills†and†produce† short†films†about†community†Elders,†with†a†focus†on† Hesquiaht†language†learning. h=ah=uupac~akukqin†is†Hesquiaht†for†“our†teachings†informed†by†knowledge† holders.”†The†youth†will†receive†h=ah=uupa†“informed†teachings”†from†Elders,† and†will†become†h=ah=uupc~uu†“well-taught.”†

In this FREE program, you will:

•†Learn†how†to†plan,†shoot,†and†edit†a†short†film ††††††††††•†Receive†a†FREE†software†license†for†Adobe†Premiere†Rush ††††††††††•†Receive†a†$100†honourarium ††††††††††•†Get†creative,†make†new†friends,†and†have†fun

We are looking for young people who:

• Are excited to learn fi lmmaking! • Are between the ages 15-30 and from the Hesquiaht Nation • Are available for ALL 6 program sessions listed below • Have access to a smartphone or video camera • Have access to a computer,can run Zoom and Adobe Premiere Rush. The program will run:

March 22 4:00 -5:30pm March 24 4:00 -5:30pm March 26 4:00 -5:30pm March 29 4:00 -5:30pm March 31 4:00 -5:30pm April 2 4:00 -5:30pm

Continued from page 1.

Sonya Bird is an associate professor of linguistics at the University of Victoria whose research focuses on pronunciation in the context of Indigenous language revitalization. While B.C. is incredibly rich in terms of linguistic diversity, she said we are at a “critical time” to create audio recordings and written documents. “Many of the languages are spoken as fi rst languages by a very small handful of elders and those elders are passing on,” she said. “If language revitalization eff orts don’t happen now, within the next decade or two, we’ll have lost a lot of those elders and knowledge keepers.” In 2003, FirstVoices was developed by the First People’s Cultural Council (FPCC) to support Indigenous people engage in language archiving, teaching and cultural revitalization. The web-based suite of tools allows nations to create their own language sites by uploading words, phrases, songs and stories as audio and video fi les. Now, 32 out of the 34 First Nation languages in B.C. can be found on the platform. “It’s simply imperative to reconciliation in our country that we provide resources and opportunities for [First Nations communities] to have self-determined language projects,”

said Kyra Fortier, language technology programs coordinator for the First Peoples’ Cultural Council. Ehattesaht, Nuchatlaht, Hesquiaht, Tseshaht, Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k’tles7et’h’ and Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations have all created language sites for their own respective dialects on FirstVoices. FPCC supports data sovereignty by ensuring the communities themselves maintain the ownership and management of the resources they place on their sites. Traditionally an oral language, the shift to document language through audio and video recordings has only recently been more widely adopted. “Historically, linguistics in B.C. was originally started by pioneers and missionaries,” said Fortier. “Their purpose in taking down linguistic information was to translate religious texts, ultimately, as a tool of colonization.” While documentation by settlers has formed the foundation of a lot of language revitalization resources, Bird said it’s important that the work is now being led and directed by the communities themselves. Examples of self-determined language programs can be found throughout many Nuu-chah-nulth nations. As part of the Hesquiaht Language Program, a handwritten dictionary by Reverend Auguste Joseph Brabrant in 1911 was transcribed into the nuuč aanuł phonetic alphabet by the late-Larry Paul, Angela Galligos and Layla Rorick. Rorick, who coordinates Hesquiaht’s language program, said that Brabrant wrote the dictionary so someone could replace him as a missionary in Hesquiaht. “He asked diff erent elders in the community to confi rm meanings and didn’t credit anybody –that continues today,” she said. “We understand that we know what we know because we are in relationship and connection with everybody in our community.” Rorick has been meeting with nine of the nation’s 12 fl uent elders every week since 2014. In June they began teaching an online language program that has attracted nearly 100 students, ranging from Vancouver Island to California and beyond. “The language is coming back from the eff ort of the group,” said Rorick. “Everyone remembers dif-

Photos by Melissa Renwick Helen Dick grew up in a fl uent speaking home and continues to speak her language. “I used to hear my mom tell us, ‘just be who you are. Don’t let people try to change who you are or what you are. You be you.’ So that’s how I’ve tried to live my life,” said the Tseshaht elder.

Moses Martin, the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation elected chief, is one of the remaining fl uent speakers within his nation. The 79-year-old said he is helping to generate audio recordings “for future generations.” “There’s so much to our language that it changes your whole way of thinking,” he said. “It was dying but it’s not too late. It’s something that we can bring back.”.

