KCFN joins regional district

April brings the Maa-nulth milestone for self-determination by taking a seat with north island municipalities

By Mike Youds Ha-Shilth-Sa Contributor

Campbell River, BC - Ten years after the Maa-nulth Treaty took eff ect, Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k’tles7et’h’ First Nations (KCFN) are ready to take a seat with regional government. KCFN becomes a full voting member of the Strathcona Regional District board April 1 in keeping with a treaty commitment made by the fi ve Maa-nulth signatory nations, four of which already occupy seats on the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District executive. Kevin Jules, KCFN’s legislative vicechief, will join the SRD board as a full voting member for the fi rst time on April 14. He is no stranger to the board, having attended meetings as a non-associate member with observer status for the past couple of years. “With us joining, it opens up a lot of doors,” Jules said. On the stroke of midnight on April 1, 2011, the fi ve Maa-nulth nations had good reason to celebrate. Maa-nulth became the fi rst treaty signed on Vancouver Island under the B.C. treaty process and the fi rst such agreement involving multiple nations in the province. Two years later, the fi ve treaty nations attained lawmaking authority, a giant step forward on the long journey to self-government. “Will it be treaty or 100 per cent of nothing,” Lead treaty negotiator George Watts asked, summing up historic injustices that compelled Maa-nulth nations to blaze the treaty path. Uchucklesaht Chief Councillor Charlie Cootes Sr., who served as president of the Maa-nulth Treaty Society at the time, described it as a “long, bumpy journey” getting to that point. “From the fi rst Europeans that came to this country, we have been negotiating, trying to negotiate our place in the mainstream of this country,” Cootes told Ha-Shilth-Sa in 2013. “We are now accountable to our people, not to Ottawa.” Slowly but surely, opportunities fl owed from that watershed date. The settlement brought capital transfers totalling $73 million, 24,500 hectares of land, resource revenues plus funds for treaty implementation, programs and services. The treaty set a 10-year time frame for signatories to join their respective regional districts. Huu-ay-aht and Ucluelet joined ACRD in 2012, Uchucklesaht joined in 2014 and Toquaht took its place at the regional government table fi ve years ago. KCFN opted for the full term. “We took the full 10 years to see what

Submitted photo John Jack, Huu-ay-aht councillor and ACRD chair, was guest speaker at a recent meeting between Strathcona Regional District and Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k’tles7et’h’ representatives.

“Will it be treaty or 100 per cent of nothing,”

~ George Watts, Lead Treaty Negotiator

kind of approach should be taken,” Jules said. “As we came up to that date, we started collaborating with SRD on how that would work. The process is one of mutual respect and learning. We’ve been meeting live weekly in planning for that date and keeping in contact with regional district members to keep communications open. They see how we work as a government and we see how their structure works.” John Jack, who joined the ACRD board nine years ago as a Huu-ay-aht councillor, described the process of joining regional government as fundamental to self-determination. “It’s linked pretty directly to our experience with treaty and the reasons we entered into treaty,” said Jack, who has chaired the ACRD board for the last fi ve years. “We found it important to control our own destiny, to make decisions on land and laws.” A key component of First Nations selfgovernment is managing relationships with other governments, Jack explained: “Before we got into treaty, [there] really wasn’t a formal relationship with other local governments in any appreciable way.” Prior to the treaty there was a transparent wall between First Nations and neighbouring communities with no formal relationship between them. The federal Indian Act usurped traditional ways of life. Any interactions between First Nations fell under the purview of the Crown, the federal government. Local government was left out of the conversation, seen as weakness in B.C.’s relationship building. Communities were held back. Along the “path forward” (t’asii in Nuu-chah-nulth), KCFN and the SRD have drawn from experiences of other Maa-nulth nations, developing fact and orientation guides. Jack was guest speaker during a recent SRD meeting on Zoom, explaining the process to KCFN representatives. Mutual understanding is key to what Jack describes as an integration of First Nation and regional district governments on executive and administrative levels. Change has been gradual, but integration has fundamentally altered the conversation in direct and indirect ways. “It used to be that Port Alberni, largest city in the regional district, could carry the day without having to consider concerns of west coast or smaller Alberni Valley communities. Now it must engage with more than one of two of its allies in vote,” he said. “That has changed the nature of the conversations. Rather than being a City of Port Alberni show, it is now something much more collegial and involves everyone at the table.” A seat at the table led to new connections through related organizations such as UBCM and chambers of commerce. “Being a part of a regional district ended up opening a lot of doors, not only political and social doors but economic ones,” Jack said. “There are political leverages you can use that don’t really cost anything.” He expects the process for Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k’tles7et’h’ First Nation it will be somewhat diff erent as the fi rst to join Strathcona Regional District, “but the potential for creating new relationships and new opportunities is still there.” The only negative aspect for integration is the amount of time required, he told KCFN reps. Designates have to be prepared to fully commit and engage. His advice to others starting the same path? “Learn as much as you can about how regional districts work and be prepared to teach those folks how you plan to go about governing yourself,” Jack said. “That will lessen concerns about compatibility.” SRD meetings continue to be held on Zoom due to pandemic safety measures, but Jules said technology is helping with the process. “I’m just thrilled and look forward to becoming a member and excited to see the other board members are very accepting,” Jules said. Wilfred Cootes, the Uchucklesaht Tribe’s councillor responsible for land and resources, has served on the ACRD board from the start seven years ago. He had only good things to say about joining regional government. “The experience has been really positive both for me and my government,” Cootes said. “It’s nice to have a voice in the decisions of the district. It’s invaluable,” he added. His advice? “I’d say, don’t be afraid to have your voice heard because every voice at the table matters. It’s good to have your nation’s needs heard; it’s a needed perspective.”

