INTERESTING NEWS
Pacheedaht First Nation orders forestry protesters out
Encampments have again emerged on southwest Vancouver Island logging roads, blocking access to Walbran
By Denise Titian Ha-Shilth-Sa Reporter
Walbran Valley, BC –As yet another encampment begins growing in the backroads of Pacheedaht traditional territory, First Nations are pushing back, ordering the unwelcome protestors out.
At issue is an area in the Walbran Valley that protestors say contains old growth trees slated to be logged by Cawak ʔqin Forestry Ltd., which is co-owned by Western Forest Products at 65 percent equity with Huu-ay-aht First Nations owning the remaining 35 per cent.
The Pacheedaht says their nation has developed resource management and harvesting plans, and a draft Integrated Resource Management Plan. They developed these with Cawak ʔqin Forestry based on their community’s values, priorities, and stewardship principles, according to the First Nation.
“These plans ensure the protection of cultural sites, old growth, biodiversity, and the balance of ecological and economic interests,” stated Pacheedaht Chief CouncillorArliss Daniels. “All forestry operations within our territory will continue under these Indigenous-led and community-driven directives.”
On Sept. 12 a B.C. Supreme Court justice granted an interim injunction to Cawak ʔqin Forestry after people began setting up an encampment aimed at preventing the company from carrying out government-approved harvesting activities in the Walbran Valley.
The one-year injunction names two people, Will O’Connell and William Jones, as defendants, but also says the order applies to “persons unknown” who may attempt to join the blockade or start new ones.
The injunction area covers industrial roads in a large geographical area that extends from Rosander Main, near Nitinaht Lake, inland to Cowichan Main, which skirts the edge of the southwest shore of Cowichan Lake, and back west along Caycuse and Gordan River Mains leading to Port Renfrew.
“While it is disheartening that it was necessary to take this route, the blockaders were asked on multiple occasions to leave their blockade, including by Pacheedaht First Nation, but refused to do so,” said Cawak ʔqin Forestry in a statement issued Sept. 12.
The injunction authorizes the RCMP and/or the appropriate police authorities to arrest and remove anyone who contravenes any provision of the order.
Pacheedaht elder Bill Jones has emerged as a figurehead for the forestry opposi-
An encampment participant looks at clearcuts just outside of the Fairy Creek valley, during the early days of the conflict in Pacheedaht territory inAugust 2020. Encampments have again emerged to block forestry activities in the Walbran Valley.
tion.Aformer logger, Jones’image appears on several social media pages and fundraiser posts for groups that are involved in organizing the forestry blockades.
Jones has been a vocal supporter of the blockades, going against the wishes of Pacheedaht leadership. Still, leaders expressed their concern over their elder’s health and well-being with his advanced age as he travels long distances to make appearances.
In an Instagram post the 85 year old described the old growth logging as “raping our earth, molesting our great mother, taking all of her resources”.
“This is a fight over the last of the resources in this world,” said Jones.
“I feel that the laws are an intimidation tool for profit, and that the courts are enforcers of intimidation and oppression,” he added. “When business interests start worrying about their profit margin, they squash people.”
Pacheedaht Chief CouncillorArliss Daniels disagrees.
“As the rightful stewards of these lands, we assert our inherent rights and authority over all activities taking place within our territory,” she stated.
She went on to say that the protestors’ blockade “is an unlawful obstruction, directly interfering with lawful forestry operations that the government of B.C. and Pacheedaht have authorized.”
The Pacheedaht statement is bolstered by a statement released by five other Nuu-chah-nulth Nations.Agroup calling themselves the Southern Nuu-chahnulth Nations, representing Ditidaht,
Hupacasath, Huu-ay-aht, Tseshaht and Uchucklesaht, gave their “unequivocal support” to Pacheedaht in a statement issued Sept. 8.
“We stand in solidarity with the Pacheedaht as they assert their right to govern their lands and resources according to their own laws, customs, and stewardship principles,” said the group.
“True respect for Indigenous authority means honouring the decisions made by the Nation itself, not by outside groups who seek to impose their own agenda.”
Hupacasath Elected Chief Brandy Lauder noted that allowing uninvited protestors to continue what they’re doing undermines reconciliation efforts.
“Like Pacheedaht, our Nation is deeply committed to the sustainable and holistic management of our lands for the benefit of our people and future generations,” she said.
The current conflict follows one of the largest instances of civil disobedience in Canadian history, when blockades began emerging in 2020 to halt forestry operations in the Fairy Creek valley. This old growth standoff led to over 1,000 arrests near Port Renfrew.
Daniels quoted the Hišuk ma cawak Declaration, which came from the Ditidaht, Huu-ay-aht and Pacheedaht in 2021 at the height of the Fairy Creek conflict.
“For most of the past 150 years we have watched as others decide what is best for our lands, for our waters and our people,” states the declaration. “We are too often the last to benefit from what is taken out and the last to be asked what must be put back in. That time is over.”
“Forestry remains a cornerstone of the Pacheedaht economy and essential to our people and to the well-being of the communities that surround us,” said Daniels as she called for respect for the authority of First Nations in their own territories.
“Our planned activity incorporates specific measures to integrate cultural and ecological priorities, including the protection of culturally significant trees, support for traditional bark harvesting and respect for Indigenous knowledge,” said Cawakin Forestry. “It is important to note that Cawak ʔqin Forestry respects and upholds Pacheedaht First Nation’s sovereignty and right to self-determination.”
This latest conflict adds to years of contention over the handling of old growth forest on southwest Vancouver Island. Starting inAugust 2020, a protest encampment grew at the edge of the highway that leads to Lake Cowichan just outside of Port Renfrew.As many as 200 people blocked the road to the Fairy Creek watershed, preventing forestry workers from accessing the area.
