Snow storm brings power outages

Residents of remote communities struggle through over a foot of snow after a Jan. 5 downfall, cu ing off access

By Eric Plummer Ha-Shilth-Sa Editor

The extent of an early January snowfall was clear to see on the morning of Jan. 6 in Tsaxana, where the top of an upright baseball ball was all that could be seen from the feet that had amassed overnight. Like many places in British Columbia, the Mowachaht/Muchalaht community near Gold River was buried under more than two feet of snow, forcing the First Nation to close its offi ces as residents struggled to get out from the heaviest dump they had seen in years. Snowfall that began in the afternoon of Jan. 5, extending into the next morning, resulted in multiple power outages throughout Nuu-chah-nulth territory along the west coast of Vancouver Island. By the morning of Thursday, Jan. 6, 402 people in Nitinaht Lake, Bamfi eld and Anacla were without power due to a tree that fell under the heavy snow accumulation. The power was still out by mid afternoon on Jan. 6, since electricity ceased at 9:44 p.m. the previous evening, said Nitinaht resident Crystal Amos. “The power is still out, and it’s about the third time this week,” said Amos, who lives in the community with her four children. “I do have a generator, but I don’t have a wood stove, so it gets pretty cold. It can only heat up the front living room area with a small little space heater.” Power outages are regular occurrences for the Ditidaht First Nation community each winter, said Amos. “We also deal with fl oods quite frequently, sometimes both,” she said. “Usually each family takes care of the elders within their family, but I do believe the elders should be looked in a little more often.” The storm also caused a transmission circuit failure for 517 people in the Ucluelet First Nation, plus another 1,745 in and around the town of Ucluelet. Another circuit failure cut electricity to homes along Long Beach and in Tofi no, aff ecting 1,983 hydro customers. In Ahousaht a transformer blew at 8 a.m., leaving the Flores Island community without power until noon, while 711 in Zeballos, the neighbouring community of Ehatis and the nearby Nuchatlaht community of Oclujce were without power on the morning of Jan. 6. Snowfall that began in late December had already compromised the power lines serving Zeballos, according to an update issued during the fi rst few hours of the Jan. 5 storm. “The continued heavy snowfall has caused extensive damage to the line serving customers in Tahsis and Zeballos,” announced BC Hydro. “We assessed damage using a helicopter yesterday (Jan. 4), and we began work in areas where it was safe to do so. As more heavy snowfall is expected, work progress will be dependent on the weather conditions and crews’ ability to safely access damaged areas. As a result, we expect these customers will be without power for at least another day.” As much as half a foot of snow was on the ground in Zeballos, said Ehattesaht Chief Councillor Simon John, but by Friday, Jan. 7 much of it had turned to ice. “The snow is slowly melting, and it all turned to ice,” he said, noting that many locals are hesitant to use drive logging road out of the community. “The roads are one lane currently. Before yesterday it was essential travel only, for ambulances and emergency vehicles.” The power fi rst went out on Jan. 2, lasting for eight hours. Then early on Tuesday, Jan. 4 electricity went out again, and by midday on Jan. 7 John was hoping it would return shortly. During these outages people relied on generators. Thankfully 800 litres of fuel was delivered by Grieg Seafood, and a boat from the community ventured to Esperanza to acquire diesel for generators. “The majority of people do have generators,” said of the community in Zeballos and Ehatis. “It’s hard to do your day-today stuff without utilizing electricity.” During the winter, the major cause of power outages is trees falling on power lines, says Ted Olynyk of BC Hydro media relations. “Very heavy West Coast snow bringing trees down, that’s a problem,” he said, noting that when this occurs during a storm crews are sometimes forced to wait for conditions to ease before assessing damages. “The sad coincidence is that when you’re dealing with a storm event, the storm causes the outage, but you can’t fl y up and do the inspection you want because the storm event prevents fl ying.” Personnel regularly conduct surveys of power lines by helicopter and ATV to cite any potential hazards. “Each year we deal with anything that looks like it could come in contact with our lines. Any time a tree could fail, we deal with that,” added Olynyk. “Unfortunately, a lot of times stuff that does come in contact with the lines is something that wouldn’t be identifi ed. You can have big trees come down that cause us grief.” The snowfall has also challenged access in and out of remote communities. Amos had to sleep in her truck earlier in the week during Nitinaht’s second power outage, as snow made the road to Lake Cowichan impassable for a grocery run. By the afternoon of Jan. 6 she managed to get a ride to Port Alberni with her brother. “The roads are plowed but they are not salted, so it’s slippery and they only have a single lane plowed,” Amos said, adding that the more than a foot of snow that amassed in Nitinaht is the most she’s seen over her 12 years in the village. “Right now it’s been a struggle to get out of the community to get groceries because we just have a tiny little general store that’s open four days a week.” Electricity usage had already broken records before the Jan. 5 storm brought power outages. On Dec. 27, between 5 and 6 p.m. demand across B.C. reached 10,902 megawatts, breaking a record of 10,577 from the previous year. It was during this cold snap that temperatures dropped remarkably low levels, including -17 Celsius in Port Alberni. “BC Hydro has enough supply options in place to meet increasing electricity demand,” said BC Hydro spokes person Simi Heer in a press release. “However, if British Columbians want to help ease some of the demand on the system during peak times, we encourage shifting activities like doing laundry or running dishwashers to earlier in the day or later in the evening.”

