Ha-Shilth-Sa Newspaper May 1 2025

INTERESTING NEWS

Election transforms Vancouver Island representation

Gord Johns is the region’s lone NDP representative to keep a seat, as much of Canada sees a 'two-party race'

By Eric Plummer Ha-Shilth-Sa Editor

As the dust settles from the 2025 federal election, the Liberals have retained a minority government - but amid a growing Conservative presence in Ottawa and a devasted NDP party.

Under the new leadership of Mark Carney, theApril 28 vote has resulted in the Liberals earning a projected 169 seats in the House of Commons – just three shy of the representation needed to for a majority. This is more than the 153 the Liberals previously held in the last Parliament, but Conservatives saw their representation grow more markedly, increasing from the 120 seats at the last sitting of the House to a projected 144. Meanwhile the Bloc Quebecois kept 22 seats – losing 11 from the last Parliament – and the New Democrats saw their representation fall from 25 to just seven. The Green Party’s representation fell from two to one.

On Vancouver Island, the election transformed how the region will be represented. The last federal election in 2021 saw the entire Island go orange – except for Elizabeth May’s long-held Green tenure in Saanich-Gulf Islands. May kept that seat in the most recent vote, while the NDP lost all of its Vancouver Island seats except for Gord Johns’victory in Courtenay-Alberni. Representing the area since 2015, Johns earned 39.6 per cent of the riding’s votes, beating Conservative candidate Kris McNichol by 4,010 ballots.

“It was an incredibly difficult campaign,” admitted Johns the day after the election. “There was a lot of people who voted for the Liberals, for example, that were New Democrats we lost in this election as well. We heard that on the doorstep. People voting strategically to stop the Conservatives.”

Liberal support on Vancouver Island was more significant than in past votes, and for the first time in 52 years the party won a seat with convincing victories in Victoria and the neighbouring EsquimaltSaanich-Sooke.

Conservatives won elsewhere on the Island, possibly benefitting from their competition being split between the Liberals and the NDP. This is evident in looking at the results from North IslandPowell River, whereAaron Gunn won a seat for the Conservatives.

“When you look at the north island as well you can see that the vast majority of votes were cast for Liberal and NDP candidates, but the conservative was able to split those,” said Estair Van Wagner, associate professor at the University of

Victoria’s Faculty of Law. “The NDP has some serious soul searching to do in terms of where they go from here.”

As the results became clear, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh gave an emotional farewell to his supporters, announcing his resignation after coming in a distant third in his riding of Burnaby Central.

With just seven seats, the NDP have lost official party status in Ottawa.

“It means that they don’t have guaranteed airtime in question period,” said Michael Prince, a political scientist, social policy and public administration expert, of the NDP’s loss of official party status.

“You lose certain rights and privileges and certain resources, staff support that’s really critical for a small party in being efficient.”

Johns admitted that the Conservatives gave effective messaging during the campaign, with short and simple slogans that reached “everyday people”.

“Our failure as a party has been able to deliver a succinct clear message to people about what’s really driving the failed policies that people desperately need to be implemented,” he said. “People are confused and they’re buying into slogans and narratives of things that aren’t going to solve our problems.”

Prince attributes the NDP’s results to the “Trump effect”, after the US president took aim at Canada when he took office in January with threats of crushing tariffs and even annexation into the United States.

“Most of us were quite surprised at how quickly and aggressively and consistently he focused on Canada in those first few weeks,” said Prince. “I think that triggered a pretty strong reaction across the country.”

The national reaction turned the election into a “two-party race”, noted Prince, as many concerned NDP supporters put their vote behind Carney and the Liberals in the face of the threat south of the border.

“The rhetoric Mr. Singh was using in the campaign was good-old fashioned left-wing rhetoric about Mr. Carney just knows his corporate elite friends,” commented Prince. “There may be truth to some of that, but it certainly didn’t grow his base and it didn’t fit into the general anxiety a lot of Canadians were feeling about the tariffs.”

Two Conservative Vancouver Island candidates, Jeff Kibble in CowichanMalahat-Langford andAaron Gunn in North Island-Powell River, won their seats despite a clear reluctance to en-

gage with media or participate in public forums. This was in the case with some other Conservative candidates, a sign of the Stephen Harper-era practice of keeping the media and public at an arms length, observed Prince. The Ha-ShilthSa reached out to Gunn and Kibble for comment, but they did not respond by press time.

“I think there was some general instructions from the party, from the headquarters, not to engage,” said Prince.

OnApril 22 an all-candidates debate in Campbell River was called off shortly before the event, asAaron Gunn refused to participate. Safety concerns led to the cancellation due to expected protests and counter protests.

Gunn drew controversy during the campaign from online comments made between 2019 and 2021. He denied residential schools were a genocide but something that some First Nations asked for. In the face the heated criticism from some Indigenous groups, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre stood by his candidate.

Apart from the sparks aroused by Gunn’s comments, First Nations rights held a markedly low priority on the national stage this spring. Van Wagner is seeing a national trend towards faster approval times for natural resource developments and the cutting of red tape.

“That tends to mean that we’re curtailing consultation and that Indigenous decision making is not front and centre,” she said. “Unfortunately, I think there is a possibility that respect for Indigenous authority and decision making could be challenged by the narrative that the Liberals are putting forward right now, about expediting natural resource and infrastructure projects.”

“Right now, the House of Commons is on the verge of looking like a corporate boardroom,” said Johns. “It’s the corporate controlled parties, the Liberals and Conservatives combined, that have failed to deliver polices that support people and protect people.”

Even so, the long-serving MP is prepared to work with any party in the new minority government, hoping that debate in the House of Commons won’t be as toxic as in recent years. The future of Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is uncertain, after he lost the Ottawa-area riding he held for the last 20 years.

“I’m going to be going back with a unity message, and also a very clear message from people at Courtenay-Alberni that they don’t want us to be left out,” said Johns.

Nora O’Malley photo

Noreen Frank is all smiles on a rainyApril 28 as she enters the UclueletAthletic Club Hall to cast her vote for the 2025 federal election.

Relief, sadness for two families as judge denies bail

Derian Tate faces first-degree murder charge for the shooting death of Patrick Charleson IV in Nitinaht last fall

By Denise Titian Ha-Shilth-Sa Reporter

Nanaimo, BC –ANanaimo Supreme Court justice has denied bail for Derian Tate, the man accused of murder in the shooting death of Patrick Charleson IV last September in Nitinaht.

The judge heard arguments from both the Crown counsel and defence attorneys onApril 15, and summarized information both for and against granting bail. Due to a publication ban, those details cannot be shared.

What it boiled down to was the severity of the crime Mr. Tate is accused of and the responsibility of the justice system to keep the community safe.

“It was good to see the judge make the only logical decision today – to keep the accused behind bars. Public safety has to be the top priority,” said Hesquiaht

Chief Councillor Mariah Charleson, who has been a steadfast supporter of Patrick ‘Man’Charleson III, father of the slain Patrick Charleson IV, and his family.

“We went into this day with uncertainty,” said Tina Joseph, stepmother of Patrick Charleson IV. “There’s always the chance (bail would be granted)…we want to have faith in the justice system.”

Family members from both the accused and victims’family were in attendance at Nanaimo Law Courts onApril 16 to hear the justice’s decision. One side was relieved while quiet sobs were heard from the other. Both sides gathered in the hall in two groups, hugging one another.

Mariah Charleson believes that it’s important to keep someone charged with

OnApril 16 a judge in Nanaimo Law Courts decided to not grant bail to Derian Tate, who has been charged with first degree murder for the shooting death of Patrick Charleson IV.

first-degree murder behind bars – especially considering that the Nuu-chahnulth Tribal Council is still under a state of emergency due to the overdose crisis.

“Not only will this uphold the public’s trust in the justice system, but it will also assist in upholding the integrity of the

pre-trial we await. We cannot forget that the nations making up the NTC continue to be in a state of emergency. I am relieved to see the accused denied bail today,” she said.

“I was stressed to the point of…I don’t know, but after hearing the decision I feel

relieved that me and my family won’t be bumping into him,” said grieving father

Patrick Charleson III.

The judge ordered that Mr. Tate shall remain in custody. The preliminary hearings are expected to take place later this year.

Denise Titian photo

Court upholds jail sentence for killer of two bears

Ryan Millar will serve 30-days in prison for illegally shooting a black bear and her cub on his property in Tofino

By Nora O’Malley Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Parental advisory: This story contains graphic content of animal cruelty.

Tofino, B.C. – “The bears did not die instantly,” wrote JudgeAlexander Wolf, who convicted and sentenced Ryan Owen Millar to 30-days in jail and $11,000 fine for illegally killing a mother bear and her cub in his backyard about four and a half years ago.

“They were injured and were in considerable pain before they died.Anumber of arrows had to be deployed to ‘finish them off’,” wrote Judge Wolf.

Under the WildlifeAct, Judge Wolf also imposed a 20-year hunting ban and 20year weapons/firearms ban.

Millar appealed the jail sentence, arguing for a conditional jail sentence to be served in community.According to his defence attorney there are no cases in B.C. where a court imposed a jail sentence for the killing of a black bear.

OnApril 4, 2025 Millar’s case came to a close as Justice Thompson of the B.C. Supreme Court upheld the 30-day jail sentence, but allowed Millar’s appeal in part by reducing the 20-year hunting ban to two years. Judge Thompson also “set aside the 20-year weapons/firearms prohibition”, according to the BC Prosecution Service.

