INTERESTING NEWS Canada’s Oldest First Nations Newspaper - Serving Nuu-chah-nulth-aht since 1974 Vol. 46 - No. 14—July 18, 2019
Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement No. 40047776
haas^i>sa
Drought conditions improve By Eric Plummer Ha-Shilth-Sa Editor
Submitted photo
Representatives of signatory First Nations gather with Fisheries Minister Jonathan Wilkinson after signing the Fraser Salmon Collaborative Management Agreement.
Salmon agreement ‘a ray of hope’ 76 First Nations and Canada sign a historic agreement governing Fraser fisheries
By Mike Youds Ha-Shilth-Sa Contributor Maple Ridge, BC - First Nations along the vast migratory path of Fraser River salmon are optimistic that a new comanagement agreement with Canada will help ensure a future for their fisheries. As countless Fraser salmon bound for Interior spawning grounds remain blocked by a rock slide in the river — a potential disaster in the making first observed in late June — 76 nations glimpsed a “ray of hope” last week. The Fraser Salmon Collaborative Management Agreement, signed July 5 between Canada and the Fraser Salmon Management Council (FSMC), recognizes their title and right to play a key role in natural resource decisions. “It’s a milestone,” said Cliff Atleo, who represented the three hereditary Ahousaht chiefs at the negotiating table. “When has DFO agreed to co-manage with anybody? It’s historic.” The signing took place July 5 at Katzie Health and Community Centre in the lower Fraser Valley after years of work uniting the signatory nations and engaging in nation-to-nation negotiations with Canada. Darren Haskell of Tl’azt’en First Nation, president of the FSMC, put the achievement in perspective. “Today marks a historic nation-to-nation moment between Indigenous peoples and Canada,” he said. “We have long fought for our rightful place at the table in the management of the fisheries resources that are critical to our communities’ wellbeing.” Atleo was serving as NTC president when the idea originated to unite First Nations along the migratory path of
Fraser River salmon in a common quest for co-management. He described the agreement as a ray of hope amid bleak circumstances for wild salmon in B.C. waters. More than the promise of a seat at the table, co-management is viewed as a means of overcoming longstanding distrust and deep-seated frustration with fishery management decisions. “The idea of putting the nations together started about 10 years ago,” based on recognition of the river’s unique status as a vital resource to so many nations, Atleo said. “As it was, I think we had over 70 signatories and a very strong presence of all nations.” Co-management workshops with the First Nations Fisheries Council started laying the groundwork in 2010. Consensus approval from the many FMSC member nations was achieved in 2015, allowing talks to open with DFO on collaborative decision-making in management of the common resource. Fisheries Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said the agreement strengthens the vision of self-determination and Indigenous capacity-building. “Not only does this renewed collaboration help secure the sustainability of our fisheries for the long-term, it ensures that moving forward, decisions made are based on shared principles for the protection and conservation of Fraser salmon stocks,” Wilkinson said. Atleo firmly believes that having a voice at the fisheries management table offers greater assurances there will be Fraser River salmon for future generations. He feels management decisions have not been made with the knowledge, perspective and sense of urgency warranted by the state of wild salmon stocks. Will their voices be heard? Will they be
Inside this issue... Tseshaht’s new canoe.................................................Page 2 Shingles vaccine update.............................................Page 4 Underwater volcano exploration................................Page 6 Language immersion success.................................. Pages 8 Earthquake predictions.............................................Page 10
heeded? “That’s always the hope,” Atleo said. “We’re never going to give up. We always said to DFO, ‘We need your help.’” He cited the Fraser rock slide as a case in point, suggesting governments had not responded with appropriate urgency from the outset. First Nations representatives were able to convey their concerns at last week’s signing ceremony. “We were trying to light a fire under the ministry about that slide,” Atleo said. Visiting the slide site near Big Bar on Tuesday, Wilkinson expressed greater concern, calling the situation a top priority for DFO and “a very serious challenge” while warning that there are no simple solutions. While roughly 10 percent of stranded salmon have been able to swim through the slide area, high water levels were hindering efforts to monitor the fish. Victor Isaac, a Namgis First Nation councillor, served as team negotiator for Island/marine approach nations. He agrees wild salmon stocks are in a terrible state and sees the agreement as a first step in rebuilding the stocks. Decisions will be made jointly, and the federal government can be held accountable. There has always been conflict with commercial and recreational fishing interests over entitlement to the stocks, Isaac said. When it came to catch quotas, First Nations got the short end of the stick every time. He has watched the Namgis fishing fleet in Alert Bay dwindle through the years from 100 boats to just two or three boats. “I think it’s better to work together,” Isaac said, citing the rock slide as an example of a change in approach. “They’re working with us now,” he added.
A month after the province sounded alarms with a drought advisory, the situation on Vancouver Island has improved, with better water flows and cooler temperatures in the region’s rivers. B.C.’s Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations has downgraded the drought rating for western Vancouver Island to “dry” from the more severe level 3 it had in June. The east side of the island remains at a level 3 “very dry” rating due to lower rivers in vicinity of Nanaimo, Parksville and Duncan, said Jonathan Boyd, a hydrologist with the province’s River Forecast Centre. He said milder temperatures over the last month have helped to improve the drought situation. “We haven’t had any high pressure ridges, which create the long spells of incredibly hot weather,” said Boyd. “Because of that there’s been a few storm systems that have actually washed in and increased the flows pretty substantially, especially on the west side of the island, where flows rebounded from - in some cases - being at record lows.” This will bring some relief to those closely watching the migration of salmon, which are benefitting from cooler river temperatures in the Alberni region. “The stream flows are still low - the snowpack is essentially gone - but we’ve had these moderate temperatures and a little bit of precipitation,” said Jim Lane, southern region biologist with Uu-athluk. “Henderson River is really low, but it’s fairly cool.” On July 17 Vancouver Island saw more rain, a development Boyd expects will further help drought concerns. “We’ve got another provincial-wide storm system that’s moving in. It’s hitting the north coast and Haida Gwaii first, and it’s going to be impacting the entire island later this evening [July 16] and tomorrow morning,” he said. “There is a possibility that the drought code could drop even lower next week.” Vancouver Island’s danger rating for forest fires has also dropped. As of June 16 the BC Wildfire Service cited a danger rating of “low” for most of the west side of Vancouver Island, with the area south of Nitinaht Lake categorized as “moderate”.