Benson Nookemis did not know a word of English when he was sent to the Alberni Indian Residential School. His mother hardly knew any English so he was raised speaking the Huu-ay-aht dialect, which he continues to speak today. The 85-year-old said he can count the remaining fl uent speakers within his community on one hand. “It makes me feel sad,” he said. “We’re losing our language. Every time there’s an elder that passes away up-and-down the coast, it’s another person that we’ve lost that knew how to speak their own language.”

ferent things and [collectively], they put a more together a more complete picture of the use of our language. Nobody is bringing the language back themselves as an individual – it’s the whole group. All of our fl uent speakers are bringing it back for people.” Pat Charleson is one of the nine elders involved with the Hesquiaht Language Program. The 90-year-old was hesitant to begin with, feeling apprehensive that younger generations wouldn’t be interested in learning. “But, by golly, I feel good about it now,” he said. “There’s so many wanting to learn … us elders, we don’t know when we’re going. It could be tomorrow, or next week.” When he is no longer able to, Charleson said he hopes Rorick will carry the language forward. “It would be a great legacy for her if she carries it on,” he said. “You lose a language, you lose a culture.” For Rorick, speaking her ancestral tongue is an act of defi ance. “We’re responding to the damage of colonialism by speaking our language in our homes,” she said. “We’re also creating a whole different environment for our young ones.” For years, Levi Martin’s granddaughter Gisele tried learning her language before getting discouraged and giving up. It wasn’t until 2010 that she earnestly started investing her time and energy into studying. Levi Martin’s language class was what propelled her forward, she said. Pat Charleson is one of the nine elders who participates in the Hesquiaht Language Program. As a boy, the 90-year-old remembers listening to his father and the elders speaking their language in circle. “I understood all the words they were saying,” he said. “I really never lost it – it was all in my head.” The Hesquiaht elder met late-wife, Mamie, at Christy Residential School. They went on to have 15 children together. Now, Charleson has 53 grandchildren, 106 great-grandchildren and 40 great-great-grandchildren. “I’ve got a while tribe,” he laughed. Every week, Charleson meets with other elders from his nation to teach an online language program that has drawn in around 100 students from across North America. Since Levi moved back to the west coast in ’81, he’s used language as a bridge to help his community connect with their ancestors. “It gives me a better understanding of our teachings,” he said. “It’s a connection to my ancestors and a connection to the future.” Through a mentor-apprentice program, Gisele spent 900 hours in language immersion with Martin over three years which “catapulted” her learning. “Nuu-chah-nulth is an ecologically based language,” she said. “Our language has come from this place – from the plants, the animals, the sound of the land...it feels like a cosmic spiritual language in the ways that concepts, ideas and sentences are put together. It’s entirely diff erent and beautiful.” When Levi started teaching languages classes in 2000, there would only be fi ve people that would last the 12-week program. Now, the 75-year-old is seeing anywhere from 15 to 20 in a class. As younger generations tussle with how to make the guttural sounds that form some of the Nuuchah-nulth words, the language is morphing. “Like all cultures, languages change over time,” said Levi. Rorick recognizes the shift but said it only fuels her desire to carry it forward. “If we continue our eff orts, we will defi nitely get closer to [where] we want to go,” she said. “Even if it takes more than our lifetime, it’s worthwhile.”

Frances Tate was born and raised near Nitinaht Lake. The 77-year-old was raised in a fl uent household but lost much of her language while attending residential school. In her late-50’s, she began taking language classes through the Ditidaht Community School. She now identifi es as semi-fl uent. Along with other elders, she helps children with the pronunciation of words and phrases at the school. “Some of our elders say that [our language] is very close to being extinct – it’s very close to being gone,” said the Ditidaht elder. “But we have young people that are teaching now, and they’re very strong. [I’m] encouraged by them.”

www.hashilthsa.com

Front line workers say most of the city’s unsheltered are men, many of whom deal with addictions, mental health challenges and