BC Prosecution Service went on to say in an email that Millar did not appeal the monetary penalty, with $10,000 of the $11,000 fine ordered to be paid to the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, and he did not appeal the forfeiture order that was imposed in provincial court of his recurve bow and cross bow.

Forensic evidence from Dr. Caeley Thacker, a provincial wildlife veterinarian, showed that the adult black bear was a female that was lactating when it was shot with four arrows. The second bear, or c^ims as the animal is called Nuu-chahnulth language, was a cub, no more than 50 pounds, under the age of 12-months. Dr. Thacker’s evidence was not challenged in court.

Millar is a father of two, an experienced hunter, wildlife guide and owner of a Tofino short-term rental. He was raised in SouthAfrica and his father was a conservation officer.

Millar shot the black bears, who were both about 15 feet up a tree, with a long bow on October 14, 2021.

In an “excellent witness” testimony, Thomas Funk told the court he saw Millar use a cross bow to “finish off” the mother bear and then he hid the cub. Funk was staying at anAirBnB with his spouse and could clearly see Millar from about 20 to 30 feet. He called the police and captured a video of Millar “essential-

ly grabbing the bear by the scruff of the neck and putting him under a tarp”. The video was an exhibit in the trial.

Millar lied to the initial police officer on scene saying, “he knew nothing about any bear being shot,” according to court records. When conservation officers went to investigate, Millar changed his story and told them the bear “came at me”, but Funk says the bears were not being aggressive and Millar made no attempt to scare the bears away.

“Mr. Funk is clear that based on what he saw and heard, Mr. Millar simply saw the bears, went into his house, came back with a bow and crossbow and killed the bears,” wrote Judge Wolf.

Parks Canada scientists estimate that there are about 90 black bears living in a 300 square-kilometre area that includes the Long Beach Unit of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve and the Kennedy Flats area. This region is bordered by Tofino to the north, Ucluelet and Hitacu to the south, the Pacific Ocean to the west, and Kennedy River and Kennedy Lake to the east.

In 2024, BC Conservation Officers (COs), who are armed law enforcement officers with Special Provincial Constable status under the PoliceAct, killed 38 black bears on the west coast of Vancouver Island and a total of 303 black bears province wide.

“Through various designations and authorities, including under the Environ-

mental ManagementAct and Wildlife Act, Conservation Officers are authorized to dispatch or euthanize wildlife in areas where it would be unlawful for the public to use a firearm. For example, CO’s may euthanize an injured animal along a highway or dispatch (kill) a bear in an urban area to ensure public safety, if appropriate to do so,” reads a statement from the Conservation Officer Service.

BC COS says there is no open season for wildlife within 100 meters of a dwelling or occupied outbuilding, nor is there an open season for a black bear less than two years of age, or a bear in its company.

A$100,000 fine and up to one year in jail are both potential penalties for the offences.

“No one should take it upon themselves to needlessly destroy wildlife. We ask

people to call us if they have a concern. It’s not lawful to take matters into your own hands,” said COS Sgt. Dan Eichstadter in a written statement released after Millar’s 2023 sentencing. “We’d also like to thank the witnesses who immediately reported their concerns to authorities and initiated this investigation.”

Black bears play a culturally significant role in Indigenous culture across Canada. In a statement given to CO Eichstadter for Millar’s sentencing, Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation elder Dr. Barney Williams said black bears represent the qualities of “courage and strength in spirit”.

“Communities do not hunt these animals because of the symbolic connection to courage and strength, and the animals hold a special connection spiritually to all members of the Nation,” wrote Dr. Williams.

“Pre-contact in First Nations law, punishment for killing a cims (bear) not out of necessity could mean banishment or being taken out into the wilderness with an elder to receive teachings and become grounded with nature again,”

Dr. Williams continued.

Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation elder Moses Martin, 84, owns and operates Clayoquot Wild, a longtime bear and whale watching company based in Tofino.

He says he’s done a lot of hunting in his younger years, mostly for deer and harbour seal, but never for black bears.

“I’d never take a mom bear or baby bear,” he told the Ha-Shilth-Sa. “For us, that’s not the right thing to do. I’ve been four or five feet away from a bear and they didn’t bother me so I didn’t bother them,” said Martin.

To report poaching or other unlawful activities, call the ReportAll Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) hotline at 1-877952-7277.

Jérémy Mathieu photo

Ablack bear sow and her cubs wander the shores of Clayoquot Sound. In 2021 two of the animals were killed in Tofino.

Conservation Officer Service photo

Ryan Millar used a long bow to shoot the bears.

Election candidates address Indigenous issues

Topics included the implementation of the UN declaration and if the residential school system was a genocide

By Eric Plummer Ha-Shilth-Sa Editor

PortAlberni, BC - From Haida Gwaii to theArctic Sea to the east coast of Newfoundland, there are over 600 First Nations in Canada. But with so many unique Indigenous communities within the greater nation, how can they be individually respected as Canada progresses through the 21st century?

This topic was addressed at a candidates forum in Vancouver Island’s CourtenayAlberni riding onApril 15. Hosted by the Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce and theAlberni Valley Transition Towns Society, the event brought hundreds to PortAlberni’s RimRock Casino.

UNDRIPimplementation

Among the topics submitted by the audience to candidates was Canada’s ability to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This came into law on June 21, 2021 with the passing of the UNDRIPAct, legislation that requires Ottawa to “take all measures necessary to ensure the laws of Canada are consistent with the Declaration.”

Since 2015 Gord Johns has represented the riding as the NDP Member of Parliament. During the candidates forum he pointed out the work of former NDP MP Romeo Saganash, who introduced Bill C-262 in 2016, proposed legislation that closely resembled what became the UNDRIPAct.

“He started his cross-country tour right here with Nuu-chah-nulth,” said Johns. Green Party candidate Kris Markevich stressed the need for the federal government to work closely withAboriginal communities on a “nation-to-nation” basis, protecting rights to harvest shellfish and implement “Indigenous-led restorative justice” systems.

“We believe that this country was founded on stolen land,” he said. Markevich emphasized the importance of “letting them lead the conversation in terms of how we need to remediate the historical wrongs that we have in this country.”

“Until we’re working with the First Nations, the original people of this land, we are not the country that we are seen on the world stage,” noted Liberal candidate Brian Cameron.

Cameron illustrated this point by recalling a time when he was working in Nunavut.AParks Canada-led investigation was searching for the wrecks of the HMS Erebus and Terror. Led by English Captain John Franklin in anArctic expedition, the two vessels became icebound and were abandoned in 1848.

The Liberal candidate recalled that the large Parks Canada ships merely had to heed the words of a local elder to guide their search.

“She said, ‘Why are they looking there? You go to this point, and it’s one kilometre off the point’,” Cameron recalled. “Guess where they were? Exactly where she said they were. Just because it’s not a written history, oral history is equally as valuable.”

The United Nations was founded in 1945, in the aftermath of the Second World War. During the candidates forum Thomas Gamble of the Peoples Party of Canada questioned the appropriateness of a United Nations declaration being applied to the inner workings of Canada.

“It has gone well beyond what its

mandate was originally supposed to do; the purpose of the UN is to keep us out of hell, it’s not to bring us to heaven on earth,” he said. “They think they know how to run our countries better than we do. We have enough trouble just sorting out our national politics, our provincial politics.”

Gamble added that the PPC’s policy is to get rid of the IndianAct “and the other federal dependency structures that lead Indigenous peoples to be wards of the state.”

“We can see how top-down governance from the federal level had completely failed Indigenous communities,” he said.

“I think that we need to give more power to our First Nations,” said Jesse Musial of the Christian Heritage Party of Canada.

But he also cautioned about the government taking responsibility for a First Nation’s welfare, something that can cause Indigenous communities “not to take more licence and agency over their well-being.”

“The more that we depend on the government as a means to do that, the more that we’re depending on an entity that will make mistakes,” said Musial.

Notably absent from the forum was Conservative candidate Kris McNichol. When asked why he wasn’t there, McNichol informed Ha-Shilth-Sa that he was attending a public meeting in Nanoose Bay, where over 300 residents discussed public safety after two violent home invasions in the area.

Gord Johns pointed out that Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre voted against the UNDRIPAct, citing concerns over how the “free prior and informed consent” stipulation will impact resource development.

“So what’s he going to do when he gets back into power, if he gets into power?” asked Johns of the Conservative leader. “I wish Kris McNicol was here, so we could ask Kris, ‘What are their plans?’”

Residential school denialism

On the B.C. coast, this election campaign has been marked by the surfacing of past comments fromAaron Gunn, a Conservative candidate in the North Island-Powell River riding. From 2019 to 2021, Gunn posted comments on Twitter downplaying the harm of residential schools.

“Residential schools were asked for by Indigenous bands,” he wrote on the platform, which is now called X.

“There was no genocide. Stop lying to people and read a book,” wrote Gunn in another post. “The Holocaust was a genocide. Get off Twitter and learn more about the world.”

The topic of criminalizing residential school denialism was put to the Courtenay-Alberni candidates who were present onApril 15.

“You can’t compare genocides,” said Gord Johns. “It was clear in the Truth and

Reconciliation Commission that it was cultural genocide. When we sit and listen to survivors in our community, you know that it was genocide.”

“The Holocaust was atrocious, and also what happened to the First Nations, the

original people of this land, was atrocious and disgusting and it was genocide,” said Brian Cameron, who stressed the need for Canada to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action.