Photo by Eva James A snow storm dumped over two feet of snow on the Mowachaht/Muchalaht community of Tsaxana near Gold River.

2022 starts with a mysterious search and rescue eff ort

By Denise Titian Ha-Shilth-Sa Reporter

Ahousaht, BC – A late-night search and rescue operation on the water near Flores Island on Wednesday, Jan. 5 was called off just before midnight, sending searchers from Tla-o-qui-aht, Ahousaht and the Canadian Coast Guard home. The evening of Jan. 5 was dark, and snow was drifting down steadily on the ocean southeast of Flores Island (Ahousaht). An Ahousaht man went out on his boat to rendezvous with a fi sh farm company vessel just before 9 p.m. As the two boats pulled up, side-by-side, the men running the crafts met out back to exchange a set of keys. According to people that heard the exchanges on the VHF radio, at least two of the men heard whistles and a man’s voice calling for help. Nothing could be seen in the dark and the men estimated that the calls were coming from the direction of Monks Island, which is a small islet located southeast of Flores Island near Cat Face reef. The Canadian Coast Guard was notifi ed, and volunteer searchers immediately left from Ahousaht and Tofi no. Searchers from both Tla-o-qui-aht and Ahousaht ventured out into the snowy night to search the area where the voice was heard, but nothing was found. Jamie McNab of the Canadian Coast Guard Search and Rescue confi rmed that that they received the call at 8:45 p.m. and the Tofi no Lifeboat joined the search. She said several locals were on the water searching until 11:45 when the eff ort was called down. “There was no distress fl are or radio call, no debris and no one was reported overdue,” she told Ha-Shilth-Sa. RCMP Sergeant Chris Manseau said the police were notifi ed at 9:10 p.m. of a possible person in distress near Monks Island. He noted that twelve boats joined in the search. McNab said the area was thoroughly searched and, with no outstanding missing persons, the search was stood down. According to information on an Ahousaht emergency social media page, members of the Ahousaht Coast Guard Auxiliary and other volunteers were acknowledged for their eff orts in the search. The post indicated that the area near Monks Island was searched for three and a half hours. Harbours in the area were checked and all boats were accounted for. Sgt. Manseau said the matter was investigated and the Canadian Coast Guard concluded the fi le. “With the winter weather being what it

Google satellite image On the evening of Jan. 5 whistles and a man’s voice calling for help were heard from the direction of Monks Island, which is a small islet located southeast of Flores Island near Cat Face reef.

is, we encourage people to please, while boating…please make travel plans and always do your best to check in when possible,” wrote Curtis Dick on Ahousaht’s emergency social media page. It is unknown if locals would continue the search during daylight hours.