InApril 2021, the BC Supreme Court granted an injunction aimed at preventing protesters from blocking roads, authorizing the RCMP to enforce the court order. By September 2021 two more blockades popped up in Edinburgh and Hatton, joining Granite, which is the name of the area leading to Fairy Creek Valley.
More than 1,000 arrests were made as RCMP officers enforced the injunction order. Dozens of protestors facing contempt charges have applied for legal aid.
The group organizing the blockades became known as the Rainforest Flying Squad, although they’ve stated that they don’t have a formal name. Organizers called for people to join the blockade and for donations to support their cause through social media posts.
But Pacheedaht’s elected chief questions the motives of those at the encampments and their professed love of nature.
“They left a disgusting mess,” said Daniels, adding the community had to clean up trash, plastics, condoms, and needles left behind. “There was even a car left hanging from a tree.”
The Ditidaht have also faced unwanted blockades in their territory.
In June 2022 Ha-Shilth-Sa reported that former Ditidaht chief councillor Brian Tate served an eviction notice to logging protestors after they set up a blockade on a logging road in the Carmanah Main area, citing violations of a court injunction and interference with First Nations’ rights to their territory. The blockade was located on TFL 44 in Ditidaht traditional territory and was removed by the RCMP.
Eric Plummer photo
CMHA takes over Port Alberni Landmark cinema
The regional mental health association looks beyond its standard government funding to assist in operations
By Roniya Sahin Ha-Shilth-Sa Contributor
PortAlberni, BC – The PortAlberni branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) will be taking over managing operations of the Landmark Cinema effective October 1, 2025.
An anonymous, private owner purchased Landmark Cinema earlier this year and chose to pass management rights onto the PortAlberni branch of the CMHA. No major changes are expected to take place after the switch in management, except changing how profits are allocated and a name change.
TheAlberni branch of CMHAoperates with its own separate board of directors and financially runs independently with the support of local organizations and contributing community members. All of the mental health services the branch provides are within PortAlberni and the surroundingAlberni-Clayoquot Regional District.
Similarly, managing the cinema will diversify the funding streams for the local
branch.
“It’s a good thing for non-profits and charities to look outside straight government contracts for funding, which was the first goal for the management of the theatre,” saidAlberni CMHAExecutive Director Katrina Kiefer.
The easy accessibility of the local branch is what makes Kiefer optimistic about the theatre being a success for the CMHA. Not only do the funds go back into service delivery locally, but the people
of PortAlberni will be able to reach out to the CMHAregarding any requests or questions about how the theatre will be operated.
Besides branching beyond traditional methods of funding, the cinema also fulfills many different aspects of CMHA’s missions, says Kiefer, such as psychosocial rehab and opposing stigma to mental health.
“[The cinema] brings community together, so it hits our vision as far as countering isolation … it brings people together in an emotionally safe way,” said Kiefer, “and we can be responsive to the wants and needs of the community in a social aspect.”
The Landmark Cinema will continue on as “The Savoy” starting October 3, with a showing of “DowntownAbbey: The Grand Finale” to mark the renamed cinema’s initiation.
Jaydhie Arevalo photo
As of Oct. 1, PortAlberni’s Landmark Cinema will be renamed The Savoy, under its new management from the Canadian Mental HealthAssociation.
Bamfield road could open by end of October
Mount Underwood wildfire damage forces Bamfield residents to use the rough alternate route from Youbou
By Denise Titian Ha-Shilth-Sa Reporter
PortAlberni, BC – The Mount Underwood Wildfire, discoveredAug. 11, raged just a few short kilometers south of Port Alberni, causing road closures, evacuation alerts, power failure and water restrictions.
The good news is the fire, which covered 3,518 hectares, is being held, according to the BC Wildfire Service. Power has been restored to the western communities near Nitinaht and Bamfield and water restrictions in PortAlberni have eased back to Stage 1. Water use restrictions in the small city were Stage 3 at the height of the raging fire, which prohibit filling swimming pools, washing vehicles and watering lawns.At Stage 1 water restrictions, residents’lawn watering is permitted for a few hours every other day, and filling pools, hot tubs, ponds and fountains is permitted.
But a section of the fire-damaged road between PortAlberni and Bamfield remains closed for safety reasons.
“Crews are working on the 1.5-kilometre section between kilometre 8 and 9.5, where unstable slopes, dangerous trees and debris flow risks remain,” said the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Transit in a statement issued Sept. 15. They went on to say that the necessary work to open the road will entail clearing debris, removing unsafe trees and stabilizing slopes to protect crews and the travelling public.
“The terrain is unpredictable, similar to conditions after the Cameron Bluffs wildfire on Highway 4,” the ministry added.
“Ageotechnical assessment has been completed to identify hazard risks,” continued the Ministry of Transportation.
“Based on these findings, the ministry is developing an operating guideline, similar to the approach at Cameron Lake, that will establish rain and wind thresholds for increased patrols and potential pre-emptive closures.”
BC Hydro crews work to restore electricity to the communities of
the Mount Underwood wildfire damaged the power line south of PortAlberni in midAugust.
ForAnacla resident and Huu-ay-aht citizen Tammy Howard, life has gotten more challenging as her family struggles to get to appointments and cultural events in PortAlberni. The normally 90-minute drive fromAnacla to PortAlberni over the Bamfield Main Road has grown to five hours over the Youbou route, which is a rough, industrial road in one section.
“Not everyone can afford the extra cost (to travel the Youbou detour),” she pointed out, so some families are missing cultural events and other things like PortAlberni’s annual Fall Fair or the Toy
Run.
When it comes to emergencies, Tammy’s elderly mother was evacuated from Bamfield to PortAlberni then went by ambulance to Nanaimo after a medical incident in mid-August. Because of the road closure, the trip to PortAlberni was made by Canadian Coast Guard boat.
Howard says her mother is doing better but it was far more difficult to travel the longer route to see her in the hospital.