If undeliverable, please return to: Ha-Shilth-Sa P.O. Box 1383, Port Alberni, B.C. V9Y 7M2
Page 2— Ha-Shilth-Sa—July 18, 2019
First Nation restricts road access, citing forestry trespass
The Mowachaht/Muchalaht pushes for its legal right to the reserve land during a Western Forest Products strike By Eric Plummer Ha-Shilth-Sa Editor Gold River, BC - Western Forest Products is trespassing on reserve land, thereby breaking a stipulation in the Indian Act, according to a message delivered in Gold River by the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation on July 4. For decades the forestry company has used a section of Highway 28 to transport timber to a log sort in Muchalaht Inlet. But a portion of the road sits on the Ahaminaquus Indian Reserve No. 12, land held by the Crown for the “use and benefit of the respective band for which they were set apart,” according to section 18(1) of Canada’s Indian Act. Ahaminaquus is held for the Mowachaht/Muchalaht, and today the First Nation restricted access to part of the road to express their right to the reserve. A statement issued by the nation noted how it has been left out of the industrial benefits of forestry operations on its land for generations. “MMFN has seen no benefit and has received no compensation from WFP for this unauthorized use of the reserve lands at any time, and the road has been in trespass since the late 1960s,” stated the First Nation. “Mowachaht Muchalaht First Nation is a remote Indigenous community with little economic opportunity within its territory and is entitled to be compensated for the commercial exploitation of their lands. WFP is a corporate entity that achieves significant economic gains from its operations on the MMFN territory and its continued trespass on lands reserved for MMFN’s use and benefit.” The First Nation issued this notice on the reserve land while Western employees and contractors were on strike. The walkout began July 1 amid stalled negotiations over pension plan changes and insufficient wage increases, according to the United Steelworkers union. “The fact is, WFP has made record earnings in recent years and all of WFP’s own projections state markets are good and growing,” stated a USW letter to members. “With the rising cost of living, offering two per cent increases based on a different industry is not realistic.” Approximately 3,000 workers walked off the job on July 1 after a previous agreement expired in mid-June. Earlier last month the company announced “temporary production curtailments” at three of its Vancouver Island sawmills to “match current customer demand.” “After cancelling scheduled bargaining sessions and refusing mediation, it’s clear that the USW is intent on inflicting damage to the coastal forest industry which already faces significant market challenges, including having to pay the highest
Have You moved? If you should be getting a copy of the Ha-Shilth-Sa delivered to your home and you are not, please contact
Holly Stocking at 250-724-5757 or email holly.stocking@ nuuchahnulth.org
Submitted photo
The action taken in July is not the first time the Mowachaht/Muchalaht have exercised their right to the road that crosses over Ahaminaquus. In the 1970s members of the First Nation held a protest at the same site, resulting in nine arrests. softwood lumber duties for shipments to while providing a small amount of comFirst Nation.” the United States of any jurisdiction in pensation to our community,” said Tyee The Ahaminaquus reserve represents a Canada, and the loss of market share in Ha’wilth Mike Maquinna. “However, tiny portion of the Mowachaht/MuchaJapan due to Japanese government subrecent correspondence with WFP indilaht First Nation’s territory, an area that sidies for their domestic industry,” said cates they are not taking us seriously in stretches from the middle of Vancouver Western President and CEO Don Demens our attempts of signing a road use permit Island to cover Nootka Sound. For genin a statement from the company. that covers the historic trespass and sets erations this land has been subjected to This is not the first time the Mowachaht/ out fees for future use of the road.” extensive forestry operations. Muchalaht have exercised their right to “From our perspective, we’re optimis“As one of the hereditary chiefs of our the road that crosses over Ahaminaquus. tic we can achieve a mutually beneficial nation I have always wanted our people In the 1970s members of the First Naagreement through further discussion,” to be successful, have good lives and protions held a protest at the same site, said Western’s Director of Communicavide for their families,” said Maquinna. resulting in nine arrests. tions Babita Khunkhun. “We value our “The chief’s responsibility includes man“We thought we were making good relationships with First Nations and we aging the resources within our traditional progress in developing an agreement that have a long history of working collabterritory and to ensure our jurisdiction would allow WFP to travel through IR12, oratively with the Mowachaht/Muchalaht over our reserve lands is respected.”
Fallen rock debris holds up Hwy 4 traffic By Eric Plummer Ha-Shilth-Sa Editor Kennedy Lake, BC - For most of the day on July 9 Highway 4 was closed in both directions after a cliff-side blast caused an unexpected volume of rock debris to fall on the road east of the Tofino-Ucluelet junction. During a scheduled 1-4 a.m. road closure the blast occurred at approximately 3 a.m. on July 9, closing off land access to Vancouver Island’s central west coast region. The highway reopened at 4 p.m. with an alternating single lane. While highway closures are scheduled throughout the day on either side of the 1.6-kilometre construction site over Kennedy Lake, most of the rock-side blasting occurs overnight. “At about 3 a.m., blasting released several large blocks of rock that were not anticipated. The clean-up requires an extended closure of the highway,” stated B.C.’s Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure in an email to Ha-ShilthSa. “While efforts are made to control the amount of rock released, this can sometimes be the result. The crew is working as quickly as possible to reopen the highway.” The blasting is part of a $38.1-million project to make the highway route next to Kennedy Lake safer. Funded by the federal and provincial governments, the project entails widening each of the two lanes to 3.6 metres, while adding a 1.5-metre paved shoulder on either side with a concrete barrier between the highway and the lake below. The road is also
Photo from BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
During a scheduled 1-4 a.m. road closure, a blast occurred at approximately 3 a.m. on July 9, closing off land access to Vancouver Island’s central west coast region for most of the day. being straightened to eliminate the curves a danger, it would be dealt with prior to that often forced larger transport vehicles reopening the site to traffic and constructo cross the centre line. tion.” To ensure the safety of workers and the The extensive blasting and excavation is travelling public, projects of this nature eliminating overhanging rock, but some have blasting and rock scaling specialists large cedar trees have also been removed. on site, said BC transport. This old growth is being given to the “Both the blaster and scaler use their Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation for cultural and professional judgement to signal ‘all community purposes, according to the clear’ following each blast closure, before Ministry of Transportation. letting traffic through or other workers The highway project is scheduled to be on site,” stated the ministry. “If there is completed by the summer of 2020. additional debris or rock that could pose
July 18, 2019—Ha-Shilth-Sa—Page 3
Robie’s Contracting Ltd recognizes and thanks the members of the
Huu ay aht First Nation
who worked hard to build the Nookemus Road Subdivision project (Phase 1):
Andrew Clappis Victor Williams Jr. Heather Johnson Katherine Frank Judith Johnson Mathew Kruse-Johnson
James Nookemus Terry Nookemus Phillip Dennis Norman Atherley Theresa Nookemus Martie Robertson
Special thanks to the Government and Administration personnel whose cooperation and assistance was invaluable:
Stephen Rayner
Rachel Young
Charlie Clappis
Rosanne Young
Torrance Gilmour
Sandra Young
“Community building community”
Page 4— Ha-Shilth-Sa—July 18, 2019 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: Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council P.O. Box 1383, Port Alberni, B.C. V9Y 7M2. Telephone: (250) 724-5757 Fax: (250) 723-0463 Web page: www.hashilthsa.com facebook: Hashilthsa Ntc
2019 Subscription rates:
$35.00 per year in Canada and $40 per year in the U.S.A. and $45 per year in foreign countries. Payable to the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council. Manager/Editor/Reporter Eric Plummer (Ext. 243) (250) 724-5757 Fax: (250) 723-0463 eric.plummer@nuuchahnulth.org Reporter Denise Titian (Ext. 240) (250) 724-5757 Fax: (250) 723-0463 denise.titian@nuuchahnulth.org Audio / Video Technician Mike Watts (Ext. 238) (250) 724-5757 Fax: (250) 723-0463 mike.watts@nuuchahnulth.org Editorial Assistant Holly Stocking (Ext. 302) (250) 724-5757 - Fax:(250) 723-0463 holly.stocking@nuuchahnulth.org
DEADLINE: Please note that the deadline for submissions for our next issue is August 2, 2019 After that date, material submitted and judged appropriate cannot be guaranteed placement but, if material is still relevant, will be included in the following issue. In an ideal world, submissions would be typed rather than hand-written. Articles can be sent by e-mail to holly.stocking@nuuchahnulth.org (Windows PC). Submitted pictures must include a brief description of subject(s) and a return address. Pictures with no return address will remain on file. Allow two - four weeks for return. Photocopied or faxed photographs cannot be accepted.