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Williams died in a shelter the day after being released from hospital, where he was treated for pancreatitis

By Denise Titian Ha-Shilth-Sa Reporter

Duncan, BC – It has been seven months since James Williams, 52, was found deceased in his unit at a Duncan shelter and the family is still waiting for answers about how their loved one died. James Williams was a Tla-o-qui-aht father of fi ve. His mother was a member of Yucluthaht First Nation, so he had many close relatives there, including his cousin Jennifer Touchie. What the family knows is that Williams had been in the hospital receiving treatment for pancreatitis. Jennifer Touchie told Ha-Shilth-Sa that he had been picked up from the streets of Duncan on July 15, 2020, the afternoon he was released from the hospital. According to a police statement, Williams was picked up about 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15 for public intoxication. He was released from cells nine hours later at 1:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 16. At some point afterward, he went to his unit at Warmland House in the city of Duncan. Later that afternoon he was found deceased in his unit. The investigation into Williams’ death was handed over to the BC Coroner’s Service and the Independent Investigations Offi ce, a civilian oversight agency that looks into police-related incidents that result in serious harm or death. According to Touchie, who has been in frequent contact with the agencies investigating the death, the IIO has completed their investigation but cannot move forward with a report until the BC Coroner’s services completes its investigation. And the coroner cannot release its report until it receives the toxicology report. “We can’t speed up the process – it a waiting game,” said Touchie, adding that the wait is adding to the heartbreak and frustration that the family suff ers. Something needs to be done to speed up the process, she said. NTC Vice President Mariah Charleson is the family spokesperson and has advocated on their behalf, speaking to the various offi cials. “I have been in contact with the family as well as the IIO investigators, IIO family liaison, as well as had a meeting with the Chief Civilian Director of the Independent Investigations Offi ce (IIO) Ron MacDonald,” she stated in an email to Ha-Shilth-Sa. “There’s been no progress.” They need to know how and why their father died, she continued, adding that this process is similar to the one Chantel Moore’s family is going through in New Brunswick. On June 4, 2020, Moore, age 26, was shot and killed in her Edmundston, NB apartment during a wellness check by an Edmundston Police Force offi cer. Her family has been waiting eight agonizing months for investigators to complete their reports and fi nd out whether charges will be laid against the police offi cer. At a summer rally to raise awareness over these two cases, NTC President Judith Sayers and Charleson spoke to federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh and MP Gord Johns. “We spoke to them about having an Indigenous oversight body that would get involved as soon as an IIO investigation is launched involving Indigenous people,” Charleson said. She said the proposed body would ensure that investigations are done in a culturally sensitive manner and would