“My parent misses visiting local family and friends in PortAlberni,” Howard told Ha-Shilth-Sa.
Meanwhile, fire crews continue working the area affected by the wildfire.
“Crews continue to work on securing containment lines, extinguishing hot spots within 100 feet of the perimeter, and patrolling for flare-ups,” stated the ministry.
The Ministry of Transportation and Transport is working with Mosaic Forest Management to reopen the road. They say assessments of dangerous trees are ongoing and the ministry is co-ordinating tree falling and related utility work.
“To support the new operating guide-
lines, a weather station and closure gates will be installed in the coming weeks.
Signage and barrier needs are also being reviewed through the most significantly affected area,” they said, adding that the ministry is aiming to reopen the road by the end of October 2025.
The ministry reminds travelers that public access to the closed section remains restricted. Concrete barriers are in place, and electronic signs alert drivers ahead of these closure points:
• north end: Bamfield Main at the cell spot (kilometre 7); and
• south end: Bamfield Main at Museum Forest Service Road (kilometre 10).
Drivers must continue using the Youbou detour and are reminded that this is an industrial road with variable surface conditions.
“Exercise caution, adjust speeds and avoid travel at night if unfamiliar with the route,” they advised.
They go on to say that once reopened, Bamfield Main Road will remain subject to temporary closures during periods of heavy rain or strong winds.
BC Hydro photo
Bamfield,Anacla and Nitinaht Lake after
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Tofino votes to ban plastic water boÅles
By Nora O’Malley Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Tofino, BC – There are exemptions to the rule, of course.
Mobility/accessibility cases are exempt. People can still purchase water bottles sold in packaged multiples or flats. If a State of Emergency is declared at the local, provincial, or federal level and the Emergency Operation Centre is activated, single-use plastic water bottles will be on hand; same applies when Stage 3 water conservation measures are announced.
With that said, by summer 2026, visitors and locals won’t be able to buy singleuse plastic water bottles under one litre from any Tofino business following an Aug. 26 landmark decision from mayor and council to adopt a plastic water bottle regulation bylaw.
“Some people are used to travelling in places where the water is not clean. We have really good drinking water. It’s a privilege to have a choice,” said Lilly Woodbury, spokesperson for Surfrider Pacific Rim, the non-profit that launched the campaign back in 2020.
“I think it can also be habitual and also lack of understanding of the environmental and health impacts. One of the main ways we are getting exposed to microplastics is drinking water out of plastic bottles,” said Woodbury.
Tofino, or Načiks as it’s called in Nuuchah-nulth language, is located within the territory of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation. The town’s drinking water is sourced from rain-fed creeks and old-growth forests on Meares Island, an area protected by ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ (Tla-o-qui-aht) Tribal Parks.
In 2019, the district was the first in B.C. to ban plastic straws (Ucluelet followed shortly after) and, in 2022, Tofino was the first in the province to ban plastic utensils, single-use plastic bags, and polystyrene foam containers.
This latest amendment expands the Single-Use Item Regulation Bylaw to cover plastic water bottles and builds on the federal government’s Single-use Plastics Prohibition Regulations (SUPPR), which outlines a plan to address pollution, meet its target of zero plastic waste by 2030, and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In the region and around the world,
Lilly Woodbury plastic water bottles are one of the most common items found in shoreline cleanups of marine debris.According to the Ocean Legacy Foundation (OLF), plastic generally takes between 500-1,000 years to degrade. Even then, it becomes microplastics, without fully degrading, says the Canadian non-profit dedicated to ending ocean plastic waste. Currently, there are about 170 trillion pieces of plastic and microplastics in the ocean, says OLF.
While Tofino’s plastic water bottle regulation takes effect onApril 22, 2026 (Earth Day), giving local businesses time to source alternatives, Woodbury says over 70 businesses are already compliant.
“Tofino businesses are champions of the cause. We have created that cultural shift as a community and they are proud to be championing it, as they should be. We have that cultural change that makes it easier to create that regulatory change and now we can approach other municipalities,” she said.
Jeff Mikus owns Tofino’s Surfside Grill at Pacific Sands Beach Resort on Cox Bay. He told the Ha-Shilth-Sa they swapped plastic water bottles for an aluminum alternative about six years ago.
“We have such a beautiful environment here and people want to take care of it,” said Mikus. “It’s just a conscious decision of talking to your suppliers and trying to figure out what you can change and what’s easy.”
He shared that the aluminum bottle of water sells for a bit more than a plastic water bottle did, but customers are welcome to fill up their water bottle for free
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!
at the tap.
“I haven’t bought a bottle of water in a long time. I’ve got several different containers; in our kitchen most of our staff use mason jars and add lemons or limes,” said Mikus.
“I still struggle with wooden cutlery, but you get used to it. It’s the same as going to the co-op and forgetting your bags. Habits change slowly,” he said, adding that the more people opt to buy plastic alternatives, the more the price will come down.
Maria Clark, assistant general manager at Best Western Tin Wis Resort and director for Tourism Tofino, says Tin Wis is currently reviewing their beverage service options with suppliers to “ensure that we can provide a safe and environmentally responsible alternative for guests and staff”.
“Our team is committed to supporting initiatives that protect land and waters within our territory,” said Clark, a Tla-oqui-aht First Nation member and winner of Tofino’s 2024 Business Leader of the Year award.
“We see the district’s ban as an opportunity to further align our operations with local sustainability values and our Indigenous Stewardship principles,” she continued.
Woodbury pointed out that businesses will refill water bottles and that there are water dispensers all around Tofino and local beaches, with signage made in partnership with Tla-o-qui-aht.
“Reuseable bottles are for sale everywhere. There is no excuse. We have to keep doing our best and not give up,” Woodbury said.