LETTERS and KLECOS Ha-Shilth-Sa will include letters received from its readers. Letters MUST be signed by the writer and have the writer’s full name, address and phone number on them. Names can be withheld by request. Anonymous submissions will not be accepted. We reserve the right to edit submitted material for clarity, brevity, grammar and good taste. We will definitely not publish letters dealing with tribal or personal disputes or issues that are critical of Nuu-chah-nulth individuals or groups. All opinions expressed in letters to the editor are purely those of the writer and will not necessarily coincide with the views or policies of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council or its member First Nations. Ha-Shilth-Sa includes paid advertising, but this does not imply Ha-Shilth-Sa or Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council recommends or endorses the content of the ads.
Shingles vaccine now available
Status First Nations members can be reimbursed for an expensive shingles vaccine By Denise Titian Ha-Shilth-Sa Reporter British Columbia – The First Nations Health Authority has announced that status First Nations clients between the ages of 65 and 69 may now be reimbursed for the cost of Shingrix, the vaccine that protects against shingles. The First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) is the agency responsible for planning, management, service delivery and funding of health programs, in partnership with First Nations communities in B.C. Taking over First Nations programs from Health Canada, FNHA is actively updating its schedule of medications available to B.C.’s Aboriginal populations on an ongoing basis. According to Public Health Canada, shingles is an infection that shows up as a painful skin rash with blisters, usually on part of one side of the body, often in a strip. “Shingles can be extremely painful and it is preventable,” said Dr. Evan Adams, the FNHA’s Chief Medical Officer. “When it happens, treatment requires immediate medical care and antiviral drugs. Many First Nations clients live in remote areas where it’s difficult to get this quick treatment.” Ahousaht elder Wally Samuel says this is good news for Nuu-chah-nulth seniors. The Port Alberni resident suffered from a bout of shingles over the winter. The rash was so sensitive he was forced to cut some of his shirts to keep the fabric from irritating his skin. “The first two months was really hard but over the next two months it started slowly healing,” he told Ha-Shilth-Sa. Shingles is the name commonly used for the herpes zoster virus. People get shingles when varicella zoster virus, the one that causes chicken pox, is reactivated in their body. “The varicella zoster virus doesn’t leave the body, even after a person has recovered from chicken pox. It can flare up again, causing shingles, often many years after a person has had chicken pox,” the Canadian government website says. The virus tends to reactivate when a person’s immune system is weakened be-
cause of another health problem. Samuel told Ha-Shilth-Sa he would get the vaccine if he is cleared to do so by his family doctor. “I have to check with my doctor because of other health conditions,” he said. Samuel pointed out that many people suffer from shingles. “Lots of people have had it or know someone that has had shingles,” he added. According to the Centre for Disease Control (CDC), shingles vaccination is the only way to protect against the illness and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), the most common complication from shingles. The CDC recommends that healthy adults 50 years and older get two doses of the shingles vaccine called Shingrix, separated by 2 to 6 months, to prevent Wally Samuel shingles. Shingrix provides strong protection Clients are required to submit the official against shingles and PHN. Two doses of prescription or pharmacy receipt in order Shingrix are more than 90 per cent efto be reimbursed; a till receipt is not suffective at preventing shingles and PHN. ficient. Protection stays above 85 per cent for “Effective immediately, First Nations at least the first four years after you get Health Benefits will accept client reimvaccinated. bursement requests...for vaccinations Shingrix is recommended for healthy with the Shingrix® vaccine received on adults ages 50 and over, even if they have or after Oct. 1, 2018 by First Nations had shingles in the past or, if they don’t clients age 65 to 69,” says the FNHA know if they’ve ever had chicken pox. website. Your doctor or pharmacist can give you Patients outside of this age group may Shingrix as a shot in your upper arm. be eligible for coverage based upon the Prior to May 2019, the Shingrix vacrecommendation of the family doctor in cine was not covered by the FNHA and the form of written advice that this vacthe cost of each dose, $300, was paid cine is necessary for the patient. by the patient. Full vaccination would Once the FNHA has fully implemented cost elders $600 after the recommended coverage within BC Pharmacare, the docsecond dose. tor or pharmacist can be billed directly In late May 2019 FNHA announced that through the B.C. First Nations Pharmait is now providing reimbursement for the care Plan W. Shingrix® shingles vaccine, making it the For more information contact NTC first health jurisdiction in the country to Health Benefits Program Coordinado so. tor Robert Cluett at Robert.Cluett@ This means that any status First Nations nuuchahnulth.org, call toll free at 1-888elder in the province ages 65-69 who 407-4888 or at the NTC at 250-724-5757. received the Shingrix vaccine on or after The First Nations Health Authority can be Oct. 1, 2018 is eligible for reimbursereached at 1-855-550-5454. ment if they can provide a valid receipt.
Legal Information
COVERAGE: Although we would like to be able to cover all stories and events, we will only do so subject to: - Sufficient advance notice addressed specifically to Ha-Shilth-Sa. - Reporter availability at the time of the event. - Editorial space available in the paper. - Editorial deadlines being adhered to by contributors.
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 45th year of serving the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations. We look forward to your continued input and support. Kleco! Kleco!