By Karly Blats Ha-Shilth-Sa Contributor

Port Alberni, BC - Driving by Port Alberni’s Wintergreen Apartments on Fourth Avenue on any given day, you’ll most likely catch a glimpse of people coming and going from the two-storey building, stashing their shopping carts by the edge of the fence or dashing back and forth from the Overdose Prevention Site just up the road. The apartment building, sometimes referred to as “the ghetto”, has become a focus of discussion for Port Alberni city council this winter after city bylaw services and emergency personnel have deemed many aspects of the building unsafe and in violation of several municipal bylaws. Neighbours have also complained that the property can be an eyesore. It often has debris scattered along the building, garbage bins overfl owing, mattresses and other refuse left laying around the lot next to the property that is now home to about half a dozen trailers, and counting. In November of last year, property owner Randy Brown was given a Remedial Action Order by the City of Port Alberni and required to complete an extensive list of upgrades, including removing all trailers from the property. Brown told city council he had no plans to follow the city’s orders and won’t be removing the trailers, claiming those living there would have no where else to go. The city gave Brown a 14-day extension to complete the required orders on Jan. 11. A staff report presented at a regular council meeting on Feb. 8 states that since the 14-day extension, Brown has completed some of the required orders, including repairing broken windows, but there’s still many uncompleted requirements. The report states that extension cords run from the trailers in the lot to the building causing tripping hazards and three of the trailers have the septic system connected to the property’s sewer system without inspection or permits. In the report, staff have suggested that in absence of work being done on the part of the property owner to address the remedial action requirements, council hold an incamera meeting to discuss the next steps.

‘It saved my life’

But what about the residents who live there? For many, the trailers are the only option of getting out of the cold and having a roof over their head. Bear Lind has been living in a trailer on Brown’s lot for the past three months after he was kicked out of the Port Alberni Shelter (Our Home on Eighth). “I lived [at the shelter] for about four or fi ve months. I had an apartment up top. I was one of the regulars up top. They have no appeal process (after being kicked out) so that was the biggest issue,” Lind said, who is from the Kwagu’ł First Nation in Port Hardy. Lind says he’s aware some people focus on the rumours or hearsay they hear about the property owner and the people who live in the trailers, but for him without this option he’d probably be living on the streets. “Basically it saved my life,” he said. “Nobody comes and looks and sees what they’re doing and sees how it’s benefi ting people. I’d absolutely be on the street if it wasn’t for the trailer. This is the fi rst time I’ve had my own place where I haven’t had any hassle.” Throughout his life, Lind has been an advocate for people experiencing homelessness and hopes to continue his activism in the future. He’s currently struggling with his own addiction after recently falling into a state of depression, but he hopes to continue working on himself and eventually move back to Vancouver. “If you had a map of the worst area in Port Alberni this would be the centre,” Lind said outside the Wintergreen Apartments. “But there’s a camaraderie you don’t see anywhere else…everyone works together here.” “There are people here who haven’t had a home for four or fi ve years that [Brown] gave homes to,” added Lind. “He’s doing something in Port Alberni that nobody else does.” For Robert Thomas from Tseshaht First Nation, having a trailer would help him out greatly. He’s been experiencing homelessness for the past two and a half years, sleeping at his girlfriend’s place when he can. Thomas said he’s waiting for a trailer from Brown. “I’ve been looking for (housing) for a long time, two and a half years,” Thomas said. “They don’t want to give me nothing. I’ve looked everywhere.” Robert said a lack of fi nances is a major factor in not fi nding stable housing. He broke his back eight years ago and hasn’t been able to work since. He’s also currently trying to get on methadone to help with his addiction problem.

Photots by Karly Blats Rob Lind has been living in a trailer on Randy Brown’s property for three months and says without it he’d be living on the streets.

Most homeless are single men

Front line workers say most of the city’s unsheltered are men, many of whom deal with addictions, mental health challenges and past trauma

A 2018 BC Housing homeless count shows 147 people were experiencing homelessness in Port Alberni, 68 per cent of which were male. Homelessness doesn’t discriminate against a certain gender, but some men believe it’s easier for women to fi nd shelter because there’s more female-specifi c resources available. Rhonda Ursel, housing coordinator with KUU-US, said it can be easier for women to access housing because in many cases woman have children with them and understandably are off ered more support. “I also think that woman are more likely than men to reach out for help,” Ursel said. Ursel, who compiles a weekly housing registry, said on average around two new individuals are added to the registry per week at the moment. “Right now I have 27 on my registry, 20 women and seven men,” she said. “But when I’ve done outreach, I would say the majority of the homeless that I have seen are single males.” Ursel said there is a defi nite need for more low-income and supportive housing in Port Alberni. “We desperately, desperately need lowbarrier housing with supports in place. There are so few rentals on the market right now and so many people looking. Rents are very high and landlords are requesting references, credit checks, etc. It’s making it impossible to house our homeless,” Ursel said. “And we need more low-income housing as well. I speak with a lot of families in need of that. They have told me that the wait list is one to two years or longer for low-income housing.” Katrina Kiefer, executive director with the Canadian Mental Heath Association in Port Alberni, said in her experience, men are usually easier to house than women as they often do not have children with them. “Single mothers are generally more diffi cult to house as landlords, managers and property owners may not want children in their rentals,” Kiefer said in an emailed response. Kiefer added that there continues to be ingrained racism in the community towards all First Nations peoples, “as too many times, First Nations men and women are turned away solely for being First Nations.” John Douglas is the community engagement and special project coordinator with the Port Alberni Shelter Society. He’s heard from homeless women who are in relationships that they’re often more comfortable living with their partner on the street than seeking a bed at the shelter, but that single women will be more inclined to seek housing at PASS. “Housing is diffi cult and complex...for everyone...composed of many element s such as addictions, mental health and past traumas. Gender is another item on that long list,” Douglas said. “All of the facilities PASS currently operates are available to all of those in need of housing, disrespective of gender.” Douglas said PASS hopes to eventually open a Therapeutic Recovery Community exclusively for women (there are none in Canada), which will eventually embrace all genders and families. “We have some pending funding applications in and are awaiting decisions, have obtained letters of support from local and regional representatives and are getting private donations towards our economic plans for purchasing and moving ahead,” he said.