Recent Ucluelet Secondary School graduate Mohkwin Masso grew up drinking the district’s high-quality drinking water.
“The water is cleaner and it’s so nice. It’s so cold too. It’s pretty nice that they are on it now because plastic is just not good for the environment. I’m hoping that this (bylaw) will do good. Reusable water bottles are just more effective. You get more water,” he said.
On July 24, 2025, Tofino Mayor Dan Law and council received a letter of approval from Tamara Davidson, B.C.’s minister of Environment and Parks, granting council legislative authority to formally adopt and implement the bylaw.
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First went plastic straws, followed by plastic cutlery, plastic bags and polystyrene
Allegations emerge against seniors housing society
Pioneer Towers has active filings with Residential Tenancy Branch, claims of intimidation and privacy breaches
By Nora O’Malley Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
TheAlberni Valley Senior Citizens Homes Society (AVSCHS) is under fire after multiple tenants of Pioneer Towers have filed for dispute resolution with the B.C. Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB).
There are currently four Pioneer Towers tenants with active filings and hearings scheduled throughout Sept. and Oct.
According toAnita Eskola, community advocate supporting the tenants of Pioneer Towers, the total amount of compensation being sought by the tenants is “substantial”.
Managed by Sandra Rose, Pioneer Towers is a seven-story housing complex that serves residents who are elderly, disabled and often living on low or fixed incomes. Rents range from $500 to $700 per month and include heat, hot water, and hydro. The apartment complex has 56 rental units total and was built in 1971.
The claims filed are primarily related to significant breaches of the Residential TenancyAct, including:
Loss of Quiet Enjoyment: Caused by prolonged renovations, scaffolding, plastic wrapped around the building for an extended period, and lack of privacy.
Health and Safety Failures: Including mold contamination and bed bug infestations.
Landlord Retaliation: Instances of harassment and intimidation.
Ucluelet First Nation Lyle Williams, 66, is 70 per cent blind and has stage four cancer.Alongstanding tenant of Pioneer Towers, Williams is currently paying monthly rent for his unit but staying with a friend to avoid further harassment from the manager – and until his dispute resolution with the RTB is concluded.
“It’s not comfortable for me anymore. I’d rather get the heck out of there,” he said. “The ceiling came down and she blamed me for that. How am I going to get up there and pull it down?”
OnAug. 16, 2025, Williams received an End Tenancy For Cause notice from AVSCHS. The Society said he must move out of the rental unit by Sept. 30, 2025. Williams’s RTB hearing is scheduled for Oct. 2.
“We have filed to dispute the notice to the end tenancy he received, and we will be arguing against the landlord’s action at that hearing. We are currently preparing his evidence,” said Eskola in an email. Other tenants of Pioneer Towers relate similar allegations of mismanagement, harassment and landlord retaliation.
Tenant Cyntia Mack of Toquaht Nation has Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), a common lung disease that causes breathing problems. She lives on the sixth floor but requested to be transferred to a ground-floor unit. Mack says her transfer was denied, only to see that unit later given to a new tenant.
“I’ve been in and out of the hospital. She won’t move me downstairs. Social assistance from the hospital actually emailed her suggesting that they put me on the bottom floor in case I need an ambulance and the elevator is out,” shared Mack.
“It’s just a nightmare here. She won’t even look at me,” said Mack.
AVSCHS says “they categorically deny any harassment or retaliatory behaviour toward our tenants.”
“We are committed to respectful and professional communications at all times,
and we take all complaints seriously,” wroteAVSCHS secretary/treasurer Gay Allen in a Sept. 3 letter to the Ha-ShilthSa.
“Pioneer Towers has a formal complaint process in place, and all concerns are reviewed and addressed accordingly,” the letter continues.
Eskola raised issues with theAVSCHS complaint process, saying it lacks a trauma-informed and accessibility aware approach.
“When consistent patterns of concern arise from multiple residents, particularly those facing barriers, the Board has a duty to investigate proactively and fairly, not passively await perfect documentation,” wrote Eskola in some correspondence with the board she shared with the Ha-Shilth-Sa.
AVSCHS recently hired security for Pioneer Towers.
“The decision to hire security personnel was made in response to a recent increase in aggressive behaviour directed at staff. Their presence is solely for staff safety and does not reflect any change in our approach to tenant relations,” reads the letter fromAVSCHS.
“As a privately owned business, our Society reserves the right to make staffing decisions that ensure a safe and functional environment for all,” statesAVSCHS.
Living conditions deteriorate amid delayed renovations, tenants say
Residents endured a BC Housing renovation that began in Nov. 2023. The $3.2 million Capital Renewal Funding project was originally scheduled to be completedAug. 2024, but “due to some scope-related changes and challenges retaining skilled trades” BC Housing says the timeline was extended by a year. The renovation was completed on budget in Aug. 2025.
“The scope of work included replacing windows and the protective outer
Pioneer Towers tenant Lyle Williams of Ucluelet First Nation says the housing manager treats him in a way that repeatedly violates tenancy laws. He has filed for dispute resolution with the B.C. Residential Tenancy Branch and is seeking monetary compensation.
layer of the building, renovating the front entranceway to make it wheelchair accessible and barrier-free, and upgrades to the building’s electrical and mechanical systems,” said BC Housing.
During the renovations, tenants say living conditions deteriorated amid the delays. Tenants reported ongoing hot water shortages, vague notices of entry, and a loss of privacy, as window coverings were removed and not replaced during renovations.
BC Housing says day-to-day communications with residents around the renovation were handled byAVSCHS.
“As with all renovation projects funded by BC Housing, project teams must adhere to good construction practices that minimize impacts on tenants. However, we recognize that living in a building that is under renovation can pose challenges for residents,” said BC Housing.
Mack says she hasn’t had blinds for her windows in a year.
“They took them down; they can put them back up. I am using a walker,” said Mack about the window coverings.