The advertiser agrees that the publisher shall not be liable for damages arising out of errors in advertisements beyond the amount paid for space actually occupied by the portion of the advertisement in which the error is due to the negligence of the servants or otherwise, and there shall be no liability for non-insertion of any advertisement beyond the amount paid for such advertisements
July 18, 2019—Ha-Shilth-Sa—Page 5
Tseshaht gets new canoe for use in Broken Group The 36-foot fibreglass vessel of traditional design will increase accessibility in the First Nation’s ancestral home By Kelda Blackstone Ha-Shilth-Sa Contributor Port Alberni, BC – Tseshaht First Nation acquired a new canoe this spring, which is already being put to use by the Tseshaht Canoe Family on the Paddle to Lummi journey. The three-week journey started in Port Alberni on July 4th, and is now underway, with stops in Tseshaht’s and other Nuu-chah-nulth nations’ traditional territories en route to the final destination of Lummi, Washington. There, they will join over 100 canoes from other nations for a five-day celebration. The canoe’s name is ʔinisʔahah, meaning ‘hope,’ or ‘wished for,’ in Nuu-chahnulth, explained Darrell Ross Sr., research and planning associate at Tseshaht First Nation. “It is about hope for the rebuilding of the culture, the rebuilding of the language. Rebuilding the families, healing for people that need healing,” he said. A sea serpent, or Lightning Snake, design by Tseshaht artist Rocky (Willard) Gallic Jr. runs the length of the canoe. Lightning Snakes are allies of the Thunderbird, explained Ross, and they represent the first whalers. “The story was,” said Gallic, in a conversation at a Port Alberni coffee shop, “when the Thunderbird went to pick up the whale in the ocean, it would have the Lightning Snakes in its wings, and it would shoot lightning bolts and stun the whale, and it would pick up [the whale] and take it to the mountain and devour it, eh. When the Thunderbird’s flapping his wings, and when he releases the Lightning Snakes, the lightning bolts would come out. [The Lightning Snake] shot bolts out of its mouth. That’s my understanding, from all the native art I looked at.” “What the Lightning Snake on the canoe represents,” Gallic continued, “is [the paddlers] are hunting the whale too; it’s a whaling canoe. They’re hunting in the canoe, and that Lightning Snake is there
Photo by Hank Gus
A recently purchased 36-foot fibreglass canoe of traditional design will increase accessibility in the Broken Group Islands. to stun the whale” see the fish traps?’, or ‘Who wants to go an hour to paddle the return trip, making “It looks really cool,” said Ross, of see Face in the Rock? Who wants to go to it a very feasible destination for future Gallic’s design in action on the ocean. “It the village that their grandfather was born trips. looks as real as you can get, a heʔitliik at?’...It’s all adding up to some strong The 36-foot fibreglass canoe is a similar gliding along the water.” cultural medicine for our people.” size to a traditional canoe used for transʔinisʔahah, the new canoe, provides Canoe access within the Broken Group portation, war, or hauling goods, said the means of healing and of the rebuildIslands opens up many possibilities for Ross. It has an optional sail and a retracting of culture, language, and family by Tseshaht First Nation. In addition to able skeg, and was purchased with fundincreasing accessibility within the Broken learning about cultural history and ances- ing from the Canadian Coast Guard. The Group Islands for Tseshaht community tral ties to the islands, people will be able Coast Guard has been working in partmembers. The Broken Group Islands are to paddle to traditional sites of resourcenership with Tseshaht First Nation and the place of origin of the Tseshaht people, gathering, for food such as fish, shellfish, other Nuu-chah-nulth nations to improve and connections to the archipelago are and berries. marine emergency response capacity very strong for Tseshaht. The connections “There’s so many Tseshaht people learn- in coastal First Nations’ territories. The are not vague, or from the distant past. ing the ocean, and paddling, history, and Broken Group Islands, in Pacific Rim NaFor thousands of years, Tseshaht people culture,” said Ross. “They’re in cultural tional Park Reserve, lie within Tseshaht lived in the islands; only a generation or school right now, on canoe journeys. First Nation’s traditional territories, and two separate that time from the present. Those people are in good training. I’m are a tourist destination for sea kayaking, Access to these homelands is difficult hoping that some of these people will sailing, and canoeing. for many Tseshaht who live in Port Alber- lead the way for us, whether [through] “We got both [a] Zodiac and the canoe ni or even farther away. Boat transportaculture, or tourism, or reconciliation, or from the Coast Guard,” stated Ross. tion is required to reach the archipelago, healing.” “We’re very thankful that they underand to visit the many Tseshaht ancestral The canoe will be kept at Keith Island, stand our vision, [the direction] that we villages and places of importance in the an ancestral village and central locawant to go, looking after visitors, looking islands. tion in the archipelago. ʔinisʔahah’s after ourselves.” The new canoe will allow Tseshaht com- inaugural journey in the islands, said Darren Mead-Miller, Executive Director munity members much more access to Ross, was from Keith to Ts’ishaa and at Tseshaht First Nation, agrees. travel within their traditional territories. back. Ts’ishaa, on Benson Island, is the “The main objective is to re-establish “Whenever we have events or cultural birthplace of the Tseshaht people, a place cultural connections to the area,” he said things or [archaeological] digs,” said of high importance which lies on an outer in a phone conversation. “Doing so by Ross, “we can say... ‘Who wants to go edge of the group of islands. It only took canoe is the best way.”
Canoe journey support boat flips at Pacheea Bay By Deborah Potter Ha-Shilth-Sa Staff Bamfield, BC – This year’s canoe journey to Washington started only days before, when one of the support boats capsized, sending the three occupants into the water. More than 100 paddlers meet annually in a West Coast Indigenous community for the Tribal Canoe Journey, this year paddling many kilometers to Lummi, Washington. Among the families participating are the Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/ Che:k’tles7et’h’ canoe family, Pacheedaht and the Tseshaht. They started at the northernmost point of the Nuu-chah-nulth territory, in Kyuquot, paddling their way down to Lummi, Washington. Stops for rest are planned in Nuu-chah-nulth territories along their journey. It was in one of the stops, in the traditional lands of Huu-ay-aht, where the accident had happened. On July 8, later in the afternoon, the Ahousaht support motorboat was perched in Pachena Bay, watching the canoes come in. The waves had been increasing in size, until one completely flipped the support boat over. While the other two support members had been able to land firmly on their feet in the shallow water, Bernice Sabbas had not been so lucky.
“All the canoes came in okay,” %uu-k#qum (James Swann), Bernice’s brother, explained to Ha-shilth-sa. The Ahousaht support boat had been the only vessel to flip. She was not wearing a life jacket, and the constant waves swept her out, hindering Sabbas’ ability to stand. Spectators had saw her struggle, and trudged through the water to help her out. At 3:46 pm, the BC Emergency Health Services received a report of the overturned boat at Pachena Bay. They had dispatched an ambulance helicopter and paramedics from Port Alberni to her location. Bernice spent some time in the Bamfield clinic, before getting flown out to the Victoria General Hospital in critical condition. With the water in her lungs, she was beginning to have seizures, said Swann. She spent the night in Victoria’s intensive care unit, where she remained for a few more days. In a telephone interview Swann shared that Bernice was doing a lot better the day after the incident. After her night in the Intensive Care Unit, she was alert and cleared for solid foods. She stayed in the hospital for an extra few days, just to make sure she doesn’t have any more fluid in her lungs. Swan stressed the importance of wear-
Ha-Shilth-Sa Archive photo
Tribal Canoe Journeys have been held by West Coast First Nations since 1989, attracting heavy participation from Nuu-chah-nulth-aht, but a recent incident in Pacheena Bay is emphasizing the importance of lifejackets in the annual event. ing life jackets. Fuca Strait when their canoe hit a wave “It should be the number one priority,” almost three-feet tall and capsized. None he stated. of the paddlers were wearing lifejackets, In 2006, Mowachaht/Muchalaht heredibut Jerry had been the only one to lose tary chief Jerry Jack had his life taken his life that day. from the sea. It had been at the same The next stop for the Tribal Canoe Jourevent Bernice Sabbas almost drowned in, ney was in Ditidaht territory, where padexcept Jerry Jack was a participant in the dlers were expected to arrive at Nitinaht canoe journey. Lake on July 11. They were paddling down the Juan de
Page 6— Ha-Shilth-Sa—July 18, 2019
Exploring Canada’s largest underwater volcano This month a DFO-led expedition heads 150 miles offshore for a look into to a mysterious natural phenomenon By Eric Plummer Ha-Shilth-Sa Editor Vancouver Island, BC - One hundred and fifty nautical miles west of Vancouver Island, 814 metres beneath the ocean’s surface, lies the apex of an underwater volcano comparable in size to Mount Baker. Emerging approximately 2.5 kilometers up from the surrounding ocean floor, the Explorer Seamount is considered the largest underwater volcano in Canadian waters – yet despite its size, this giant and the life that inhabits it is surrounded in mystery. “We know more about the moon than we know about the deep sea,” admitted Tammy Norgard, a scientist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada who has led expeditions over the past two summers to explore the deep sea volcanoes off Vancouver Island’s coast. Now Norgard is at the helm of a twoweek trip to focus on the Explorer Seamount, where she hopes to open some of the mysteries from the strange collection of images taken from the underwater mountain last year. The 2018 expedition found what appears to be a unique ecosystem on Explorer, including a monoculture of sea sponges. “We’ve only had half a day of diving there, but our first indications were it looks very different from what we expected,” said Norgard of last year’s trip. “Because it’s so massive down there, it’s probably causing some different oceanography and currents, which would allow for different kinds of biological processes to occur.”