Last year NDP MP Leah Gazan tabled legislation that would amend the Criminal Code of Canada, proposing to criminalize the willful promotion of hatred against Indigenous people by condoning, denying or downplaying the Indian residential school system through public statements. The bill went through first reading, but has yet to be passed.

“In Germany it has been a crime since the Second World War to show Nazi symbolism,” said Green candidate Kris Markevich. “It is a capital offence, and we don’t do anything close to that here.”

“Comparing this directly with the Holocaust is a bit of an uneven comparison,” remarked Christian Heritage candidate Jesse Musial, although he said that the residential school system does fit the definition of a genocide.

“You’ve got to be careful when your mission is to label yourself as a victim,” he noted. “When all your effort goes into proving that you’ve been wronged, then your effort does not go into trying to pick yourself up and move forward with the greatest strength that you can.”

“The problem with putting anything like this into the criminal code is that it restricts our very basic freedoms of expression,” said PPC candidate Thomas Gamble. “There’s multiple sides to the story, a lot of what we’ve defended in the last few years around this has a lot of murkiness to it. To all of a sudden make that into a criminal offence is repugnant to our rights and freedoms.”

His comments aroused some boos from the audience.

“I don’t care if you boo, because I know what makes you cheer,” responded Musial.

Also present at the forum was Teresa Knight from theAnimal Protection Party.

“It’s a fine line,” she said on the residential school issue. “Yes, I think that if somebody is being ridiculous in saying that there’s no genocide in the case of Indigenous people here, don’t vote for him.”

Eric Plummer photo

OnApril 15 Brian Cameron (standing) and other federal election candidates for the Courtenay-Alberni riding answered questions before a crowd at the RimRock Casino in PortAlberni. The event was hosted by theAlberni Valley Chamber of Commerce and theAlberni Valley Transition Towns Society.

Gord Johns

Jesse Musial

Protocol made as fewer voters see climate as a priority

The effects of climate change include wildfires and salmon declines, but less voters were concerned this election

By Roniya Sahin Ha-Shilth-Sa Contributor

Canadian voters are becoming less concerned with climate change, according to a report by theAngus Reid Institute. The non-profit research organization recently surveyed that only 15 per cent of voters considered climate change to be a “top issue” for the country.

Though similar polls done byAngus Reid show that voters do not deny that climate change is caused by human activity, the surveys illustrate a decline in priority amongst voters.

Apoll conducted earlier this year by the institute recorded 42 per cent of Canadians think climate change poses a “very serious threat”, an eight per cent decrease from the 2021 poll.

The recent increase in tariffs and threats of annexation from U.S. President Donald Trump have proven to be a great cause for concern amongst Canadian voters and politicians.

“Donald Trump is trying to fundamentally change the world economy, the trading system,” said Liberal party leader Mark Carney during the federal leaders’ debate, “… He’s trying to break us, so the U.S. can own us. They want our land, they want our resources, they want our water, they want our country … We will fight back with counter tariffs … we will build the strongest economy.”

Carney, previously renowned for his involvement in climate change policy as Liberal advisor, promised to repeal the consumer carbon tax. His stance on oil pipelines remains uncertain. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has heavily advocated for Canada to expand its oil and gas industries within the nation. Canadians head to the polls onApril 28 during what Carney described as “the biggest crisis of our lifetimes.”

Meanwhile, on Vancouver Island, the University of Victoria has partnered with the First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) in a Relationship Protocol to strengthen Indigenous environmental leadership, advance climate priorities and generate meaningful benefits for First Nations in B.C.

The FNLC is a unified political entity, with the British ColumbiaAssembly of First Nations (BCAFN), the First Nations Summit (FNS) and the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) collaborating to advocate for change for all First Nations

Recent polls show that climate change has fallen on the priority list

16.6-hectare Klanawa River fire was discovered on southwest

made that year the most devastating on record in British Columbia.

in B.C. This time, they have collaborated with the Pacific Institute of Climate Solutions (PICS) to connect with universities.

“Ahealthy environment underpins a healthy economy,” said PICS Executive Director Ian Mauro. “To be effective on climate, it means that our climate ambitions need to be done in a way that supports housing, affordability and all these other things that are high priority to people.”

Mauro highlights the consistent effort from First Nations to strengthen community, economic and environmental resilience as an example of how economic and environmental goals go hand in hand.

The protocol supports the implementation of the BC First Nation Climate Strategy andAction Plan and theAction Plan for Disaster Risk Reduction by First Nations in B.C. First Nations-led climate action will support current and future efforts in self-determination to care for their lands.

“I think the framework in itself was to create that relationship between ourselves

and many universities,” said BCAFN Regional Chief Terry Teegee, “but even further than that, it is to allow First Nations to have a space to talk about climate change and perhaps spring forward solutions.”

Chief Teegee mentions how current political tensions between federal electorates and the U.S. have dramatically lessened the priority of climate solutions.

Others attribute the decline of interest in climate solutions as an example of how integral land is to an individual.

Hugh Braker, the political lead on Climate and Environment for the First Nations Summit (FNS), emphasizes the connection First Nations have with the land and how the physical location of many villages disproportionately endangers First Nations.

The disasters of climate change cannot be ignored, says Braker. Salmon, a pillar in many coastal First Nation communities, is becoming scarce along the coastlines. Forest fires are a new normal during the summer. Ignoring this con-

nection with the land has led to countless catastrophes, says Braker.

Braker advised considering how individual actions will add up to detrimental consequences in the future.

“One of the problems with climate change is that people procrastinate,” said Braker. “What you do today will determine how bad [climate change] will be in the future.”

To support the protocol’s implementation, PICS will invest in capacity building, research, and educational opportunities that foster collaboration between universities, First Nations organizations, and nation partners. PICS has launched a scholarship program to support students working on projects that support the BC First Nation Climate Strategy, according to Mauro.

“We’re stronger working collaboratively, and reconciling complex histories and different ways of knowing is hard work,” said Mauro, “[but] I think collaboration fuels hope and solutions.”

CYPRESS RESTAURANT & LOUNGE

B.C. Wildfire Management Branch photo

of voters in the federal election. Pictured is the

Vancouver Island in early July 2023, one of almost 3,000 that

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B.C. introduces new mining claim system

A pre-claim consultation process developed for staking in a First Nation's territory

By Nora O’Malley Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Changes have been brought to the province’s system of staking mineral claims, the result of a court case that determined the past process breached First Nations’ rights.

On March 26, 2025, the B.C. Ministry of Mining and Critical Minerals introduced the Mineral Claims Consultation Framework (MCCF). This is in response to a 2023 B.C. Supreme Court ruling in Gitxaała vs. British Columbia, which established that First Nations need to be consulted at the time of claim staking.

Previously, under the Mineral Tenure Act, Free Miner Certificate holders could register mineral and placer claims for a $25 fee through Mineral Titles Online (MTO) without First Nations consultation.

Under the new MCCF, once an application is received, provincial staff will consult with First Nations.

“The chief gold commissioner will determine whether the duty to consult has been met and if the claim should be registered, registered with accommodations, or denied.All decisions will be published in the MTO system, ensuring the process remains fair and transparent for all parties involved,” states the ministry in a press release.

All pre-existing claims in the MTO system will remain valid and the rights and activities associated with all pre-existing and new claims will remain unchanged, the ministry notes.

“We’re committed to working together with First Nations to ensure our mining sector supports good jobs and reflects the shared interests and values of everyone who lives and works on these lands,” said the Ministry of Mining and Critical Minerals in an email to the Ha-Shilth-Sa.

“Provincial revenue sharing occurs once a mine moves into production,” the ministry continued. “Economic and Community DevelopmentAgreements (ECDAs) are agreements between the provincial government and First Nations for sharing the direct mineral tax revenue on new mines, major mine expansions, and mines coming out of care and maintenance.”

The province has been working to reform its Mineral TenureAct to align

with the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous PeoplesAct (DRIPA), which was passed on Nov. 28, 2019, making B.C. the first jurisdiction in Canada to enshrine the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) into law.

The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) expressed disappointment in the new MCCF, saying the framework “falls well short of the minimum human rights standards outlined in the UN Declaration”.

“In its current form, the MCCF will only serve to inundate First Nations with referrals to be responded to on short timelines absent the provision of adequate capacity funding,” stated Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, Union of BC Indian Chiefs President, in a January 2025 FNLC press release.

“The MCCF, and the process that led to its development, only serve to illustrate the urgency of the government of B.C. undermining the good work to align the MTAwith the UN Declaration in consultation and cooperation with First Nations,” Chief Phillip said.

Boughton Law associate Jimmy Burg specializes in natural resources, energy and Indigenous law.

In a February 24, 2025, article published on the Boughton Law website, Burg wrote that:

“In areas with high mineral potential, First Nations could face hundreds or even thousands of new claim referrals.

Ha-Shilth-Sa belongs to every Nuu-chah-nulth person including those who have passed on, and those who are not yet born.Acommunity 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 51st year of serving the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations. We look forward to your continued input and support. Kleco! Kleco!

Given this potential for a high volume of claims and their technical nature, a significant concern is whether First Nations will have the necessary administrative, financial, or legal resources to effectively manage this process,” states Burg.

B.C.Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Terry Teegee called the MCCF a “step backward for B.C.” in a March 26, 2025, opt-ed published in the Vancouver Sun.

“Under the framework, mining companies can no longer simply register large swaths of land for mineral exploration. They must now notify First Nations of their intentions and allow a 30-day period for responses. This shift may result in an influx of approximately 10,000 additional placer and mineral applications annually, overwhelming often understaffed and under-resourced First Nations offices,” wrote Chief Teegee.