Photo by Karly Blats The Bread of Life and KUU-US have partnered to provide extended hours at the warming centre on Third Avenue. Hours of operation are now Sunday to Wednesday 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Thursday to Saturday 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. Pop-up warming centre aims to fi ll gaps for Port Alberni’s homeless community

By Karly Blats Ha-Shilth-Sa Contributor

Port Alberni, BC - Members of the Alberni Valley’s Grassroots Homelessness Coalition (GHC), now a registered society, are getting closer to providing a more permanent mobile warming centre for those experiencing homelessness. Lisa George, co-founder of the GHC, said the group is currently working on getting a permit through the City of Port Alberni for a License to Occupy City Lands. In late December the group was granted permission from the city to operate a pop-up warming centre for a three-day trial run. Both George and the city said the trial run was successful and plans to continue the service. “[The city] gave us the go ahead that they would give us a seven-day-a-week permit and we could actually be mobile or pop up on multiple diff erent sites that the city owns,” George said. “The city has suggested a bunch of community grants and supplied us a long list of sites to go and look at. We’re in the permitting process right now. Things are moving forward.” During the trial run, the GHC set up tents on a Fourth Avenue lot next to the Port Alberni Friendship Centre. They had a propane fi re pit for heat and off ered people warm clothing items and food, all while following COVID restrictions. George said one location being looked at for the pop-up warming centre is an area behind Walmart known to have people camping. George said the hours of operation for the pop-up warming centre are still being planned, but they would most likely work around what the Bread of Life and KUUUS are already off ering, with the warming centre on Third Avenue in the old Cornerstones thrift store. She said the GHC is looking into providing shelter on days that the Bread of Life isn’t open late. Currently the soup kitchen is open until 10 p.m. Thursday to Saturday. “We’re planning on how to make it something that is consistent and fi lls gaps that other services aren’t doing,” said George. “If those services are there…that frees us up to see what the next need is. We could put more hours into outreach or harm reductions supplies.” George said the GHC would like to see their pop-up warming centre operate until at least spring, but that the society hopes to continue off ering services to those in need throughout the summer months as well. “Homelessness doesn’t go away,” George said. Tim Pley, City of Port Alberni CAO, confi rmed the city is working with the Grassroots Homelessness Coalition to enable their vision of providing pop-up warming centre services on city-owned lands. “The city has provided GHC with a list and details regarding a number of potential sites,” Pley said. “GHC is reviewing those locations.” Pley said serving a community’s homeless and under-housed citizens is a complex issue that requires multiple agencies and service delivery models to ensure that the needs of all are met and that “the pop-up model appears to include an aspect of outreach work, serving people where they are and where they are comfortable, which appears to be an important aspect.” The GHC is always looking for more volunteers to help with outreach and the popup warming centre. George suggests those interested in volunteering should reach out through their Facebook page. George added that the city recently provided the society with $1,500 in compensation for property ruined or damaged after campers were evicted from a makeshift camp at Roger Creek Park. In November of last year, homeless individuals set up a camp in a gazebo at the city-owned park after being evicted from camping on a lot next to the Port Alberni Shelter (Our Home on Eighth). After bylaw issued verbal warnings for the campers to pack their stuff and leave the park, city offi cials went to the gazebo to evict anyone still at the site. The city ended up removing all belongings remaining at the gazebo when individuals fl ed. “They off ered us $1,500 for lost damages and we gave them a counter bill that came up over $3,000 once we went back and looked over all the photos and stuff that was not salvageable. They said they would only provide $1,500,” George said. “I’m going to take the $1,500 and we can at least give some funds back to our campers who lost every stitch of personal items.” Pley confi rmed the city compensated the GHC $1,500. For the Bread of Life and KUU-US, working together to off er those in need a safe place to warm up and have something to eat has been an important aspect in serving the community’s homeless population. The two groups formed a working relationship back in June 2020 to collaborate on distributing COVID-safe hygiene and sanitization kits as well as hot meals from the Salvation Army food truck. “It made sense to continue that partnership and combine services once again for the Warming Centre,” said KUU-US executive director Angel Graitson. “In the opening of the Warming Centre, they only had the capacity to remain open a few days a week and short hours of service. KUU-US has provided four outreach workers, which enabled the Warming Centre to extend their hours and days of service.” The Warming Centre hours are currently Sunday to Wednesday 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Thursday to Saturday 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. “The average amount of people served daily is between 15 to 25 people and it continues to grow as it becomes more well-known,” Graitson said. “These patrons have no alternative but to live on the streets and live in unsafe conditions due to the lack of housing in Port Alberni. KUU-US will always be willing to do what we can to set a precedence that shows collaboration with other organizations is part of the solution.” Graitson said KUU-US has donated a TV, a small fridge and distributes snacks in addition to the supplies and services already provided by the Bread of Life and Salvation Army. “This service is needed to provide a safe and comfortable place for people to be warm, fed and have compassionate interaction with people who are genuine and want to provide comfort to those in need,” Graitson said. Originally, the Warming Centre was to be operational for the colder months of January and February, but Graitson said there will be discussion about the longevity of the centre and whether or not to remain open after the cold months are over.