Ha-Shilth-Sa newspaper is published by the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council for distribution to the members of the NTC-member First Nations, as well as other interested groups and individuals. Information and original work contained in this newspaper is protected by copyright and may not be reproduced without written permission from:

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Photo by Denise Titian Eric Rochette, offi cer in charge at the Port Alberni RCMP, and NTC President Judith Sayers signed an agreement on Dec. 15 pledging for the police to work collaboratively with Teechuktl Mental Health.

RCMP signs agreement with Teechuktl

Police renew a pledge to direct referrals to the NTC’s mental health department

By Denise Titian Ha-Shilth-Sa Reporter

Port Alberni, BC – As homelessness and addiction continues to be a problem that plagues Port Alberni, the Nuu-chahnulth Tribal Council’s Teechuktl (Mental Health) department and the Port Alberni RCMP have pledged to work together to bring support to Nuu-chah-nulth people that have come into contact with police - but don’t necessarily belong in cells. RCMP Corporal Jay Donahue of Indigenous Policing Services said the MOU signed Dec. 15 with NTC President Judith Sayers will allow the RCMP, with permission from the client, to directly refer them to workers in Teechuktl’s Quu’asa program, where they can access that extra level of support. The NTC’s Teechuktl department provides mental health, cultural and traditional support to Nuu-chah-nulth people. Having access to culturally-sensitive supports could improve the health and well-being of the client. “Some people are placed in cells for non-criminal matters…it may be mental health or addiction,” said Donahue. By referring these people to Quu’asa, they have access to support and resources that are not available at the local RCMP detachment. Sayers praised the Quu’asa team and the eff orts of the RCMP. “We have an awesome team that want to help our people and the police hopefully fi nd better solutions – help people move forward in a good way,” she said. In the MOU, called Referral Process Agreement, the RCMP acknowledge that they are not experts on cultural counselling and First Nations client care. “The RCMP is committed to reducing the number of First Nations clients that are apprehended, involved in criminal activity or suff ering with non-criminal mental wellness issues,” states the MOU. The agreement allows the RCMP to refer First Nations clients, with their consent, to Teechuktl where they they will receive support. The goal, said Donahue, is to reduce rates of First Nations peoples’ interactions with police. “This will bring them that extra level of after care,” he said. Donahue noted that little support exists for people re-entering society from institutions. “This is not a fi x-all but it is a step in the right direction,” he added.

Ha-Shilth-Sa belongs to every Nuu-chah-nulth person including those who have passed on, and those who are not yet born. A community 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 48th year of serving the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations. We look forward to your continued input and support. Kleco! Kleco!

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The city has concerns over a cluster of RVs, but an alternative has yet to materialize for Port Alberni’s homeless

By Melissa Renwick Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Port Alberni, BC - The controversial trailers located at the Wintergreen Apartments on Fourth Avenue in Port Alberni will be removed from the property, said owner Randy Brown. Brown brought the trailers to an empty lot he owns after seeing a spike of people sleeping outside on sidewalks within the lower Fourth Avenue corridor in 2020. “I have a big heart,” he said. “I can’t handle seeing these people out in the cold.” His solution was to move around nine trailers onto his property to provide a housing solution for the homeless. “I sent the letter to the city and said what I was going to do,” recounted Brown. “I didn’t get a response, but I told them, either we can do it together, or I was going to do it on my own. And I did what I said I was going to do – I did it on my own.” The move was opposed by the city and on Nov. 23, 2020, council passed a remedial action requirement for the property owner to remove all trailers, as they were deemed unsafe and violated city bylaws. “We are absolutely not okay with the trailers being there because the condition people are living in puts those people at signifi cant risk,” said Port Alberni Mayor Sharie Minions. “There’s extension cords powering the trailers, there’s not proper sewage, there’s garbage everywhere. The property is not being taken care of.” Without alternative housing solutions, Minions said the city is not going to displace anyone from the trailers, especially in the middle of winter, but that “it’s not ok if [Brown] keeps the trailers.” It’s a complex issue, she admitted. Since 1999, Brown has been running a property management business and currently oversees more than 20 commercial and residential properties in Port Alberni. He is charging the Fourth Avenue trailer residents rent but said he’s not making nearly enough for his daily troubles. Minions said she feels the residents are being taken advantage of. “We hear reports frequently from social workers and diff erent service providers in that area of three or four people living in tiny little trailers that are not properly heated, and yet paying rent,” she said. “It’s just not acceptable. It’s exploiting the people in our community who are