“First Nations are flooded with applications or ‘referrals’from various industries, including mining and forestry. Unfortunately, the current framework allows limited opportunities for First Nations to modify or prevent these permits, often rendering the consultation process ineffective,” Teegee continued.

Burg said mining companies are concerned the new claim system may result in the disclosure of “trade secrets” and noted that many interest-holders are concerned the MCCF will “cripple resource development” in the province as investors seek other jurisdictions with less regulatory uncertainty.

“We are well aware of the regressive comments coming from the BC Conservative caucus calling for an end to attempts to align the Mineral TenureAct with the UN Declaration,” stated Robert Phillips of the First Nations Summit Political Executive in the January 2025 FNLC press release.

“The minimum human rights of First Nations are non-negotiable and are in no way barriers to prosperity; when the basic human rights of First Nations are upheld and respected, certainty, predictability, and success for all British Columbians follows,” Phillips added.

In 2024, provincial data showed that 6,683 claims were registered (5,048 mineral claims and 1,635 placer claims).

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Terry Teegee

May 12 to 18, 2025

National Nursing Week

Wiisahii%ap (Keeping†Healthy)

“Huppiipc>at`” (Helping†Each†Other) ††“@a@a>h=%i” (Be†comfortable,†be†well)

Linda Smith

Roger BoyerMarion Guiraud

Lauren VanderPloegMalcolm Many ChiefsMarian WebsterSamantha FinleySavannah Sam

AmandaAspinallChristine CurlyClaudette Watts Kelsey Rix

Sonia Somerville

‘Access to care closer to home’ needed for west coast

Dr. Roger Boyer II brings an Anishinabek background in health care leadership as the NTC’s newest manager

By Eric Plummer Ha-Shilth-Sa Editor

PortAlberni, BC - The territory of the Nuu-chah-nulth is vast, encompassing over 350 kilometres across the west coast of Vancouver Island. Within this region lies dozens of coastal communities – many of which are a considerable distance by boat or logging road from the closest medical facility.

“Constant, consistent access to care closer to home. You want to talk about my No. 1 issue? That would be it,” reflects Dr. Roger Boyer II in his first month as the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council’s manager of Community Health Services.

Boyer comes into the position after serving as director of research for the NTC’s COVID project, a multi-year study that looked into how the virus affected Nuuchah-nulth, with attention to the effectiveness of the vaccine, immune response and how communities were impacted by the pandemic.

As a member of the Mississaugi First Nation, his time on the COVID project provided an introduction to Nuu-chahnulth-aht.

“I get hugged here an awful lot more than I ever got hugged back home,” said Boyer, whose First Nation’s territory stretches from northern shore of Lake Michigan. “[Nuu-chah-nulth] know what they want, and they know how they want it. But I also know that they are very forgiving people. They love to teach when you listen.”

In his new role Boyer heads a staff of over a dozen health professionals who provide a range of supports for Nuuchah-nulth-aht, including health management, disease prevention, immunizations, pregnancy and infant care support, patient advocacy, dietary guidance, as well as at-home-assistance for those with chronic conditions. The department offers a team of nurses, dieticians and community workers to assist Nuu-chah-nulth people with their health needs.

“Health care in its current state is often overwhelming and difficult to navigate— for patients and for families,” says Boyer. “While we don’t provide primary care, our role in public and secondary health services is critical.”

The NTC department serves all 14 nations within the tribal council, but to a varying degree depending on the needs of each nation. Some nations, likeAhousaht, have taken over a portion of their health services, but the NTC continues to support. Currently two NTC nurses work inAhousaht’s Flores Island village of Maaqtusiis.

“Each nation wants to be able to do health care and support health care and move community health in their particular way,” said Boyer. “Being that our services cover all 14 nations, we have to make sure that each service is unique to those particular needs.”

Aconsistent issue across Nuu-chahnulth territory continues to be a heavy – and costly – reliance on patient travel from remote communities. The removal of a person from their home into the

Nuu-chah-nulth territory encompasses over 350 kilometres along the west coast of Vancouver Island, including numerous communities that can only reach a medical facility by boat or logging road. Pictured is Clayoquot Sound.

institutional setting of a hospital brings inherent difficulties, reflects Boyer.

“In so many communities, the default is calling an ambulance,” says Boyer. “That person is removed from their home, their family, and placed in a colonial institution. They're often frightened, isolated, and uncertain.”

Boyer grew up in Hershey, a small town in Michigan. He attended high school six miles away in Reed City, where his prowess on the field earned a recruitment to play football for a university inArkansas. There he gained an undergraduate degree in biochemistry, and followed this with a master’s degree in science at the University of Western Ontario.At Western Boyer worked in diabetes research.

“All of my relatives have diabetes, so I wanted to try and fix the problem,” he said.

Boyer recalls getting his first status card while at Western, which for him hinted at an Indigenous background he knew little about.

“It literally had a picture of when I was seven years old. I said, ‘Where did this come from?’,” said Boyer of the laminated card. “We weren’t raised as Indigenous. My dad carried a lot of shame about that part of our identity. When he left the community in 1969, he was struggling with stereotypes—addiction, unemployment, trauma. He didn’t want to

be part of that stigma.”

Acourse of discovery into hisAnishinaabe heritage ensued, eventually leading to a role in his First Nation’s tribal leadership, where Boyer ran a primary health care agency focused on improving access to health services.

Now based on Vancouver Island, Boyer hopes to foster supportive services for each Nuu-chah-nulth member in managing their individual health.

“Our people have an active role to play in their own health and well-being,” he says. “It’s our job to support them in walking that path.”

Eric Plummer photo

Roger Boyer

Mourning wife warns to take health advice seriously

William Li le appeared healthy until his final days revealed the reluctance to a end to underlying conditions

By Denise Titian Ha-Shilth-Sa Reporter

PortAlberni, BC – He had just turned 65, was always relatively healthy and had quit alcohol a decade earlier. But, according to Doreen Little, her husband died very suddenly last year. She believes he could have lived much longer had he followed doctor’s advice more diligently and made a simple diet change.

William Little, anAhousaht man, worked all his life in the automotive repair industry and even had a side hustle, fixing people’s vehicles at his home on evenings and weekends. He was a busy man with a quiet family home.

Doreen, his wife of 23 years, said her husband had been diagnosed with borderline Type 2 diabetes many years ago. He was given advice from health care professionals about how to prevent illness from progressing, including cutting sugar and carbohydrates from his diet.

According to Diabetes Canada, Indigenous peoples living in Canada are among the highest-risk populations for diabetes and related complications. Their advice to Indigenous people is to take part in screening for diabetes earlier and at more frequent intervals.

Diabetes Canada goes on to say that borderline Type 2 diabetes, also known as prediabetes, is a condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not yet high enough for a Type 2 diagnosis.

“Indigenous populations, particularly in Canada, have a significantly higher risk of developing both prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes compared to the general population,” stated the organization.

According to anAmerican Blue Cross article, Kiowa Tribe member Elizabeth Battiest is quoted saying there is a word in her language for diabetes that translates to ‘sugar sickness’. The word came into existence after settlers colonized their homelands. Prior to contact, Indigenous people enjoyed a diet of lean protein like game meat or seafood, and they drank water.

Today, Indigenous communities in Canada, including First Nations, Inuit, and Métis, face a significant health challenge related to high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages.According to Science Direct, sugar-sweetened beverage consumption has been declining since the year 2000. However, Indigenous peoples around the world remain some of the highest consumers of sugar sweetened beverages, according to a 2023 study.

Doreen says her husband made some changes to his diet in the past. He cut back on his sugar consumption, including cutting out sugary cola drinks and alcohol. He switched to fruit-flavored soda water.

But over time, he slipped back into old habits. He started drinking cola regularly and indulged in the odd sugary treat.

“He had a sugar addiction,” Doreen said.

And, after his passing, Doreen found cans of cola hidden around his favorite recliner. She learned that he had been

bringing donuts to work, keeping it all a secret from his wife.

The couple carried on with their daily routines and things seemed fine until February 25, 2024, when William called her from work.

“He called after 5 p.m. saying something’s wrong,” Doreen shared. “He said his right side is going numb…his arm and his leg. He said he couldn’t text me because his fingers were numb.”

William was rushed to the hospital, having suffered a stroke. Doreen said it was a good thing he made it to the hospital so quickly because the paralysis William was experiencing was not permanent. He regained feeling and use of the right side of his body.

After a short period of recovery, all seemed to be going great for William. So, it was a shock when, only five months later, things went terribly wrong.

Doreen later discovered that her husband wasn’t as healthy as he was pretending to be. In addition to his earlier pre-diabetes diagnosis, he had also been diagnosed with leukemia, a cancer of the blood, when he was in his 20s. He apparently recovered from the leukemia, but she noticed that in the summer of 2024 William had been going to the doctor quite regularly for tests. He never talked to her about the tests results.

“I should have gone with him,” she said.

In July 2024, following all the medical tests, William was admitted to hospital for exploratory surgery. Four days ahead of the procedure William told his wife that his urine was brown. He went on to say that the doctors told him he was going to lose his liver and that he might have cancer.

On July 10, William was admitted to

the hospital for the surgery. By the next morning his condition deteriorated, and he suffered a massive heart attack. He died on July 11.

“I was so angry when he left. He wouldn’t listen to me, but it was about the addiction,” said Doreen, her expression softening.