Map by Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Situated where tectonic plates meet under the Pacific, the Explorer Seamount is located 150 nautical miles west of Vancouver Island, in the middle of a vast area the federal government is considering placing under protection. reaches its destination over Explorer’s apex on July 19, Carrier will be available to answer questions during a live online feed of video footage from BOOTS, the Bathyal Ocean Observation and Televideo System that will be lowered over the deep water volcano via a two-kilometre cable. Light does not reach past 200 metres below the ocean’s surface, so BOOTS is equipped with flood lights for its high-definition cameras. Despite the distance from Vancouver Island’s shore, Carrier sees an important connection between the sea mount’s life and the environment that directly affects coastal communities. “What will happen there in the next few
“Because it’s so massive down there, it’s probably causing some different oceanography and currents, which would allow for different kinds of biological processes to occur.” ~ Tammy Norgard, DFO Scientist 3-day journey to the apex On July 16 a team of almost a dozen researchers left Victoria aboard the Canadian Coast Guard vessel JP Tully for the Explorer expedition. Besides several specialists from Fisheries and Oceans Canada, two people were invited to join the mission to serve the interests of Nuuchah-nulth who call the waters west of
Tammy Norgard Vancouver Island their home. Aline Carrier is the capacity building coordinator with Uu-a-thluk, the Nuuchah-nulth Tribal Council’s fisheries program. When the coast guard vessel
Canadian Coast Guard photo
In July the expedition crew boarded the Canadian Coast Guard vessel JP Tully.
whaled and we have that connection,” said Watts. “This is their territory that we’re going into. It’s just an opportunity to, in the present day, communicate and understand [seamounts]. I just think it’s super relevant to our people.” Stories from ‘Old Buffalo’ Traditionally, Nuu-chah-nulth territory extends as far out into the ocean as the eye can see from shore. It’s not widely known if people ventured out as far as the Explorer or other seamounts, but elder Harry Lucas said indications can be found in a story told to him by Moses
“What will happen there in the next few years will influence a lot of what will happen on the coast” ~ Aline Carrier, Capacity building coordinator, Uu-a-thluk years will influence a lot of what will happen on the coast,” she said. “These sea mounts could be really important for the biodiversity here.” Tseshaht member Joshua Watts also joined the expedition after answering a notice posted by Uu-a-thluk for a Nuu-chah-nulth participant. A student in biology as well as earth, ocean and atmospheric science at the University of Victoria, Watts plans to be the “voice and ear” for Nuu-chah-nulth-aht during the DFO mission, where he will be sharing duties with Carrier to answer questions during the live video feed broadcast from BOOTS. “Literally, our people come from this water. We’ve hunted, we’ve fished, we’ve
Aline Carrier Smith of Ehattesaht, who was also known as “Old Buffalo”. As he recounted in Nuu-chah-nulth, Lucas spoke of offshore locations where people once saw bubbles emerging on the surface. “There was always action somewhere in certain parts of the ocean. It would let out a steaming bubble,” translated Lucas into English. “They knew that there was something out there - that it used to boil now and then.” This could allude to hydrothermal vents, emitting heated water, which characterize the underwater volcanoes.
July 18, 2019—Ha-Shilth-Sa—Page 7
Ocean Exploration Trust photo
In 2018 a remotely operated vehicle observed a forest of corals and sponges on the Explorer Seamount, revealing the underwater volcano’s unique ecosystem.
“Literally, our people come from this water. We’ve hunted, we’ve fished, we’ve whaled and we have that connection.” ~ Joshua Watts, Expedition participant
Joshua Watts “The Indians a long time ago were always afraid to dive to the deep when they seen something like that, because they didn’t know what it was. So it’s a known history,” added Lucas. Watts considers the Nuu-chah-nulth tradition of whaling, and the long offshore excursions these hunts would require. Whales are known to congregate around sea mounts. “I believe that our people were sometimes following the whales for so long that maybe they could have reached this far out,” Watts speculated. “I have read that our people would leave for days and sometimes weeks to hunt for these whales.” An underwater mountain range Explorer and other sea mountains west of Vancouver Island are caused by shifting continental plates, explained Norgard. These offshore volcanoes have not been active for a long time. “It is multiple volcanoes that evolved, erupted, merged together to make a very large, I call it a mountain range,” said the expedition’s lead scientist. Like other parts of the ocean, Explorer could be affected by climate change trends. The expedition aimss to look into how the volcano’s ecosystem is changing, while analysing the various depths
of water that lead down to Explorer’s slopes. Carrier is tasked with this chemical and biological experimentation by lowering bottles over the mountain. “More than 12 bottles go down to the bottom,” she explained. “On the way back up the bottles close at different depths, so you can have samples of water coming from different depths.” Scientists have found a “naturally occurring oxygen minimum zone” in parts of the ocean, where the levels decrease in certain sections, said Norgard. “You drop it past 500 or 600 metres and the oxygen drops…and then around 1,500 metres it comes back up again,” she described. “With climate change there’s potential that could expand. If that gets bigger, then animals used to having oxygen will have it taken away from them.” Political interests The federal government’s interest in these offshore mountain ranges have intensified in recent years, since the Trudeau government set the goal of a 10 per cent increase in Canada’s protected marine areas by 2020. In 2017 the government identified a massive offshore block west of Vancouver Island as an Area of Interest, thereby opening up the process of designating this region a Ma-
Photo by Fisheries and Oceans Canada
The Bathyal Ocean Observation and Televideo System will be lowered over the deep water volcano via a two-kilometre cable. rine Protected Area. This would legally protect the 139,700-square-kilometre area from oil and gas exploration, fish trawling and dumping, according to Canadian law. More than twice the size of Vancouver Island, this Area of Interest includes the Explorer Seamount, plus another 45 known underwater mountains – comprising most of the 60 identified by the DFO in Canadian waters. “We wanted to know what was there so we could know what kind of protections to put in place,” said Norgard. Comprising 2.43 per cent of the ocean territory under Canada’s jurisdiction, the AOI west of Vancouver Island represents an important region on the federal political scene for multiple reasons. Besides being an area that could potentially help the federal government meet its marine protection target, the AOI would see a steady stream of increased tanker traffic if Ottawa’s investment in expanding the Trans Mountain pipeline is successful.