Photo submitted by Jennifer Touchie Jennifer Touchie, front, stands with supporters at the Tofi no/Ucluelet junction last summer during a joint rally for Williams (pictured below) and Chantel Moore, who happened to be related to one another. be in constant communication with both investigators and families. “When there’s no answers imaginations run wild,” said Charleson. NTC leadership, she said, is pushing for this so that any time an Indigenous person is injured or killed at the hands of police offi cers, someone will be there to look after the interests of the victim and their families. Charleson said that investigators informed the family that they should have answers by September 2020, but they are still waiting and feel forgotten about. The BC Coroner’s Service said in an email to Ha-Shilth-Sa that the investigation is not complete and there is no information to share. The IIO issued an information bulletin on their website outlining the RCMP’s interaction with Williams on the day he died. “The IIO will investigate to determine what role, if any, the offi cers’ actions or inaction may have played in the death of the man,” stated the bulletin. “The BC Coroners Service is also conducting an independent investigation to determine how, where, when and by what means he came to his death.” Touchie says the family knows Williams was being treated for pancreatitis. In addition, she said the coroner let it slip that Williams died of a head injury. “I don’t know if he was supposed to tell us, but we know and we need answers,” she said. “His poor children and grandchildren. We need to be his voice.” The IIO can fi le a report to Crown counsel to consider charges. If a report is not referred to Crown, the IIO produces a pubic document explaining their fi ndings. “We cannot sit silent on this matter and must be provided the answers the family needs and have requested at in-person meetings with the IIO investigators,” said Charleson, vowing to continue the fi ght on behalf of the people. “Far too many of us know of stories like this…and far too many times we didn’t have it in us to fi ght for those answers.” “We will accept whatever they say, we just need to know what happened,” said Touchie. She went on to say that something needs to change. Maybe it’s a lack of coroners. Keeping families waiting is heartbreaking and frustrating, she said. “I really believe we need to have that oversight body of workers to advocate on our behalf because we’re always on the backburner,” said Touchie.

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Submit your resume and cover letter to: jobs@tla-o-qui-aht.org or Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation P.O. Box 18 Tofi no BC, V0R 2Z0

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Eha esaht First Nation offi cials expected to give green light this week to provincially funded Zeballos projects

By Sam Laskaris Ha-Shilth-Sa Contributor

Zeballos, BC – The small Vancouver Island village of Zeballos will be receiving $750,000 of provincial funding for some much-needed work in its community. Zeballos is located within the traditional territories of the Ehattesaht First Nation. The money Zeballos is getting is part of the province’s latest announcement of $8.5 million in provincial emergency preparedness funding. Zeballos, which has a population of 107, is a village prone to various geohazards, including fl ooding and slope hazards on its mountain which result in rockslides, rockfall and debris fl ow. “This is a very exciting project for us,” Meredith Starkey, the chief administrative offi cer for Zeballos said of work that can be accomplished now with provincial funds. Proposed work includes the installation of three fl exible net barriers, which would reduce rockfall and debris fl ow from the village’s mountain. Portions of the provincial funding will also be utilized to modify a small creek, which tends to fl ood and has caused property damage in the village. Starkey, who said her village relies on grant funding for virtually all work undertaken in Zeballos, said the latest provincial money is for a continuation of previous projects carried out. “I’m sure the province was aware we would be putting in this application,” she said. Zeballos had received $150,000 in provincial funding in 2018 to update its fl oodplain map, including a landslide risk assessment of the mountain located in the village’s east end. That assessment included a report of the hazard after a wildfi re tore through Zeballos that year. The village was then awarded an additional $150,000 last year to prepare a slope hazard mitigation feasibility study. And now, the latest funding is to do the mitigation work which was recommended in the 2020 feasibility study. Starkey said Zeballos has a two-year window to complete the work described in its latest funding. She is hesitant to pinpoint a possible date of when work

Photo by Jayme Anderson

An aerial view of the village of Zeballos, which has received $750,000 for projects in its community.