It was the love of sugar, and she understood why he kept it from her. She probably would have put a stop to it.

Doreen started researching nutrition online and hopes to spread the word to Indigenous communities about the importance of healthy eating.

“People who are middle aged and beyond can’t eat and drink like a 16-yearold. You have to make adjustments,” she said.

Also in her 60s, Doreen has been hit with five different conditions that she says “zaps” her energy. Some of the conditions could be age-related but some are diet issues, like gluten intolerance and vitamin deficiency.

Having suffered an injury that prevents her from working, Doreen uses her time to research diet and health conditions.

Doreen says she learned that white sugar can causeAlzheimer’s, dementia and could be bad for cancer patients. White flour and other refined carbohydrates are converted to sugar during digestion.

“I am doing a lot of research so that I can spread information to help others,” Doreen said.

She is hoping to enroll at the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition to take online courses but hasn’t had success in finding funding through federal employment retraining programs.

The Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, through its Community Health Services

Submitted photo

department, offers a registered dietitian, Jen Cody, who provides trauma-informed and culturally safe diabetes education, consultation, and liaison to clients, caregivers, family members and other service providers.

“The RD supports food security in communities by supporting community mobilization and advocacy efforts and building community capacity around nutrition and diabetes prevention and management,” reads the NTC website.

Dr. Roger Boyer, NTC’s new manager of Community Health, agrees that men’s health and prevention measures are huge issue, especially men’s mental health.

The impacts of colonialism, residential schools, intergenerational trauma and cultural imbalances has left its mark.

“The trauma of our fathers continues to carry with us as their sons,” said Boyer.

The NTC’s Teechuktl Mental Health Services has an office in PortAlberni offering culturally safe support for the mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being of Nuu-chah-nulth individuals, families, and communities.

The First Nations HealthAuthority has plenty of health resource information, including Type 2 diabetes resources for Indigenous peoples.

For Indigenous men, FNHApoints to ‘The DUDES Club’which was established in the Vancouver Downtown Eastside in 2010.

“The DUDES Club is a proven model for Indigenous men’s wellness promotion that builds solidarity and brotherhood, enabling men to regain a sense of pride and purpose in their life,” reads the Dudes Club website.

Described as a relatively healthy, hard working man over his life, William Little died from a heart attack on July 11, 2024 at the age of 65. He is pictured with wife Doreen.

Gaining a place in high demand health professions

It can be daunting leaving home to study in the medical field, but opportunities are there for Nuu-chah-nulth

By Eric Plummer Ha-Shilth-Sa Editor

Ahmber Barbosa’s interest in health care began at the age of four.

“I was in the delivery room when my brother was born,” she said. “It was just the most magical experience. I knew I wanted to deliver babies when I was that young, but there’s a few different paths you can take to do that.”

Now 29, the Tla-o-qui-aht member considered midwifery and nursing, following a family tradition of working in health care – including having a grandmother who was a long-serving registered nurse and a father who worked as a licenced practical nurse for 18 years.After earning an undergraduate degree in molecular biology at Vancouver Island University, Barbosa set her sights on becoming a family doctor.

“Family medicine gives a lot of flexibility in terms of where you can go,” she said.

She now awaits her third year of medical school, which begins June 9 in Duncan. She’ll experience a series of clinical placements in obstetrics (pregnancy, childbirth and the post-partum period), surgery, pediatrics, family medicine and even some psychiatry.

“We get to rotate through a whole bunch of different specialties so that when it comes time to pick our residency we have an idea of what we like,” said Barbosa. So far, her favourite part of med school has been assisting general practitioners by interviewing their patients to prepare for when the doctor sees them.

“I love speaking with patients and getting to know them,” said Barbosa, who plans to eventually return home to Port Alberni to serve as a family doctor. “I’d like to focus on obstetrics and women’s health as well as palliative care.”

Like Barbosa, Savannah Sam also had to spend years away from her home community to earn her credentials as a medical professional.After becoming a registered nurse in 2019, Sam worked at the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital for three years – the busiest medical facility on Vancouver Island.

But she now works inAhousaht, the place where she was raised, serving as the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council’s community health and home care nurse.

“My role is mainly immunizations,” said Sam. “Being able to interact with all the babies that come into the community, being one of first ones that sees them and provides them with some care that’s needed in their first days…I provide that care when needed.”

Since Sam was 10 she’s wanted to work as a nurse inAhousaht to serve her people.

“I remember telling my grandma that I wanted to be a nurse,” Sam said. “She asked if I was going to work at home here.”

Being away fromAhousaht for nine years was hard, as she earned a formal education and gained experience in the field. But coming back as a medical professional wasn’t easy either, due to

Submitted photos

dent. “I wanted to be a person for Nuuchah-nulth people that was safe - and to try and help and prevent, give a space where people didn’t have to be scared of medical treatment.”

Despite this motivation, she admits that aiming for medical school was intimidating.

“I think the biggest challenge was working up the courage to apply in the first place, feeling like I wouldn’t be able to do it or be successful,” said Barbosa.

“Having had done an undergraduate degree and felt that isolation from my community, knowing I was going to have to do it again was hard.”

Funding for school costs are being covered by the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, while scholarships have helped with living expenses in while studying in Victoria and Duncan. Even so, Barbosa spent a few years prior putting away money for school, relying on family to save on rent.

“For one of the years I lived with my grandma, so I put away three quarters of my income that year,” she said. “The next I was living with my now husband and just splitting costs, and we were able to save a lot.”

While it can seem like a tough hill to climb, those who gain credentials in a medical profession are in high demand. For nursing, Canada’s labour market conditions until 2031 cite a “strong risk of shortage”

“There continues to be acute labour

her deep familial relations inAhousaht. It took a lot of convincing to gain the trust of some in her community.

“I’m related to a lot of people here as well, so I have to ensure that I will stick to my confidentiality piece, and that I have a licence that I have to look after,” she admitted. “They trust me now and it’s gotten a lot easier.”

There’s a lot to overcome for the medical system to earn the trust of First Nations. Canada is just a generation away from the forced assimilation and institutionalization of residential schools, along with segregated Indian hospitals that left a legacy of mistreatment.

This history was addressed by the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Medicine, in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.

“It is undeniable that the health care system provided subpar to non-existent medical care to Indigenous peoples during the time of residential schools and Indian hospitals, and effectively failed them,” stated the faculty in a document released by UBC. “Today, Indigenous peoples continue to experience health inequities with devastating, often tragic, negative impacts on Indigenous health and wellness.”

In 2020 the province commissioned an independent review of how Indigenous people are being treated in the medical system. Led by former judge Dr. Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, In Plain Sight cited widespread prejudice, systemic racism and a lack of cultural safety, resulting in

a “range of negative impacts, harms and even death.”

Meanwhile, B.C.’s Indigenous people have higher rates of chronic conditions across a range of health categories. In 2021 the average life expectancy of a First Nations person in the province was 67.2 – a drop of six years since 2017 – compared to the B.C. average of 82, according to the First Nations Health Authority.

The need for consistent and attentive primary care was clear for Barbosa as she grew up in PortAlberni.

“I witnessed and heard stories from a lot of my family of really poor treatment in the medical system,” said the med stu-

shortages, affecting the delivery of health care services in various parts of the province, especially in rural areas,” stated a Canada Job Bank report from the end of 2024.

As manager of the NTC’s Community Health Services, Dr. Roger Boyer encourages Nuu-chah-nulth who want to help their communities to look at licenced practical nurse training, as most of this education can now be provided online.

“We need to encourage Nuu-chah-nulth to go into the LPN program, because you don’t have to leave your community –only for your practicum to do that,” he said.

This summerAhmber Barbosa begins her third year of medical school in Duncan, part of her journey to become a family doctor.

Savannah Sam (right) is a registered nurse who has worked in her home community ofAhousaht since 2022.

67 clubs prepare for Port Alberni hoops tournament

Second annual Tseshaht Lightning Open Tournament will be staged May 16-19 at various facilities in the city

By Sam Laskaris Ha-Shilth-Sa Contributor

PortAlberni, BC – Organizers of a tournament that will be held in PortAlberni during the May long weekend have quickly discovered there is quite a thirst for basketball.

The second annual Tseshaht Lightning Open Tournament will be staged May 1619 at various facilities in PortAlberni.

Atotal of 67 teams, competing in six divisions, will participate in the event.

That’s a substantial increase from the 46 squads that competed in the inaugural tourney a year ago.

Tournament organizer Ed Ross said the number of teams taking part this year could have been much higher as about 30 teams were turned away.

“We didn’t know if we could handle that volume until we talked to our scheduler,” Ross said. “Our scheduler told us that we could probably easily handle 80 teams. So, we’ll know that for next year.”

The 2025 tournament will feature both girls’and boys’teams at the Under 13 and Under 17 levels.And there will also be pair of adult categories – senior women’s and senior men’s.

“There’s a lot of Nuu-chah-nulth teams,” Ross said. “But it’s an open inclusive tournament.”

Ross, who will be coaching the Tseshaht Lightning girls’Under 13 squad at the tourney, said the concept of the event started innocently enough.

His daughters were playing some hoops with some non-Indigenous friends and they were talking about the excitement of competing in the JuniorAll Native Basketball Tournament.

Ross said one of the non-Indigenous girls asked his daughters if she could play on their club.

“My daughters said you can’t because

you’re not Indigenous,” Ross said. “You could see in her eyes that that hurt her. From there we thought let’s host an inclusive tournament. Why not host something where we could all come together and do something that we love and be together.”