Photo by Eric Plummer Teechuktl Harm Reduction Worker Jaimey Richmond delivers a Christmas meal to one of nearly a dozen trailers that fi ll an empty lot on Fourth Avenue in Port Alberni. most vulnerable.” After several site visits at the beginning of 2021, Gaylene Thorogood, manager of community safety with the City of Port Alberni, said “three of the units are tied into the property’s sewer system without inspection or permits and refuse continues to accumulate.” “The present condition of the building and the use of the property contravenes city bylaw and compromises the safety of both the occupants and emergency personnel who respond to the calls at this location,” she added. Thorogood said service calls to site nearly doubled since the trailers moved onto the property in 2020 and RCMP were making nearly daily visits. Several months ago, Minions said she sat down with Brown to discuss options that would improve the safety of the people living in the trailers. “We gave him some really specifi c options on what he could bring forward, and he never took any action,” she said. While she has yet to see any improvements, Minions said she’s “happy” to hear that Brown intends to clean the property up. Brown said it has become clear that a new approach is needed. “Clearly the trailers need to go,” he said in a release, adding that he agrees a safe alternative housing option must be available before the occupants are displaced. “It’s been quite a rollercoaster ride taking care of all of these people,” said Brown. “I’m not a social worker.” Garbage has been increasingly diffi cult to stay on top of, as Brown said it’s been hard to fi nd anyone willing to work at the property. “It’s a nightmare,” he said. “I want to move on.” For the past 61 years, Brown has called Port Alberni home and said the issue of homelessness continues to get worse. “It breaks my heart that we can’t fi nd a simple solution,” he said. A task force was created by the city to develop an immediate solution for the residents living in the Fourth Avenue trailers, in collaboration with the Nuuchah-nulth Tribal Council (NTC), the Port Alberni Friendship Centre, as well as Tseshaht and Hupacasath First Nations. “The people [living] on Fourth Avenue seek personal space,” said NTC VicePresident Mariah Charleson. “Something that belongs to them – a place where they can keep their belongings safe.” A no-barrier, non-discriminatory housing solution is critical, she said. Port Alberni’s 2021 homeless count indicated a signifi cant increase in the number of people who identifi ed as Indigenous, rising to 65 per cent from 48 per cent in 2018. Only 17 per cent of Port Alberni’s general population are Indigenous, according to the 2016 census. “Our relatives are struggling day-in and day-out to just fi nd a warm place to lay their head at night,” said Charleson. “We can’t just leave these people homeless, because we know that we already have a crisis in Port Alberni.” Without access to services that are culturally appropriate or safe, Charleson said many Indigenous people don’t feel comfortable seeking help. Following the success of the sleeping pod model in Duncan, the task team is considering implementing a similar system in Port Alberni. The pods are small, insulated sleeping units with lighting and heating that provide the homeless with a safe and dry place to rest their heads at night. It would act as an immediate solution, until a permanent, long-term option is identifi ed, said Minions. “This is not a permanent option for people to live in, but until a permanent option is created, we feel that there needs to be a safer, immediate alternative,” she added. The task team has only met once. Another meeting is anticipated to take place in a week or two. As soon as a housing solution is presented and there is somewhere safe for the Fourth Avenue residents to go, Brown said the trailers will be removed “immediately.”