Pioneer Towers manager Rose said that window coverings are not and have never been included in the TenancyAgreement at Pioneer Towers. She says they are currently in the process of purchasing and supplying blinds as a “courtesy” to the tenant after funding was approved in Aug. 2025, and that they hope to have them taken care of by the end of Sept. 2025.
“However, this is not a promise, everything depends on getting the windows measured, how cooperative tenants are, and of course we have to rely on our supplier, so that date is not concrete,” said Rose in an email.
Holly Stocking photo
Pioneer Towers, a 56-unit building for residents 55 and older in PortAlberni, recently underwent a $3.2 million renovation supported by BC Housing Capital Renewal Funding (CRF).
Nora O’Malley photo
Drug testing now offered from harm reduction van
New service supports Port Alberni’s substance users, as B.C. sees a continued decline in illicit overdose deaths
By Eric Plummer Ha-Shilth-Sa Editor
PortAlberni, BC -Anew tool is being introduced to PortAlberni’s streets as front-line workers fight to make life safer for illicit drug users.
The Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council’s health department has purchased a mobile drug testing machine, which can instantly detect the contents of a sampled batch of substances. The device came into use on Sept. 15, and it will accompany harm reduction workers as they provide street-level services from a van operated by the NTC’s Teechuktl Mental Health department.
The drug testing machine is expected to help with the continued unpredictability of the illicit street supply – a danger for drug users that has been a major factor in the crisis that has devastated communities for nearly a decade.
“We’re going to test right on the spot with the client and give them the immediate results,” said Brianna Rai, the NTC’s harm reduction coordinator. “A lot of people want to know right now.”
British Columbia’s public health emergency has been in place sinceApril 2016, recognizing the rise in fatal overdoses that coincided with the increase of fentanyl in the illicit market. The synthetic opioid continues to be present in over 70 per cent of fatal overdoses, although the unexpected presence of other drugs, like the depressant benzodiazepine, has brought a desire from many drug users to find out exactly what is in what they’re consuming.
“Sometimes people don’t want to do benzos, and they want to know if there’s benzos in it,” said Rai. “Sometimes they just want to know if it’s true drugs or if someone has ripped them off.”
Another drug testing machine has been available at the Overdose Prevention Site, which is run by the PortAlberni Shelter Society. But not everyone is comfortable coming to this facility for fear of being labelled a drug user, said Rai.
“Some people want to keep things private,” she said. “There’s a lot of stigma and shame around it.”
After the initial test is conducted, data is sent to Substance Drug Checking in Victoria, which will provide a detail breakdown of the sample’s contents, with percentages. This information is expected to be available within a week, and will be provided to clients, explained Rai.
“We’re going to keep an information sheet, and we’re going to find them to tell them the results,” she said, adding that the mobile service is the first of its kind in B.C.
The drug testing machine is being introduced nearly a year after the NTC declared a state of emergency for the overdose and mental health crisis. When this declaration was made on Sept. 19, 2024, NTC President Judith Sayers noted how every Nuu-chah-nulth family has been impacted by the ongoing toll of tragedies.
“We are losing too many people, especially young people,” said Sayers at a press conference. “We don’t have enough capacity and dollars. Certainly, we provide services at the tribal council, but it’s not enough.”
The phenomenon has hit Indigenous communities across B.C., leading the First Nations HealthAuthority to report thatAboriginal people in the province are dying at a rate six times that of the rest of the population.
to support substance users.
For years now drug overdose has been the leading cause of unnatural death in B.C. – more then car accidents, homicide and suicide combined – but progress is finally becoming evident. Over the first half of this year the B.C. Coroners Service reported 915 deaths from illicit use, showing a 25 per cent decline from the same period in 2024. Over May and June 2025 B.C. had an average of less than five deaths a day – a rate that hasn’t been seen since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The non-judgmental approach of harm reduction has drawn criticism from conservative politicians as well as business owners in high-usage areas. But Rai sees the decline of overdoses as proof that harm reduction works, as the street supply has not significantly changed over the last two years.
“Having support workers and trusted people and harm reduction supplies available to people is helping,” she said.
“They trust us and they know they can come to us for a needle kit.”
With this trust comes the opportunity to refer someone to treatment, when they are ready.
“It’s constantly us going out and meeting people where they’re at with zero judgement,” said Rai, who observes moments among her clients when “a light goes off” and they decide to seek help.
“It takes a long time for people to come to that spot, but we’re seeing a lot more.”
But a major roadblock to recovery continues to be the absence of detox beds in PortAlberni, a pressing issue that came up a year ago when the NTC declared the state of emergency.At the time NTC Vice-President Les Doiron noted that the lack of detox facilities in PortAlberni makes getting into one the equivalent of “winning the lotto.”
“People want to detox and there’s no beds,” added Rai. “They want help right now, but there’s nowhere to go.”
Some support is available from the First Nations HealthAuthority, which reviews applications within a week.
“FNHAoffers a one-time preliminary amount to support access to emergency treatment beds at a selection of non-
“We are losing too many people, especially young people”
~ Judith Sayers, NTC President
FNHAfunded facilities around the province,” stated the health authority in an email to Ha-Shilth-Sa. “This program supports clients to access rapid access to bed-based treatment and withdrawal management.”
Information on emergency support from the First Nations HealthAuthority is available at 1-855-693-3033 or nonFNHAFundedtc@fnha.ca.
The drug testing machine is accessible seven days a week in the NTC’s harm reduction van. The vehicle’s current schedule of operation is from 8:15 a.m. to 6 p.m., except on Tuesdays and Fridays, when it runs 10-8. The vehicle also occasionally travels to Nanaimo and Campbell River to promote safety among drug users.