Ross estimates about 90 per cent of the teams competing at this year’s Tseshaht tourney are Indigenous.

The majority of the players are from British Columbia. But Ross said some teams will have players coming from the Northwest Territories and even from San Jose, Calif.

Tseshaht will be represented by five squads. There will be a pair of entrants in the boys’Under 13 division and one girls’ Under 13 team.

Tseshaht is also entering clubs in both the women’s and men’s categories.

“I expect them to compete well if they train hard and they’re ready,” Ross said of the Tseshaht representatives.

He also anticipates Bella Bella, Prince Rupert and Similkameen Country to send strong clubs that will challenge for titles.

Ross will be joined by his eldest daughter, Memphis Dick-Ross, who will serve as an assistant coach for the Tseshaht Lightning U-13 girls team. Memphis Dick-Ross will be playing for a women’s team in the event.

Ross’team will also include his three other daughters – Mia, Innisa and Parriswho will be playing.

Besides staging a tournament that was

born out of a desire to be inclusive, Ross said organizers want to be great hosts.

“We’re also investing everything back into the tournament, meaning from all the entry fees. We didn’t want to have prize money because we didn't want people to start completely stacking teams and just coming up to annihilate people,” he said. “We invested all of the entry fees back into stuff like silver-carved rings, silver-carved pendants for the prestigious awards.All-star (awards) are also being created by local artists.”

Organizers have ordered championship sweaters and keepsake trophies for the winners.

TheAlberniAthletic Hall will serve as the tournament’s main gym and will host all of the semi-finals and finals.

Matches will also be held atAlberni District Secondary School, E.J. Dunn Elementary School, Haahuupayak Elementary School and Maht Mahs Gym.

Ross is pleased to see basketball playing a vital part in Nuu-chah-nulth life.

“Honestly, I really think that tournaments and sports are the closest things that we have to potlatches, where we're just coming together to do something that we love, playing as a team, helping each other achieve something and just connecting and just sitting with each other,” he said. “I think that's why it's so well attended and so it's more than just basketball.”

27

Alexandra Mehl photo

Last year's Tseshaht Lightning tournament brought 46 teams to compete in PortAlberni over the May Long Weekend.

Land blessing held on Nanaimo Indian Hospital site

Reconciliation Agreement adds 80.09-hectares to Snuneymuxw lands, with plans for housing and infrastructure

By Olivia Thomas Ha-Shilth-Sa Contributor

Nanaimo, B.C. – Under a clear, sunny sky, members of the Snuneymuxw First Nation gathered onApril 15 for a “Blessing of the Land” ceremony on the recently reclaimed Te’tuxwtun lands, where the Nanaimo Indian Hospital once stood.

The land, part of a historic land reconciliation agreement signed early in 2024 with the Government of Canada, was once home to the notorious Nanaimo Indian Hospital and, prior to that, used by Western Forest Products and the Department of National Defence. Now, it is being returned to Snuneymuxw as part of an 80.09-hectare addition to their reserve lands.

Alarge crowd attended the event, where prayers, songs, and stories were shared in honor of the people who once suffered, and in some cases, died, on this land.

Chief Mike Wyse addressed the gathering with powerful words about the painful legacy of the hospital.

“There are at least 50 unmarked graves in our Snuneymuxw cemetery that were from relatives who attended the Nanaimo Indian Hospital,” he said. “We want to acknowledge the relatives who were lost. Before the first shovel goes into the

ground, we must do this work.”

Members of theAhousaht Nation stood in solidarity with the Snuneymuxw community, joining survivor Dave Frank in song and prayer.Aspeech followed, remembering Dave’s brother, Charlie Frank, who died while at the hospital. Their voices rose over the grounds in a moving tribute that reflected both sorrow and strength.

For many, the ceremony was deeply personal.

“My auntie went to this hospital, and they starved her,” said Snuneymuxw member Mikiala Morgan.

Others in the community spoke of healing and reclamation. One Snuneymuxw member described the land’s return as “a full circle moment,” signifying not only a legal victory but a cultural and spiritual restoration.

“One day, we will have a plaque made here with all of our relatives names that never made it home from the hospital,” said Chief Wyse.

John White, a Snuneymuxw First Nation member, noted after the event, “What Chief Wyse said about respecting our path forward by revisiting the site to do work was pretty important. He raised some good points about honoring the survivors by having a monument and the

work Snuneymuxw has done with the ground penetrating and cultural work is also important.”

Following the ceremony, a luncheon was held on Snuneymuxw Nation, where community members, guests, and dignitaries gathered to share food, stories, and reflections. The meal provided a space for continued conversation, healing, and celebration, reinforcing the sense of unity and purpose as the Nation looks ahead to

a future shaped by their own vision and leadership.

As Snuneymuxw moves forward with plans for housing, sustainable development, and community infrastructure on the site, the blessing of the land marked an essential step in grounding that future in remembrance and respect. The ceremony honored ancestors, acknowledged survivors, and set the foundation for a new beginning rooted in truth and tradition.

Phrase†of†the†week:†tiic^mis†+u>%iš††tiic^mis†%uu%a>uksta>†c^aamih=ta†ha%uk†c^aamih=ta†wa%ic^†waa%uc^†suusa†yacuk†kaamutkuk†cim+%ii%a>†c^uu

Pronounced 'Cha chum hir ii alth clu th ish teach mus cha mirth

choo,' it means, ' Life is good, take care of yourself, be happy, eat right, sleep right ,walk, run, work, and just be happy.' Supplied by ciisma

Olivia Thomas photo

Members of the Snuneymuxw First Nation gathered onApril 15 for a “Blessing of the Land” ceremony on the recently reclaimed Te’tuxwtun lands, where the Nanaimo Indian Hospital once stood.

From 1946-1967 the federal government ran the Nanaimo Indian Hospital on Snuneymuxw reserve land.

Nanaimo organization donates 17 bikes to Eha esaht

Bikes for Kids has given away 3,800 bicycles to children in need on Vancouver Island for the past eight years

By Denise Titian Ha-Shilth-Sa Reporter

Zeballos, BC – Seventeen Ehattesaht children were the lucky recipients of new-to-them bicycles thanks to a program based in Nanaimo called Bikes for Kids.

Greg Nowik is a mortgage broker and owner of Nowik Mortgage Team for more than 30 years. When he moved to Nanaimo with his family in 1998, he saw that his new home had a strong sense of community and volunteerism, so he decided to do the same. That is when the Nanaimo branch of Bikes for Kids opened its doors.

“In Conjunction with the RCMP and our mortgage team we came up with this fantastic way of giving back to our community,” Nowik states on his Bikes for Kids website. “We have partnered with the RCMP to acquire bicycles, get them all serviced, and out to children in our community who could really use them.”

Bikes for Kids relies on partnerships and a small army of volunteers that have given away 3,800 bicycles to children in need on Vancouver Island in the past eight years.

Some of the used bicycles are donated by the RCMP and some are donated by people no longer needing them at a recycling facility in Nanaimo. From there, a team of volunteers refurbishes each bicycle, making it ready to use by a grateful child somewhere on the Island.

The partnership with the RCMP also connects Bikes for Kids with the school districts up and down the Island, and that is were they receive information about which areas could use bicycles.

In earlyApril, 17 bicycles were donated to Ehattesaht children living in Zeballos. According to Nowik, children in Kyuquot also received bicycles another year. Nowik likes to go fishing in Kyuquot and that is how he heard of the tiny, remote village.

Bikes for Kids also partners with Canadian Tire, where bicycle parts and supplies are purchased at a discount. Nowik says that sometimes they receive highend bicycles that, once refurbished, can be sold. Profits from these sales allow the organization to purchase new children’s bikes from Canadian Tire at a discounted price.

After giving away hundreds of bikes in the Nanaimo area, Bikes for Kids expanded their gifting area and have donated bikes to First Nations school children in communities north of Campbell River. In earlyApril 35 bikes were delivered by volunteers to Zeballos. Seventeen of those bikes went to Ehattesaht children. Bikes for Kids also has the support of the Nanaimo Brain Injury Society for donated helmets.

If you have a bicycle to give, DBL Disposal Services at 333 10th Avenue in Nanaimo takes donations from 9-5, Monday to Friday.

Submitted photo

Chuck John delivers a bicycle in Ehatis, the on-reserve community right next to Zeballos. Bikes for Kids recently made 17 donations to the Ehattesaht community.

Indigenous tourism prepares for a lucrative season

Businesses are expecting a busy summer as Canadian travellers opt to stay away from American destinations

By Nora O’Malley Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Ucluelet, BC – Sipping organic Spirit Bear Coffee and snacking on sweet bannock scones, 150 attendees of B.C.’s first-ever Indigenous Tourism Conference were on the same page about the upcoming 2025 tourist season.

Despite the uncertainty of U.S. tariffs slowing economic growth across the country, tourism industry professionals around the room thought B.C. is on track for a full-on summer. They shared their perspectives at the conference, which was heldApril 28 to 30 in Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ (Ucluelet First Nation) territory.

“I honestly don’t think that politics will affect us. We do have a lot of local guests that come and it’s a very popular area,” said SicilyAren, who represented the Prophet River First Nation and Sikanni River Ranch in Northern B.C., which is within the Muskwa-Kechika ManagementArea.

“Our dollar is a lot cheaper too, so that brings up moreAmericans. I don’t see politics playing a role in our business,” saidAren.

Corey Rich, Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Government economic development officer, pointed out that the Trump regime has caused many Canadians to reconsider their usual travel plans to the U.S.