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Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada offi cials are now optimistic of a sooner-than-predicted recovery

By Sam Laskaris Ha-Shilth-Sa Contributor

Keith Henry is much more upbeat now than he was just a few months ago. Henry, who is the president and CEO of the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC), was rather gloomy this past September. At the time he said research indicated it would take until 2028, and possibly even 2030, for the country’s Indigenous tourism industry to recover to pre-pandemic levels. But on Monday of this week, ITAC offi cials put out a press release updating their forecasts. They now believe if they can get federal representatives to buy into and fund their latest strategy and plans, then the Indigenous tourism sector across the country can fully rebound from the pandemic by 2025. While that is positive news for all those in the industry, Henry, who works and lives in Vancouver, said that should especially be great for Nuu-chah-nulth business tourism operators. That’s because Henry is confi dent Nuu-chah-nulth tourism businesses are capable of thriving again in the near future. “They’re beautiful communities,” Henry said of the tourism off erings available on Nuu-chah-nulth lands. “There’s amazing wildlife viewing, there’s of course sportfi shing, there’s adventure tourism. There’s such a large market for that particular kind of visitor, whether its within other eastern parts of Canada or the US or somewhere else.” Henry is confi dent Nuu-chah-nulth businesses will play a vital role in the Indigenous tourism recovery. “These are beautiful landscapes, beautiful areas and beautiful territories,” he added. “And I think they have so much more potential to off er to make Canada a world-class Indigenous tourism destination. We’ll continue to support that development.” The industry recovery plan ITAC offi cials released on Monday requires a $65 million investment over the next three years. Henry is hoping the majority of that funding will come from the federal government. ITAC offi cials are now waiting to see how much funding they will receive when the 2022 federal budget is unveiled, likely in April. ITAC is also hoping to secure funding from other sources, including the private sector. Prior to the pandemic, the fact Indigenous tourism was increasing substantially across the country was evident by the fact its GDP increased from $1.4 billion in 2014 to almost $1.9 billion in 2019. But in less than two years since the pandemic started having an impact across the country, almost 70 per cent of Indigenous tourism GDP was lost. Henry believes with ITAC’s latest strategy, and if all requested funding is indeed secured from various sources during the next three years, a full industry recovery by 2025 is feasible. Henry said the fact his association has a much rosier outlook now than it did last September should be encouraging to all, including Nuu-chah-nulth businesses. “People see it as reason not to give up,” he said. “I think the sentiment is there. They see there is hope for the future and that there is a national body trying its best to continue to stabilize. “I remain confi dent that despite these challenges we see a strong future right now. I think we’ll get past this fi fth wave and whatever wave comes ahead of us. I think it gives everyone the long-term vision that we can rebuild by 2025.” Henry is obviously ecstatic an industry recovery will not take as long as 2030, which was feared just a few months ago. “We weren’t saying that a year ago,” he said. “We believe that now, after more research, watching the results of what happened in the summer of 2021 when we could really push and market Indigenous and sell Indigenous tourism businesses that were open. “And then to our pleasant surprise, many nations have acquired new companies and new businesses in tourism, so we know we’re in a diff erent position this year for sure.” Henry added he is confi dent that with federal funding, the Indigenous tourism industry can once again be a booming one. “We believe we are really going to be able to market aggressively domestically and back into the U.S. and back internationally, which is very important for British Columbia and especially coastal Indigenous tourism businesses,” he said. “This strategy lays out a clear plan of actions. The tactics in marketing and development will be very important for business development for the nations that will be looking to increase or for the entrepreneurs looking to rebuild as fast as possible.” As was the case in 2021, Henry said ITAC will continue to waive membership and marketing fees for its members this year. “Those businesses that are on the coast that are up and running can really participate in, for example, Canada’s largest marketing show,” Henry said. “That’s how you’re building those customers for the future. And I really feel strongly that this plan will give people a lot of marketing and development support in ways that they hadn’t thought about before. “We’re really providing a lot of on the ground support, to make it as supportive for those businesses as possible.”

Photo by Eric Plummer The ancient Huu-ay-aht village site of Kiixin is among the many destinations in Nuu-chah-nulth territory that tourism experts believe will help the industry’s recovery.