Eric Plummer photos
Brianna Rai, the NTC’s harm reduction coordinator, operates a new drug testing machine in a van run by the tribal council
Indigenous lessons saves lives in Downtown Eastside
Despite being in survival mode, Indigenous-led non-profits are not giving up fight to help those in addiction
By Nora O’Malley Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Vancouver, BC – It’s a $10 taxi ride from Vancouver’s Fairmont Waterfront to East Hastings and Main – the epicenter of Canada’s drug poisoning crisis that is disproportionally impacting Indigenous People.
At theAboriginal Front Door Society, kitty corner from historic Carnegie Community Centre and the heart of Downtown Eastside (DTES), hope floats as smoke from a traditional smudging lingers in the room and a team of volunteer outreach workers rallied for a weekly brown bag lunch distribution.
Every Wednesday, over 350 souls living on the DTES receive a bologna sandwich, granola bar, fruit cup and juice box.
“Food brings us together. It’s part of our teaching,” said James Harry, executive director of theAll Nations Outreach Society and a proud Haisla Nation member.
“It’s a little bit of an Indigenous joke that it’s a traditional food, the bologna sandwich. By doing this we are also bringing a smile to their day, maybe their week. We are letting them know that they matter and that they are not forgotten,” he continued.
“By doing this we are seen in the community and they know what we are doing and why we are there. We still have to get past that stage of trust. They’ve been hurt so many times or even that one time that’s done the damage, so we gotta gain their trust. Once that trust is gained, we start talking about detox. We start talking about recovery. We start talking about the possibility of, ‘Would you like to go home?’” said Harry.
The disparity between First Nations people and other B.C. residents is the largest it has been since the province declared the toxic drug crisis a public health emergency inApril 2016.According to the most recent data released by the First Nations HealthAuthority (FNHA), First Nations people died at 6.7 times the rate of other B.C. residents due to toxic drugs in 2024.
Harry founded theAll Nations Outreach Society in 2020 as a grassroots non-profit rooted in Indigenous ways of caring and collective responsibility. What started as 12 meals shared on the streets with family, now serves 70,000 meals annually and connects with over 360 individuals each week.
But, with recent cutbacks and the high cost of food, Harry says his non-profit is in survival mode, while the number of overdoses seem to just keep growing. They had to remove the fresh piece of fruit and new pair of socks from each lunch bag to save money.
“Our people are going through their worst. They are down there for a reason.
“They are living and breathing beings that need humanity”
~ Florence Williams
They are running. They are running from their traumas. They are running from their abuser. Unfortunately, they run here, and this is the last place they will ever see,” he said.
TheAboriginal Front Door Society (AFDS), a lifeline for the DTES that provides culturally safe care for more than 600 community members, and Watari Counselling and Support Services are also having a tough year with key provincial funding for drop-in services being pulled.
AFDS executive director Chris Livingstone says his “fingers are crossed” that their robust campaign to restore essential government funding will be met with good news.
“Services offered by Watari andAboriginal Front Door Society are very important for the health and well-being of people in the Downtown Eastside,” said a spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing and MunicipalAffairs in a Sept. 2 email to the Ha-Shilth-Sa.
“The Province has been engaged
through the summer in conversations about these important services. We aim to have more information to share soon about funding for these organizations,” reads the email from the ministry.
Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council (NTC) leadership is stepping up to provide support for any Nuu-chah-nulth members living on the DTES after Harry reached out to Les Doiron, NTC vice president, on numerous occasions, after meeting someone on the DTES who is from one of the Nuu-chah-nulth communities.
“James (Harry) advocates on their behalf with Les, who will then contact the family or the First Nation where the person comes from, to assist in helping the member make plans to return home,” said NTC executive director Florence Wylie.
“We are in the process of finalizing job descriptions for two Urban Outreach Workers, who will be working in the DTES area along with theAll Nations Outreach Society staff. Ideally, these positions will be staffed within the next few months,” she said.
Harry says it’s absolutely a long-term goal to reunite Indigenous People living on the DTES with their home territory.
“When asked, would you ever consider going home, I hear, ‘I miss home. I miss hunting. I miss fishing. I miss family dinners.’That would be the ultimate goal, but for some people it’s not a reality for them,” he said.
Squamish (Sḵwxwú7mesh) Nation
Florence Williams joined NTC’s Doiron and Wylie on anAug. 27 lunch distribution with Jade Doolan, operations director with theAll Nations Outreach Society. Williams left the DTES that day more motivated than ever to bring a treatment and wellness centre directly onto the Capilano Reserve to “help her people transition back into community.”
“They are living and breathing beings that need humanity,” says Williams. Harry used to be an addict living in an alley on the DTES. His sobriety birthday is March 25, 2014.
He says there were two moments that put him on the road to recovery; the first was when he saw an old party friend drive up in a brand new car with a big smile on his face. His friend had changed his life around, Harry recalls.
“I was walking home with a bag full of basic groceries,” said Harry. “That hit a chord for me there.”
The second, the biggest, was when he came home from a three-day bender to see the sad look in his kids’eyes.
“I don’t want to be the reason for those hurt eyes anymore. It gives me motivation each and every day,” Harry said.
His hope is that every person he connects with, that every person theAll Nations Outreach Society reaches, can feel the way he feels now.
“We all deserve it. Traumas shouldn’t be our main focus in our life,” he said.
Nora O’Malley photos Squamish Nation Elder Florence Williams offers a young woman on the Downtown Eastside a sandwich during theAll Nations Outreach Society lunch distribution on Wednesday,Aug. 27.
Elder
Stewardship Centre lifts off with viral artist callout
Redd Fish society’s goal is to build an immersive experience for visitors that highlights the region’s watershed
By Nora O’Malley Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Ucluelet, BC – Wheels are turning at Redd Fish Restoration Society (Redd Fish) as their dream to establish British Columbia’s first-ever habitat restoration interpretive centre in downtown Ucluelet, Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Territory, takes flight.