“I think that’s going to cause a lot of local economic tourism to spend here, which is really exciting for all of our business, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous. I think we’re going to see lowvacancy and increased rates across hotels and vacation rentals,” said Rich.

Anewly released 2024 Economic Impact of Tourism in Tofino study found that 711,200 visitors spent an estimated $430 million in Tofino last year. The study noted that tourism directly supported 3,190 local jobs.

“We’re training five new front desk staff,” said Rachel Leghissa, the marketing manager for Tin Wis Resort and

Tsawaak RV Resort & Campground, two Tofino accommodation providers that are owned and operated by Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation.

“I feel like it’s already quite busy. We’re pretty sold out for the summer,” Leghissa told the Ha-Shilth-Sa after theApril 28 panel discussion about building Indigenous-owned hotels and resorts.

“I think it’s similar to our experience when tourism shifted in the pandemic.

We were still seeing a ton of Island visitors, B.C. visitors and Canadian visitors.

That’s kind of the trend,” she said.

Trevor Cootes, Indigenous Economic Pathways founder and a conference cohost with Indigenous Tourism BC, says the outlook for 2025 is good.

“It might not be pre-pandemic levels, but it’s going to be good for local tourism businesses and Indigenous businesses,” said Cootes.

“People are excited,” Rich adds. “They are ready for it. They had the COVID years and they had the highway challenges. I think people are going to embrace the opportunity to really stabilize their businesses and really capture that tourism market.”

Chris Tait, tourism manager for Klahoose Wilderness Resort on the central west coast of B.C., said Indigenous-led tourism offers “the best of the best”.

“It’s the most authentic form of tourism in Canada,” said Tait during a panel discussion.

He said Klahoose Wilderness Resort charges guests $1,500 a night for stays that include cultural talks and grizzly bear viewing tours.

“Price doesn’t matter. Price as high as you think your experience is worth,” Tait said, noting that Klahoose, now entering its fifth season, is turning a profit.

“We raised our rates by 30 per cent and people didn’t bat an eye,” he said.

Indigenous Economic Pathways will host its second annual Indigenous Forestry Conference September 15 to 16 in Nanaimo and an inaugural Indigenous Blue Economy Conference in Parksville November 18 to 20.

Jason Wilson, manager of operations for We Wai Kai Nation, talks about the new Four Points by Sheraton hotel opening in Campbell River in March 2027. We Wai Kai signed a franchise agreement with Marriott in 2019.

Nora O'Malley photos

Laura Manson, Sarah Rhude and Molly Long from theAunty Collective, a Victoria-based Indigenous business, provided tokens for gift bags at the Indigenous Tourism Conference, which was heldApril 28 to 30 in Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ territory.

Pro-D day event in Hitacu focuses on supporting kids

Session delves into a history of segregation, isolation and the need for Nuu-chah-nulth to ‘go back to the circle’

By Nora O’Malley Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Hitacu, BC - Jennifer Touchie and the Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Government education department welcomed teachers and west coast community members to the Cixʷatin Centre in Hitacu onApril 28 for a special day of learning about how to support youngsters impacted by generational trauma.

Indigenous counsellor and owner of Tiičmis WellnessAnita CharlesonTouchie opened the discussion in the morning and renowned parent educator Dr. Vanessa Lapointe gave a talk in the afternoon.

“The ultimate Nuu-chah-nulth law is the protection of its children,” said Charleson-Touchie.

When a child has trouble expressing feelings or managing emotions, they are often called ‘dysregulated’or ‘emotionally dysregulated’, Charleson explained.

She said many Nuu-chah-nulth and Indigenous children are “born into dysregulation” due to three devastating waves; the first wave was disease that wiped out 70 per cent of the population, the second wave was the IndianAct that made practicing culture illegal, and the biggest wave was Indian residential schools, where Indigenous children existed with a ‘don’t talk, don’t trust, don’t feel’mantra.

“We are recovering from these three big waves, generationally. That’s why I always say, don’t ask why the addiction, but why the pain,” said CharlesonTouchie.

Participants joined a deeply emotional experiential role play where children sat around culture items with their mothers, grandmothers, two-spirit relatives and warriors standing around them. To demonstrate the impacts of the three big waves, Charleson tapped the shoulders of individuals, and those individuals had to leave the circle. The cultural items were dragged away. The children were placed at a distance, the boys in one area and the girls in another.

“This is such a visceral feeling,” remarked one educator upon witnessing participants leave the circle and the cultural items disappear.

“That’s my life, seeing everyone separated,” said another teacher who was selected to leave the circle. “I just want to go back to the circle. That’s the mom in me, that’s the warrior in me. If we just go back to the circle, we’ll gain all of that back… Our culture and our traditions, and our children will come back.”

Charleson-Touchie invited her back to the circle, returned the cultural items to the middle and brought the children back.

“This is what we are recovering from generationally. I think that it’s really important to know where is this dysregulation coming from,” said CharlesonTouchie.

“What do we need to rebuild the circle? What do we need to make it safe for everyone to return to the circle?” she asked the group.

Alberni Residential School survivor Nora Martin shared her healing path.

“When I left that school, I became an alcoholic and so did my siblings. I’ve been sober for 38 years now, and it was not an easy road. It has taken long to recover. The biggest thing that helped me recover was my culture. That’s how we stay strong, re-learning our culture,” said Martin.

Ucluelet First Nation’s qʷayaciikʔiis Childcare Centre staff Skylene Patrick and Marissa Mack spoke about how events like potlatches bring children and culture back to the middle.

“If it weren’t for those, I don’t know if my kids would be singing and dancing the way they do,” said Patrick. “Our children are being nurtured the

way that they used to be,” said Mack, adding that gifts which were once taken or medicated away by caregivers are now being celebrated.

“That’s a huge indicator that we’re healing. Our gifts are being recognized, and they are being used in our communities again,” she said.

Lapointe emphasized the need children have for connection.

“Connection is our air. Connection is more important than food,” said LaPointe.

She told a story about how she started her career working with the Ministry of Child and Family Development within the child protection team. She said the job was so stressful that she needed to

“You want to know why I stayed? Because while it is true that trauma affects the developing brain very differently than the adult brain, it is also true that those developing brains want to be okay.And if you give them half a chance, you’re going to see miracles happen right in front of your eyes,” said Lapointe.

“It has been the most humbling experience of my career to watch children who come from horrible, horrible experiences, see them really connect with who they are and come out the other side of that thriving. That’s what’s possible.And to get there, we need to make sure the big people are okay,” she shared.

Nora O'Malley photos

Marissa Mack reflects on the power of being in a protective circle centred on culture at Cixʷatin Centre in HitacuApril 28.

hire a therapist to cope during her first year.

Anita Charleson-Touchie talks about the Creator and the significance of spirituality in Nuu-chah-nulth culture.

FridayApril 25th, the Italian Hall held a celebratory luncheon for the appreciation of all the administrative staff of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council.

The group gathered to visit and connect face to face rather than the usual flurry of emails and phone calls that their days are commonly filled with. Organized by Nuu-chah-nulth Office Manager Lisa Sam, the group of administrative professionals were treated to a lovely lunch, flowers, journal, and “admin” sweatshirt.

NTC Executive Director Florence Wylie joined the group on her day off to present the gifts and express her gratitude for everyone’s hard work and dedication to keeping each department running smoothly.

Following the luncheon the NTC finance department joined the group to answer any questions and clarify some of the processes the administration work with on a daily basis.

Nurturing our roots

Every Wednesday

4841 Redford Street

Every Wednesday 1:30pm – 3:00pm Drop-In.Asafe space for parents and their young children to learn Nuu-chahnulth culture and language through storytelling, songs, and connection. Join our supportive group in a relaxed environment where you can connect with others without any pressure. Share your experiences and make new friends while we create a space of acceptance and understanding. For more information contact Fanifau @ 250-724-3939

Second annual Tseshaht Lightning Open Basketball Tournament

May 16th to 19th

PortAlberni, BC

Senior Mens, senior womens, U17 boys, U17 girl, U13 boys and U13 girls teams. There will be awards, a dance and lahal halls. Live streamed on hashilthsa.com. All vendors are welcome. Location details to come.

YOUR ICU STORY MATTERS

June 4th

Victoria, BC

Have you or a loved one spent time in the ICU? If you’re Indigenous and from Vancouver Island, join us for

&Community Beyond

this Indigenous-focused, interactive gathering to share stories, experiences, and insights—whether from your own ICU journey or through supporting a loved one. Location: Songhees Wellness Centre Oceanview Conference Room, 1100Admirals Road, Victoria, V9A2P6 lək k ʷəŋən Traditional Territory, 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. To register, please email Paula:paula.sevestre@ccctg.ca

GRADUATIONAND SCHOLARSHIP CEREMONIES

June 6th to 7th

PortAlberni, BC

Scholarship Ceremony - Friday June 6th. Doors @ 3:30 pm; Dinner @ 4:30pm; Ceremony @ 6:00pm. Graduation Ceremony - Saturday June 7th. Doors @ 1:30pm; Ceremony @ 2:30pm; Dinner @ 4:00pm.All Trades and Vocational program graduates please contact the N.E.T.P. Office to confirm attendance: (250) 723-133. For more information, please contact Laurissa Lucas at (250) 724-5757 or by e-mail: laurissa.lucas@ nuuchahnulth.org.