might commence. “I don’t think I want to speculate on a date since we haven’t started the consultation process,” she said. Since the village is located on Ehattesaht land, offi cials from the Nuu-chahnulth First Nation need to give their blessing before any work commences. The issue is expected to be raised on Wednesday when the Ehattesaht council has its next meeting. Ehatteshat Chief Simon John said he was not aware of all the details of the work that would be done with the justacquired funding. “We’re pretty joined at the hip,” he said of the relationship maintained between his First Nation and Zeballos. “I don’t foresee a problem.” Starkey is also anticipating favourable support from the First Nation. “We’re a remote community and we work together on all sorts of projects,” she said. “We’ve discussed we are doing this work and seeking their support. I think it’s in all of our best interests to do it.” John said Ehatteshat and Zeballos are currently working together on a project updating its sewer system. John also said he has a personal reason why he would want to see Zeballos proceed with a project to mitigate a landslide in its community. “Considering my house is right under the slide, I think I’d rather be safe,” he said. Since September of 2017 the province has awarded more than $60 million through its Community Emergency Preparedness Fund to various recipients across British Columbia. Zeballos was not the only Vancouver Island community to receive some money in the province’s latest announcement, made earlier this month. The K’omoks First Nation is getting $472,000. Funds will go towards a project to protect against erosion which is aff ecting the community. Michele Babchuk, the MLA for North Island, is also supportive of the grant. “One of the things that locals love most about Zeballos is its spectacular natural surroundings, but those surroundings come with natural hazards,” she said. “Smart investments like these will help reduce the risks from things like slides and fl ooding to people in town.” The mitigation work will be primarily focused on the north side of the village’s mountain, near the bridge in the community which spans the Zeballos River. Once work commences it is expected to take 14 months to fi nish the entire projects. Zeballos offi cials believe it could also take up to eight months in order to obtain all the various permits and regulatory approvals required, to abide by the Fisheries Act and the Water Sustainability Act.

Eha! esaht awarded grant for central gathering space

By Eric Plummer Ha-Shilth-Sa Editor

Ehatis, BC - Ehatis is looking beyond the days of a strict pandemic lockdown with plans to build a central gathering place in the village next to Zeballos. The Ehattesaht Chinehkint First Nation’s on-reserve community was hard hit by COVID-19 in recent months, with 28 confi rmed infections out of Ehatis’s 102 residents. But work is underway to develop a site where people can connect once again, with a $304,500 grant awarded to the First Nation by the First People’s Cultural Council, a provincially owned Crown corporation that serves to revitalize Aboriginal culture and heritage in British Columbia. With recently announced funding extending over three years, the nation can now proceed with its plans for nawaayisin – or Wisdom Bench – an “outdoor gathering space for transmission of traditional knowledge,” according to the project description. Initial plans are for the space to be built on an empty lot at the bottom of a hill in Ehatis where a house formally stood. The successful grant proposal describes a longhousestyle gazebo, a retaining wall painted with artwork and seating. “We’ll be able to use that as a marshalling area for a post-COVID environment where we can gather and really work with our young people and reorient them,” said Victoria Wells, an Ehattesaht member who has led the project’s proposal. “The product and how it gets fully shaped is still subject to community input.” The gathering space would be near a playground that is currently being built, and the project includes a safer pathway for children to travel from the site to the other side of the village. “We have children that walk along an active logging road just to get from one section of the village to the other,” said Wells. “Just by the grace of God we haven’t had anybody injured. There have been a few close calls. Sometimes the kids actually ride their bikes from the top of the village down to the bottom and they can’t see any oncoming traffi c.” By the nawaayisin site are two dugout canoes growing back into the ground, and the project describes informative plaques that would link people to this part of Ehattesaht heritage. The wisdom bench concept draws on stories from elder Tom Curley about a gathering place at Queens Cove, which existed as a village long before the current settlement of Ehatis was re-established 28 years ago. “At one time they would put a stick in the sand and they would talk until a certain time that the shadow would move to a diff erent point on the sand,” said Wells. “It was a natural place where there was long discussion about the current state of aff airs in community and what would be coming.” The location at the head of the wharf on the Zeballos Inlet was also a popular spot for casual socializing. “In Queen’s Cove it was called Bull***t Alley. People would hang out on Bull***t Alley and just talk,” said Wells. “At the head of the wharf, you see this in other villages and communities, it’s a natural gathering spot.” Victoria Wells

Ehattesaht’s project is one of 11 selected by the First People’s Cultural Council out of 104 applications. Another $400,000 grant was awarded to the Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ First Nation for a facility to house artifacts at its cultural centre. These are part of a larger $100-million initiative from the provincial government to support economic and social recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.