According to a study by Kinder Morgan, Trans Mountain’s previous owner, expanding the pipeline’s capacity would increase tanker traffic from its export terminal from five vessels a month to 34. Norgard expects that the current expedition will benefit conservation initiatives for Explorer and other seamounts. “The more we can learn about them, the more we can understand them and the more we can protect them,” she said. “It’s informing the decisions about where we would allow different activities within an area.” Watts expects that this month’s journey will bring discoveries from the distant underwater mountain, as well as more questions. “The more that we study, the more that we understand that we really don’t know anything,” he said. “We build more knowledge, we build more facts, but we also build more questions. I think that’s just expanding our consciousness and expanding our belief system.”
Page 8— Ha-Shilth-Sa—July 18, 2019
Hesquiaht women share immersion success stories Huu%aciy`uk`#apnis^ ciqy`akck#ak%i yaqwiimit h=is^k#ii%ath= - We are Bringing Back Hesquiaht Ancestral Language By Denise Titian Ha-Shilth-Sa Reporter Victoria, BC – A group of five women are learning the Hesquiaht dialect of the Nuu-chah-nulth language in a MentorApprentice Program (MAP) that is going into its second year. Led by Layla Rorick, who prefers to be called by her Hesquiaht name, chuutsqa, the four teams meet regularly to practise the language. The program pairs four fluent-speaking elders with younger apprentices who have committed to work together to pass the language on to the next generation. All involved in the program go by their Nuu-chah-nulth names during their time together. The elders: tupaat (Julia Lucas), maam`icisumaqa (Maggie Ignace), n`an`aah=umyiis (Cecelia Tom) and c^iisma (Patti Frank of Ahousaht) work with younger women; teaching them to speak Nuu-chah-nulth. The student’s names are %u%aa>uk#is (Jaylynn Lucas), n`aashu%aqsa (Kayla Lucas), = +~iih==+~iih=a%aqsa (Verena Wilhelmson) and n`an`aah=umyiis (Carrie Tom). Rorick has a Masters of Education degree in Indigenous Language Revitalization from UVic. She is a doctoral candidate studying Indigenous Language Revitalization. She works with a language nest that she helped to found, and helps mentor-apprentice teams across the province. Rorick teaches language immersion courses both as a volunteer and as a sessional instructor in community partnership programs at UVic’s Indigenous Education Department, according to the university’s website. In her spare time, she helps organize language immersion summer camps and creates free language learning resources for her nuučaan̓uł/ḥiškʷiiʔatḥ language websites Members of the MAP group shared their experiences from the first year of their four-year MAP to people attending the Heliset TTE SKAL Indigenous Languages Conference held in Victoria in June 2019. They each demonstrated their grasp of Nuu-chah-nulth as they introduced themselves using the language. One of the young mothers said that she is taking
Photo by Denise Titian
Hesquiaht elder and language mentor Cecelia Tom with language apprentice Carrie Tom at the Languages Live Indigenous Languages Conference on June 21 2019. guages. children, she noticed, are less inhibited the lessons one step further, bringing Rorick, who studies Indigenous Lanand learn correct pronunciation of Nuuthe language back home to her child and teaching her the new words and phrases guages at the University of Victoria, chah-nulth words quickly compared to manages the Hesquiaht language prothe adults, whose tongues are used to the she has learned. Hesquiaht elder Julia Lucas said she was gram. She spent three years studying the English language. Hesquiaht language with fluent speakers, Chuutsqa said it was through her work hired as a language and culture teacher the late Larry Paul and Angela Galligos. on the Hesquiaht/English dictionary with in the elementary school at Hot Springs Cove back in the 1980s. Through collaboration with other fluent late elder Larry Paul that she became speakers, chuutsqa has pulled together a more fluent, learning proper pronunciaThere were very few resources, much less time, to teach the Hesquiaht language variety of language resources that can be tion from Galligos. Projects like these found on the Hesquiaht language website. help revive work from the past, allowing to the children. There is a Hesquiaht/English Dictionary them to build on a base created by other “Back then I had half an hour a day to project, a language tutor application, as language champions. teach language and culture,” tupaat told well as information about language projRorick is preparing for an upcoming the crowd. ects like the Language Nest, Language language immersion camp to be held in But now that there are very few fluent Camp and the First Nations Language Hesquiaht Harbour in August 2019. The speakers, the pressure is on to save the Teachers Intensive program. nuuc^aan`u> Language Summer Institute language. Julia and her peers are in high The website also has links to videos at Hooksum is geared to educators and demand working in various language committed language learners with full programs teaching people of all ages their showing Nuu-chah-nulth elders from the past speaking the language. scholarships. mother tongue. Tupaat told a room full of conferenceFor more information about Hesquiaht Thanks to support from the First Peoples goers that she has noticed there is a huge language learning initiatives visit http:// Cultural Council, more consistent and difference between teaching the language www.hesquiahtlanguage.org/ sustained effort is being put into docuto preschoolers as opposed to adults. The menting and teaching Indigenous lan-
Phrase of the week - +u`>%is^ Kuu%a> Pronounced clue a lth ish, it means it’s a nice morning. Supplied by c^iisma
Illistration by Ivy Cargill-Martin
July 18, 2019—Ha-Shilth-Sa—Page 9
--- UCLUELET FIRST NATION JOB OPPORTUNITIES --MANAGER OF CULTURE AND HERITAGE The Manager of Culture and Heritage is responsible for providing the overall leadership, direction and support for the planning, funding, negotiations, development, delivery, financial management, and administration of Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Government Qualifications and Experience: • Prefer related Post-Secondary Courses and/or Formal Training, to include Indigenous Language Planning, Management – Supervision, Financial Management, Conflict Resolution, Communications and Report Writing, Education Instruction and Administration and Teambuilding • Three to Five (3 – 5) years directly related experience with two to three (2-3) years in a management position. • Prefer experience and understanding working with First Nations. • Prefer experience and understanding of the Barkley Dialect of the Nuu-chah-nulth Language and Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ history, culture, and protocols. • Experience in the development and management of Culture and Heritage programs. • Experience in the development of program policy and proposals for funding. • Experience working with related regulations and professional practices and standards. How to Apply: please submit your covering letter, resume and three recent employment references to the attention of Suzanne Williams, Director of Operations, by email (Suzanne.Williams@ufn.ca), fax (250-726-7552), by mail (P.O. Box 699, Ucluelet, BC, V0R 3A0) or in person (700 Wya Road, Hitacu, BC). For questions, call Rhonda at 250-726-7342, extension 206. Closing Date: Friday, August 9, 2019 DIRECTOR OF LANDS AND RESOURCES The Director of Lands and Resources is responsible for providing leadership, direction, support and the overall management of the planning, funding, financing, negotiations and delivery, human resource management, financial management and administration of the department. This position will report to the Director of Operations. Qualifications and Experience: • Prefer Master’s Degree in Land Use Planning or Natural Resource Development • Bachelor Degree in related Discipline (Land Use Planning, Natural Resource Science) • Land Management Certification an Asset • Six to Eight (6–8) years’ experience leading and managing Lands and Resources initiatives, programs and services with two (2) years or more experience supervising employees and overseeing contractors • Experience in Indigenous Lands and Resources management preferred • Experience working for a self-governing treaty nation preferred • Related experience in Planning, Financial Management, Proposal Writing / Funding and Policy Development • Project Management experience • Experience working with applicable Regulations and Standards • Experience working with federal and provincial governments • Experience with WorkSafe BC How to Apply: please submit your covering letter, resume and three recent employment references to the attention of the Director of Operations, by email (emploment@ufn.ca), fax (250-726-7552), by mail (P.O. Box 699, Ucluelet, BC, V0R 3A0) or in person (700 Wya Road, Hitacu, BC). Closing Date: Friday, August 9, 2019 MANAGER OF SOCIAL SERVICES The Manager of Social Services is responsible for providing the overall leadership, direction and support for the planning, funding, negotiations, development, delivery, financial management, and administration of the Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ ̣ Government Social Services Department that includes health, youth, social development, education, adult education, and preschool/daycare programs. Qualifications and Experience: • Prefer Master’s Degree in a related Discipline (Social Work, Education, Business Administration • Minimum Four (4) Year Bachelor Degree in related Discipline • Eight to Ten (8 – 10) years directly related experience with two to three (2-3) years in a management position with two (2) or more Programs of responsibility • Prefer related Post-Secondary Courses and / or Formal Training, to include Planning, Management – Supervision, Financial Management, Conflict Resolution, Communications and Report Writing, Social Development, Education Instruction and Administration and Teambuilding • Prefer experience working with First Nations • Experience in the development and management of community services programs • Experience in the development of program policy and proposals for funding • Experience working with related regulations and professional practices and standards How to Apply: please submit your covering letter, resume and three recent employment references to the attention of the Director of Operations, by email (employment@ufn.ca), fax (250-726-7552), by mail (P.O. Box 699, Ucluelet, BC, V0R 3A0) or in person (700 Wya Road, Hitacu, BC). Closing Date: Friday, August 9, 2019