Chuutsqa sits in front of a video camera during the fi lming of the Son of Raven Learning Series in Port Alberni in June.

Photo by Mariam Barry

Filmmaking program introduces Hesquiaht speakers

Funded by Telus STORYHIVE, the program is designed to connect youth to the ‘heartbeat of their culture’

By Melissa Renwick Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

In a growing eff ort to revitalize Indigenous languages, Hesquiaht First Nation is encouraging their youth to apply to a free fi lmmaking program fused with language learning. Colaborating with Reel Youth, a nonprofi t organization that delivers community development programming to youth across Canada, each participant will be paired with a fl uent speaking elder to collaborate on a video with . Together, they will create a storyline that reveals the elder’s personality while incorporating Hesquiaht language throughout at least 50 per cent of the video. Over the course of six online classes scheduled in March and April, students will be guided through how to take their project from concept to realization. Geared towards fi rst-time fi lmmakers, participants aged 15 to 30 will be mentored remotely using whatever gear they have at their disposal. Layla Rorick, who coordinates the nation’s language program, said the fi lmmaking training is an opportunity for youth to honour their fl uent relatives by preserving their “legacy.” All of Hesquiaht’s remaining fl uent speakers are over the age of 76. Now is a critical time for the nation’s youth to learn from their elders, she said. Mariam Barry, Reel Youth program coordinator, said there is incredible power in how a fi lm can transcend through digital mediums and the internet. “Young people are the leaders of tomorrow,” she said. “Engaging them with fi lmmaking and getting them excited about sharing their stories on-screen is something we want to support.” Funded by Telus STORYHIVE, the program is designed to connect youth to the “heartbeat of their culture” and “amplify their voices,” said Barry. The program was born from a previous collaboration between Rorick, who prefers to be called by her Hesquiaht name chuutsqa, Reel Youth and the Kitikmeot Heritage Society, which is a leader for culture and heritage in Nunavut. Over one week in June, they recorded a series of videos written by chuutsqa titled, Son of Raven Learning Series. Through the story of the Nuu-chahnulth archetype, Son of Raven, the series was aimed at exploring the principles of mentor-apprentice language immersion and providing language learning techniques. “He’s a humorous character,” said chuutsqa. “He always puts his full eff ort into whatever he’s trying to do, but he’s never successful at getting exactly what he wants.” Following the “bumbling” trickster in his eff ort to learn another language, chuutsqa said the videos generate “lots of laughter.” The upcoming program, ḥaḥuupačakukqin – meaning “our teachings informed by knowledge holders” – will enable youth to build on this language archive, documenting a piece of their own history, said chuutsqa.

Phrase†of†the†week:†Nuc^@harks%a>†n’aa%atah=%a>q’us†%u%u%kwth=a%ii%a>

Pronounced†kuch†harks†alth†nah†ah†thrh†alth†coos†ooh†ooh†qwa†tarh†ee†alth,†it†means†‘I†am†proud†to†hear†our†language†being†spoken’.†Supplied by ciisma.