Annual Yuquot Camp-Out

July 27th toAugust 10th

Dates are set; I am taking names for U-chuck, friendly reminder MMFN members are top priority on the list. Email names to recreation@yuquot.ca

25 Years Ago in Ha-Shilth-Sa

Vol. 27 – No. 9May 4, 2000

Upwards of 1,000 spectators filled the main lobby of the RBC Museum for the Nuu-chah-nulth youth festival.A three-day event, the youth festival was the final program at the Out of the Mist – HuupuKwanum tupaat Exhibit before it was moved to the Denver Museum.

The feature had students from Wickaninnish, Hesquiaht, Maaqtusiis and Haahuupayak schools perform songs,

dances and plays. While performances were held throughout the three days the students also participated in seminars on cedar-weaving and other topics.

“The whole idea behind the youth festival is to get the kids involved in the exhibit,” said organizer Bettina Thomas.

“All the sharing, dialogue, and crosscultural communication that happens is just great.”

RBCM Hosts Youth Festival

Haahuupayak students Bryson McCarthy and Cole Sayers both 10 years old, prepare to perform the Sea Serpent Dance at the Royal B.C. Museum

Eric Plummer photo

Employment and Training

Port Alberni

Friendship Centre

Volunteers Needed

Need work experience? The Port Alberni Friendship Centre is looking for interested applicants for various positions. Call 250-723-8281

Stinging ne le: a helpful herb with a variety of uses

With hairs that act like hypodermic needles, the plant’s uses range from treating ailments to forming duck nets

By Holly Stocking Ha-Shilth-Sa EditorialAssistant

This article is part of a series of pieces on traditional medicinal plants. The next article will look at yarrow and its history of use.

Stinging Nettle has had a long history as a popular, nutritious and helpful plant. Used by NorthAmerican First Nations for over 2000 years. Stinging Nettle is found in every region of NorthAmerica except Hawaii.

Stinging nettles, burn nettles or ʕiiłmakt is an upright annual herb, with a foursided slender stem, and its leaves are narrowly lance-shaped to oval and coarsely saw-toothed. Flowers are pinkish green with four tiny sepals and no petals. Stinging Nettle can be confused with the Dog Nettle, which is a smaller species introduced by Europeans in the mid-1700s. This versatile plant is easy to identify, especially after its hollow stinging hairs make contact with your skin. This plant has hairs called trichomes on its leaves and stem that act like hypodermic needles, injecting a histamine that produces a stinging sensation and leaves a rash. Gloves and long sleeves are recommended when collecting nettles. Rubbing the nettles’own root on the affected area can reduce the burning sensation and leaves from the dock plant can be used to treat the rash.

This high protein herb is full of minerals, tannis, chlorophyll and vitaminsA and C.All parts of the plant can be used; the leaves are the best for medicinal purposes.

Traditionally, it has been used to treat a wide range of ailments such as gout, anemia, poor circulation, diarrhea and dysentery.Atea of dried leaves is rich in iron and can aid in coagulation and the formation of hemoglobin. It’s believed to increase a mother’s milk production.

Eating fresh soaked or boiled leaves can relieve bronchitis, asthma, hay fever, kidney stones and urinary tract infections. The leaves can be soaked in warm water for 10 minutes or boiled for one to two minutes to remove the sting from the nettle. They can be used in place of spinach in any recipe.

Fresh nettles can be stored in the fridge for up to a week, while frozen nettles can last up to six months in the freezer. Dried nettles stored in an airtight container can last years.

The Makah would chew the young shoots as a tonic to keep from getting sick. But only the newest shoots could be chewed, before they get “fuzzy” or else the tiny hairs would cause sores inside the mouth.

Alarge patch of stinging nettle ready to be harvested in its pre-flower stage.At this stage the leaves are used for food,

dicinal purposes and dried for tea. The stalks are too young for cordage.

Nuu-chah-nulth whalers, seal hunters and fishermen would rub the nettles on their arms to give them strength.A spouse’s skin would be beaten with the plant to promote affection and faithfulness while their partner was away, according to the 1983 study Ethnobotany of the Nitinaht Indians of Vancouver Island. First Nations would also use the fibrous stems of the mature nettles alone or spun together with cottonwood bast fibre, to make things like twine, snares, fishing nets and even duck nets. The nettles were harvested in the fall, dried and pounded to separate the soft tissue then spun, twisted or braided. The nettle cordage is extremely strong and durable and becomes even stronger after it has been processed, making it a vital plant for First Nations.

The Ditidaht would run nets made from stinging nettle across the Nitinaht narrows from the bluff at Whyac Village to the opposite side. Once the net was up some people would go up the narrows and flush the ducks down to be caught in the net.

The Cowichan people were documented to have used pigment rubbed on nettle thread and run under the skin with a fine hardwood needle to create tattoos.

Harvesting is a chore but worth the effort. Using gloves, pluck the leaves from the stem pre- or post-flowering depending on treatment use, starting inApril. Use a knife to cut woody stalks late in the season when the plant is fully matured, around mid-September.

Holly Stocking photos

me-

The nettle's trichomes, or hairs, on its leaves and stem act like hypodermic needles, injecting a histamine that produces a stinging sensation and leaves a rash.

Nettles were soaked in warm water for 10 minutes to remove the sting. Once soaked they were placed into ice cube trays and frozen to be used in smoothies, soups and sauces.

Rehydrated stinging nettle leaves steeped for tea. They are high in iron and used for medicinal purposes.

Juan de Fuca trail closed after winter storm damage

Severe weather washes out several sections of the 47-kilometre route, causing toppled trees and unstable slopes

By Antonella Medina Arias Ha-Shilth-Sa Contributor

The Juan de Fuca trails have been declared off-limits by the Ministry of Environment and Parks for the upcoming summer.

“British Columbians take pride in the amazing natural beauty these lands provide, and one of the most beloved is the Juan de Fuca marine trails, which normally welcomes thousands of visitors to the southern Vancouver Island every year,” stated the ministry in an official statement. “Which is why it is with deep regret that we will have to keep the trail closed for the summer.”

According to the provincial department, winter storms washed out several sections of the 47-kilometre trail, resulting in toppled trees and unstable slopes. These hazards have made the trail impassable and unsafe for hikers in many areas.

There is also extensive damage to infrastructure, including bridges, boardwalks, shelters and campsites.

Major impacted crossings include the Circo Creek footbridge, Loss Creek, Sombrio Beach suspension bridge, Sombrio West trail and campsite, and Parkinson trailhead access. Bridges affected by structural damage include Pat Phillip Creek, Bent Creek, Fat Creek, and Ivanhoe Creek.

The Botanical Beach parking lot has been closed sinceApril 15 to accommodate helicopter work required for trail and facility repairs. The ministry stated that all damaged areas “will take time to rebuild with the strongest safety measures in place to protect all who visit. “

Aphased reopening will be developed based on the final assessments, available funding, and environmental impact. Engineer and geotechnical assessments were completed in March, and the ministry is awaiting the final reports, expected by the end ofApril, before proceeding with broader repair efforts.

Trail repairs, including replacing critical infrastructure, are underway between the Parkison Creek trailhead and Botanical Beach. Repair planning and coordination with contractors are also ongoing to tackle all affected areas.

The timeline and scope of repairs will depend on the engineering assessment results. Repair works cannot begin until funding and contracts are in place. The scale of the damage means repairs will take time and must be carefully managed to ensure public safety and to protect the environment.

“We understand people’s interest in seeing the trail reopen as soon as possible,” said the ministry.

An article from The Canadian Press estimated that about 40,000 visitors register per year, but the actual number is higher, as many hikers choose to explore individual sections rather than complete the 47-kilometre route.

However, the whole trail and affected campsites will remain closed to public access through the summer of 2025. People on online platforms like Reddit and Facebook expressed their hope that the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail will reopen later in the summer despite its closure. Members of the r/IslandHikers group have also shared alternative hiking routes in the northern regions of Vancouver Island.

The Juan de Fuca closure includes five backcountry campgrounds and the main trail: Bear Beach, Chin Beach, West Sombrio Beach, Little Kuitsche Creek, and Payzant Creek.

Still, parts of the provincial park remain accessible. Mystic Beach and East Sombrio Beach are open for backcountry

camping and day use.According to the ministry, Botanical Beach is also open for day use, and China Beach is scheduled to open on May 15.

The Juan de Fuca Trail lies within the traditional territory of the Pacheedaht First Nation, which has stewarded this coastal region for generations. BC Parks continues to work closely with the Pacheedaht on restoration efforts and other projects along the trail and throughout the Juan de Fuca region.

The waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca form part of Pacheedaht’s traditional territories.Aproposed shipping route would pass through the southern portion of Pacheedaht territory in the Juan de Fuca Strait for over 62 kilometres, overlapping with the Swiftsure Bank closure area.

The Pacheedaht First Nation relies on marine access around the Swiftsure Bank for fishing, including salmon, halibut, lingcod, crab, marine plants, shellfish, and hunting species like deer near the shoreline.

Even with plans in action and the ministry staff working tirelessly on repairs, an estimated date for the trail’s reopening has not been announced.

“While many people will understandably be disappointed by this temporary closure, it provides an opportunity to explore one of the hundreds of provincial parks and recreation sites across B.C. and take in more of our province’s natural beauty,” stated the Ministry of Environment and Parks.

For the latest updates and accurate information about the trail repairs and reopening timelines, visit the BC Parks website: https://bcparks.ca/juan-de-fuca-park/

BC Parks photo

Aclear blue sky stretches over the tree-lined coast of Chin Beach in Juan de Fuca Park.