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICER REGULAR FULL-TIME POSITION The Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Government has a new career opportunity for the Economic Development Officer position. The ideal candidate is responsible for managing and providing reports on the activities of the economic development office; identifying and researching new business opportunities; developing business plans, budgets and financing strategies; negotiating new business relationships; applying for grants and funding; and providing assistance to the economic development committee and holdings board in economic development plans, policies and procedures. Education/Training/Certification: • University Degree in Commerce or Business Administration and/or an Economic Development Officer Certification and CANDO along with combined education and training for business development. Qualifications and Experience: • Two years of management experience and small business experience • Economic development theories and practices • Local, regional and territorial economic development potential and opportunities • Financial management analysis • Economic development and business promotion • An understanding of relevant municipal legislation, policies and procedures • Ability to develop and analyze business plans • Ability to identify and promote economic development projects and initiatives • Effective verbal, presentation and listening communication skills • Effective negotiation and mediation skills • Effective written and communication skills • Flexible, facilitative, critical and strategic thinking How to Apply: please submit your covering letter, resume and three recent employment references to the attention of the Director of Operations, by email (employment@ufn.ca), fax (250-726-7552), by mail (P.O. Box 699, Ucluelet, BC, V0R 3A0) or in person (700 Wya Road, Hitacu, BC). For questions, call Ashley McCarthy, Administrative Coordinator, at 250-726-7342, extension 205. Closing Date: Friday, August 9, 2019 CHILDCARE MANAGER REGULAR FULL-TIME POSITION The Childcare Manager of Qʷayac̓iikʔiis Child Care Centre is a member of the Social Services Team of the Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ ̣ Government and reports to the Manager of Social Services. The Childcare Manager provides leadership and direction in planning and evaluating daycare and afterschool/youth programs as well as management support and guidance for daycare/youth program employees. The Childcare Manager is responsible for ensuring an appropriate and effective level of internal and external communications on behalf of the program and works with other team members of the Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Government to ensure compliance with relevant licensing and other laws and regulations. The Childcare Manager serves as a positive role model for other team members and for the children and youth of the program. Qualifications and Experience: • Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field or a combination of an ECE Diploma (Special Needs and Infant/Toddler License to Practice) with 5-6 years’ experience, after completion of a Diploma program, working in a Childcare Centre. • Current Child Care First Aid Certification • Medical Clearance and Up-to-date Immunizations • Clear Criminal Record Check (Vulnerable Sector) • Valid Class 5 BC Driver’s License and own vehicle • Valid Class 4 BC Driver’s License an asset • Minimum three (3) year’s recent experience working in a daycare or an equivalent combination of training, education and experience • Experience working with Indigenous children preferred • Experience in Child Care Centre Licensing regulations an asset Qualifications and Experience: Demonstrated ability to work with indigenous populations; Ability to create and manage work plans and budgets; Human Resource Management; Experience in proposal writing and reporting; Knowledge of other health care disciplines and their roles in working with children, youth, and families; Knowledge of issues and challenges of working with Indigenous Communities; Demonstrated ability to adjust to unexpected events, assess, problem solve and intervene appropriately in crisis situations; Demonstrated ability to make decisions independently when required; Demonstrated ability working with children and youth with various abilities; Excellent computer skills. How to Apply: please submit your covering letter, resume and three recent employment references to the attention of the Director of Operations, by email (employment@ufn.ca), fax (250-726-7552), by mail (P.O. Box 699, Ucluelet, BC, V0R 3A0) or in person (700 Wya Road, Hitacu, BC). For questions, call Ashley McCarthy, Administrative Coordinator, at 250-726-7342, extension 205. Closing Date: Friday, August 9, 2019
Page 10— Ha-Shilth-Sa—July 18, 2019
Community&Beyond Elder’s Gathering
July 23 & 24 Vancouver
Photo by Eric Plummer
Earthquake experts are unable to predict the timing of the next megathrust, or how much devastation it would bring to the West Coast.
Earthquake experts can now predict locations By Sam Laskaris Ha-Shilth-Sa Contributor Sidney, BC– The Big One is indeed coming. But even earthquake experts like Honn Kao cannot accurately predict just when that might happen. Kao, an earthquake seismologist with Natural Resources Canada who works out of an office in Sidney, has found himself answering numerous questions since Wednesday, July 3. That’s when a 5.6 magnitude earthquake (originally reported as being a 6.1 magnitude) hit the Hadai Gwaii region. It was reported that earthquake was only lightly felt on Vancouver Island and on the mainland coast since its epicentre was about 200 kilometres west of Bella Bella and at a depth of 10 kilometres. Since there has not been any recent devastating tremors on the West Coast, Kao said it is misleading to assume the area has been quiet of late. “I wouldn’t categorize them as being quiet for some time,” he said. Kao said noticeable earthquakes occur frequently in the area. “It happens on a monthly basis,” he said. “But none of them are big enough for people who live onshore to feel them.” Kao added B.C. does average one earthquake every single day, albeit ones that are not significant enough for most people to notice. “But nobody tells you they feel an earthquake every day,” he said. The majority of Canadians need not worry about experiencing a major earthquake in their community. “We certainly know western Canada has a lot of earthquake activity compared to the rest of Canada,” Kao said. The two largest earthquakes in Canadian history were both recorded in B.C. The last major one, and the second biggest ever registered in the country, was back in 2012 when a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Hadai Gwaii. The region also had the
biggest earthquake in national history, one that was recorded as having an 8.1 magnitude, in 1949. For many years now those living in B.C. as well as California have been anticipating the next Big One since they are located on the Cascadia fault. Experts knows this is where a major earthquake will hit one day. “That’s a very important research topic for us,” said Kao of the devastating earthquake that will eventually hit. “We have spent a lot of research resources on this topic.” Kao said in the past 3,500 years it has been determined that there have been seven megathrust earthquakes. A megathrust quake is a powerful one in which one of the earth’s tectonic plates is forced under another one. Kao said since seven megathrust quakes have been recorded in 3,500 years, that would mean one occurs on average every 500 years. “The interval between two events though is not constant,” Kao said. He added the shortest time window between two megathrust quakes can be 250 years while the longest period can be up to 800 years. Kao said researchers have precise evidence the last megathrust earthquake on the west coast occurred on Jan. 26 in the year 1700. Oral history recounts that this destroyed a Huu-ay-aht village in Pachena Bay. “We’re 319 years into the next cycle,” he said. “We’re well into the 250-year cycle. We are getting closer and closer to the next one. But we are unable to reliably predict the timing of the next one.” “We are very confident of where it can happen,” he said. “But the timing of it depends on a number of factors.” Kao said in B.C. the Big One’s epicentre will be about 150 kilometres west of Vancouver Island, causing devastating tsumanis. But he’s not able to speculate what sort of damage and loss of life will result.