An initial call for artists at the beginning of September to create a crankie exhibit that tells the story of the Pacific salmon drew an unexpected crowd with artists from all over the globe expressing interest in the project.
“We had over 100 applicants apply so far. It’s so bizarre. But we’ve only had one Nuu-chah-nulth artist apply,” said Megan Francis, Redd Fish director of outreach and education.
“People from all over the world applied; tons from the U.K., all over Canada, from Japan, the States. I guess that’s the thing with social media,” added Francis, noting that the post was shared 1,868 times on Instagram.
Redd Fish has made it their priority to hire a Nuu-chah-nulth artist for the contract, so if only one applies, Francis says their decision becomes pretty easy.
“First and foremost, we are providing employment for Nuu-chah-nulth people to work in their own hahoulthee (territory),” she said.
Acrankie is an old European storytelling mechanism where an illustrated scroll is housed in a box and manually cranked to show a story, Francis explained. For the Redd Fish crankie, the artist will be tasked to create a seven to 12-metre tapestry while Redd Fish will make the mechanical device.
“Our idea is to use the art so that you as the viewer can see what it’s like to be a salmon, so you’re also seeing the perspective of the fish; what it’s like to be in the gravel and what it’s like to have all this predation and obstacles and go up a stream and avoid all these fisheries and sea lions and birds,” she said, adding that the chosen artist will be compensated $3,000 for their work.
With the crankie project and other hands-on educational exhibits, Redd Fish’s goal is to build an immersive experience for visitors that highlights the region’s watershed and old growth eco-
systems. They are calling the space the Stewardship Centre and renovations are expected to start this winter with a June 2026 completion target.
Redd Fish received $200,000 from the Island Coastal Economic Trust for the project, and in March 2025 the society was awarded $250,000 from Pacific Economic Development Canada’s (PacifiCan) Tourism Growth Program to support the vision of the Stewardship Centre in Ucluelet. The Tourism Growth Program is a key component of the Federal Tourism Growth Strategy, which charts a course for long-term development, investment and stability in Canada’s tourism industry.
Tourism employs over 125,000 people in B.C. and over 16,800 businesses tied to the industry operate in the province, according to federal statistics. In 2023 the B.C. tourism industry generated $22.1 billion in revenue.
“This is the beginning of it all. There will be more callouts to the community,”
said Francis.
Redd Fish aims to create sustainable funding for their budding Stewardship Centre and ongoing coastal habitat restoration through visitor entry fees, retail store/coffee bar sales, and space rentals. As part of the over $4.8 million in tourism funding announced by PacifiCan in March, the Gitanyow Huwilp Society
also received $250,000 to advance the creation of the Gitanyow Reconciliation Trail, a year-round hiking, riding, and sledding route that follows the historical Grease Trail in Northern B.C.
For more details about the Redd Fish crankie artist contract visit: https:// reddfish.org/work.
Phrase†of†the†week:†%uu%uu%iih=%a+%iš††tuuk~#asum†c`umt`uu
Pronounced ‘oo oo eeh atl ish too kwa sum tsum too’, it means ‘the squirrels are now gathering nuts’Supplied by Ḥakaƛ.
Nora O’Malley photos
Redd Fish staffers Jadyn Patton, left, and Megan Francis pose beside the society’s new mural by artist Sequoia Collet.
Illustration by Maddexx George
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
R.A.R.E
Thursday, September 23th & 24th
Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation Boardroom
Cultural crafting in relation to aboriginal essential skills. Learning that we all have transferable skills Lunch provided. To register connect with your case manager at Jessica.Gordon@nuuchahulth.org or call 250-201-1300
Basic FirstAid
Thursday, September 25th
Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation Boardroom
8:30am to 4:30pm. Learn basic first aid skills, formerly OFAlevel 1 designed to meet WorkSafeBC standards. Lunch provided. To register connect with your case manager at Jessica.Gordon@ nuuchahulth.org or call 250-201-1300
Food Safe, Level 1
Friday, September 26th
Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation Boardroom
&Community Beyond
9am to 4pm. Learn food handling, sanitaion and worker safety. Lunch provided. To register connect with your case manager at Jessica.Gordon@ nuuchahulth.org or call 250-201-1300
Alberni Valley Rivers Day
Sunday, September 28th
8505 Beaver Creek Rd – Beaver Creek Community Hall
10am to 3pm. Parking in the ball field. Learn about salmon, local watersheds, wildlife and more through fun activities and booths. www.facebook.com/ albernivalleyriversday
NCN Mental Health Counselling
Tuesdays and Thursdays
8:30am – 4:30pm
4841 Redford Street, PortAlberni
NCN Mental Health Services – DropIn Counselling with Margaret Bird, Registered Clinical Counsellor and Play Therapist. For on and off reserve members of all ages of the Nuu-chahnulth Tribal Council. Call (250) 724-3939 to book your appointment.
Les Sam Construction
Residential . Commercial & Architectural Structures
Construction Management & Consulting Forming & Framing
Ph/Txt: 250.720.7334 les sam@shaw.ca
Longhouse beams in place
On September 13th, 2000, Jessie Stephens and Linda Watts’voices floated above the noise of machinery and construction as the two main roof beams of the Tseshaht longhouse were lowered into place. The beautiful ciqaa was the beginning of the celebration for the community as they were presented with songs, dance and prayers from Haahuupayak students. In celebration of those involved in the process of constructing the longhouse a sockeye salmon lun-
cheon was enjoyed outside Maht Mahs. Originally weighing 20 tonnes each, the two 70-foot-long poles came from Nahmint in Ucluelet First Nation’s territory and were carved down to their final 10 tonne size and shape by a dedicated group of Tseshaht workers. “I can feel all the ancestors here,” said Jessie Stephens in summing up her feelings. “I can feel all the old people. They’re nodding their heads and saying, ‘this is good’”.
Port Alberni’s annual Fall Fair September 5 to 7, 2025
Leaders oppose bid from Wyoming outdoor school
National Outdoor Leadership School pitches $24,950 sea kayaking trips without local First Nations consultation
By Nora O’Malley Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Hesquiaht First Nation chief Mariah Charleson is among several First Nation leaders speaking out against an application from the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) to expand their business operations into B.C. coastal waters.
Hesquiaht territory is located on the west coast of Vancouver Island and encompasses the site of Canada’s historical Estevan Point Lighthouse.
“We do not support the application as there has been zero consultation with us,” said Charleson in an email.
NOLS from Landler, Wyoming, U.S.A. has an application to the Ministry of Water, Land & Resource Stewardship (WLRS) for a replacement of a license of occupation for sea kayaking expeditions, with amendment to include additional sites.
The application encompasses 77 total sites, according to the Ministry of WLRS. NOLS’s current tenure under (lands file 1412379) is of the same area with fewer sites, said the ministry, and since 2006 NOLS has held authorizations under this file. No authorizations have been cancelled due to non-compliance with tenure terms, the ministry said.
Two of the proposed sites – Burdwood Bay and Burdwood Point South – are located within Hesquiaht’s northern border with Mowachaht-Muchalaht First Nation.
“As First Nations peoples, it’s an unfortunate reality we face daily with outside organizations, governments, businesses etc., looking to profit from our territories and its resources without considering the implications on the lands, waters, peoples. We have federal and provincial laws that state Canada and B.C. need to have free, prior, and informed consent, on issues impacting Indigenous peoples. Approval of this application would be a violation of federal and provincial law and would be a step backwards in the work of “reconciliation”, that is supposed to be a top priority for Canada and B.C.,” said Charleson.
While the province said they are “in the process of initiating consultation on the NOLS application with Nations in whose territories the application area overlaps”, NOLS is already marketing a threemonth long “Inside Passage” sea kayaking trip for 2026 that starts in Seattle, Washington and ends at Glacier Bay, Alaska.
“Paddlers will travel the entire west coast of Canada as they make their way to the end destination, Glacier Bay, Alaska. Much of the route will be in between barrier islands and the mainland allowing protection from major weather and sea challenges, but the trip will be far from easy,” reads NOLS website.
Tuition for the adult-only expedition is $24,950 per person and they are restricting the group size to six paddlers plus two instructors due to the difficulty.
On page four of their application under “Engagement with First Nations”, NOLS writes that HarryAlfred of the ‘Namgis First Nation “gave permission via phone and email in 2024 that okay for NOLS to camp on Hanson Island.”
Hanson Island is a significant sea kayaking basecamp located between the north coast of Vancouver Island and the mainland.
Alfred, who is a senior lands and resources officer for ‘Namgis, told the Ha-Shilth-Sa that correspondence from 2024 was granted for a “one-time thing”
map of Vancouver Island and the B.C. coast
the 77 sites the
would like the province to grant permissions to camp on for sea kayaking expeditions.
for a youth kayak trip.
“I feel disrespected. I had no idea they were using my name for this,” said Alfred.
While NOLS is based in the United States, it operates programs on six continents. NOLS has operated on so-called B.C. Crown lands in the coastal range since 1998 and along the central coast since 1995. NOLS Pacific Northwest operates under BC Society# S-0032383.
NOLS also holds a licence of occupation in the Kliniklini River area for the purposes of Guided Mountaineering (lands file 5406317).
“First Nations agreements are an ongoing project. NOLS will update our permit administrator with additional First Nation contacts and agreements,” states NOLS. Saya Masso, Natural Resources Manager for Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation located in the Tofino-area of Vancouver Island, said Tla-o-qui-aht has not received any emails on this land file.
“We have not engaged any consultation on this yet, and are unaware of any intended uses in our Tribal Parks. Until consultation occurs, we will not be able to endorse any permits,” said Masso in an email to the Ha-Shilth-Sa.
Roger Dunlop heads up the department of lands and resources for Nuchatlaht First Nation, whose territory spans from the northern-half of Nootka Island to the inlets surrounding the community. NOLS has requested for permits to camp on eight sites within Nuchatlaht territory.
“I was surprised, especially with the diminishing deadline for public input,” said Dunlop.
He shared that seven of the eight sites in Nuchatlaht territory are presently under appeal in B.C. Supreme Court with trial dates set for this Oct. 20 to 24.
Public commenting on the NOLS application closes on Oct. 5.
“To my knowledge no consultation has occurred. My thought is that Nuchatlaht will not be about to grant tenures on their hard-won-in-court lands,” said Dunlop, adding that he has flagged the application with the Nuchatlaht’s legal council.
In alignment with Section 35 of the ConstitutionAct and the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA), the Ministry of WLRS has a legal duty to consult First Nations if an application to use Crown land may
impact aboriginal rights, aboriginal title, or treaty rights.
The licence of occupation sought after by NOLS is non-exclusive and supports commercial adventure tourism. It can be granted in extensive use areas for up to 45 years, according to the Ministry of WLRS. Rental is $850.00/year plus $1/ day per client day, said the ministry.
The ministry says they will thoroughly assess wildfire risks, pollution risk, cumulative effects risks and public feedback once commenting closes. They re-iterated that consultation with First Nations is in the early stages.
The Sea Kayak GuidesAlliance of BC, a non-profit, member-driven organization dedicated to supporting professional sea kayak guides, acknowledged the community concerns the NOLS application has generated. They said they will be discussing the issue and associated concerns in an upcoming September meeting.
The Ha-Shilth-Sa reached out to Mowachaht-Muchalaht First Nation Tyee Ha’wiih Mike Maquinna for comment. We will update this story once received.
Province of British Columbia photo
This
shows
National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS)
Mariah Charleson