TSESHAHT MARKET GATEWAY TO THE PACIFIC RIM
Hours of operation - 7:00 am - 10:30 pm Phone: 724-3944 E-mail: claudine@tseshahtmarket.ca Find us on Facebook
Location: Vancouver Convention Centre Phone: 250-286-9977 (Please DO NOT fax forms) Email: bcelders@telus.net Website: www.bcelders.com Tlu-piich Games
Aug. 6 - 11
Port Alberni See page 12 for all the details. NTC’s DAC Fair
Oct. 2 - 3 Port Alberni
Held at the Alberni Athletic Hall. More details to come.
July 18, 2019—Ha-Shilth-Sa—Page 11
Businesses rally to support Tlu-piich fundraiser Eight teams sponsored by local businesses took part in the fundraising event, generating $1,700 for the games By Denise Titian Ha-Shilth-Sa Reporter Port Alberni, BC – The planning and fundraising efforts for the annual NTC Tlu-piich Games got off to a late start, but Mercediese Dawson, Tlu-piich Games Coordinator, says fun was had at the golfing fundraiser which drew in about $1,700 after costs. Eight teams sponsored by local businesses registered for the event; some paying up to $1,800 per team. Seven of the teams showed up for fun in sun at the Alberni Golf Club on Friday, July 12. The afternoon of golf was followed by a gala dinner complete with awards ceremony as well as silent and live auctions. The teams represented Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort, Haahuupayuk Elementary School, ER Probyn Ltd. with two sponsored teams, Meridian Forest Services Ltd., Cermaq Canada, BMO Bank of Montreal, and Ratcliff & Company LLP. Team Tigh-Na-Mara placed first in the tournament followed by Haahuupayuk Elementary school with Probyn Ltd. Team 1 placing third. Individual prizes were awarded as follows: closest to the pin Men’s – Les Sam; for Ladies - Deb Masso. Longest Drive Men’s: Dwayne H.; Ladies: Ralphina Spencer (it turns out the team changed Ralph’s name to a feminine version as a joke. Ralph graciously gave his award to Wendy Johnson from Team Tigh-Na-Mara) Dawson would like to thank Alberni Golf Club and all the local businesses that stepped up to provide support for a fun event for Nuu-chah-nulth children. “They helped us pull things together last minute with donations of auction items in half the time than we normally have,” Dawson said. “It wouldn’t have happened without businesses of Port Alberni; this really shows the support and connections we have around town and around Vancouver Island and we are grateful for that.” The committee will prepare a full listing of people and businesses that contributed to the success of the 2019 Tlu-piich Games. This will be published in a future issue of Ha-Shilth-Sa.
SAVE THE DATE! Come join us for a family picnic at Roger Creek Gazebo on August 14 from 11-2 pm. We will have the following at this event:
Yoga, Face painting Cultural singing/drumming, Moe-the-mouse scavenger hunt, Bubbles, Art, Soccer obstacle course, SD70 Family Hub/story time and songs, NTC nursing, NETP If you have any questions you can contact Debbie Frank at 250-724-0202 opt 2 or email debbie.frank@nuuchahnulth.org
Photos courtesy Tlu-piich Games staff
Team Ratcliff & Company (above), Team Haahuupayak (below left) and Team Meridian were among the groups that took to the green on July 12 for the annual tournament at the Alberni Golf Club.
DNA sharing website and social media help Ehattesaht man find nephew By Karly Blats Ha-Shilth-Sa Contributor An Ehattesaht First Nation man has connected with his long-lost nephew through a trail of information beginning with a DNA sharing website. Lyle Billy’s common-law wife April Lucas has been using a DNA sharing website, MyHeritage, for years. On her profile, Lucas has Billy listed as her spouse along with his parents’ names. Through a messaging system on the website, Lucas was contacted by someone who was trying to track down family of a Gregory Vincent Billy Jr. It turned out Billy Jr. was the son of Lyle’s brother Gregory Billy Sr. who passed away in 1992. Through a bit of Facebook searching, Billy and Lyle were able to track down Billy Jr., who swiftly planned a trip to Vancouver Island to visit the family he’s never met before. Billy said after his brother passed away, he believed his brother’s widow moved to Ontario with Billy Jr. “They lived in Vancouver, and back then I was always away at logging camps…so I never really connected with them while
Gregory Billy Jr. they lived in Vancouver,” Billy said. “At the time (of Billy Sr.’s passing) the mother took Gregory (Jr.) and his siblings back to Ontario. I think that’s where she’s from.” Billy was able to speak with Billy Jr. on the phone, which he said was quite an emotional experience. “I let him know that if he were to come out this way we would make plans for
him to meet as much of the family as we could get together,” Billy said. Billy Jr. and his family will visit the Island from Ontario for about five or six days starting with a big family dinner in Nanaimo on July 13. Before that he will spend the night in Vancouver with Billy’s niece and her family. “We’re wanting to get as many family members down to Nanaimo as we can. That will be the introduction of everyone to him and his family to us,” Billy said. “It’s quite exciting for everyone at this point to be able to meet him.” Other plans during Billy Jr.’s visit may include a trip to Parksville Beach to see the sand castles. Lucas said she highly recommends DNA sharing websites to anyone. “I would recommend it highly because of situations like this,” Lucas said. “Five years ago I asked Lyle about his older brothers. I asked him if any of them ever had children and he mentioned Gregory (Billy Sr.) having a son and I said, ‘where is he?’ and he goes, ‘I don’t know, he must be back east.’ I think that connection is very important, not only for [Lyle] but for other family members as well.”
Page 12— Ha-Shilth-Sa—July 18, 2019
2019 Tlu-piich Games August 6 - 11 August 6 – Day 1
August 9 – Day 4
Track and Field – Bob Daily Stadium at 2:00pm Opening Ceremonies at 5:00pm Cultural Night – House of Gathering at 8:00pm
Family BBQ Picnic – Blair Park at 11:00am BBQ Lunch at 12:30pm followed by Language Treasure Hunt Family and Youth Dance – Port Alberni Friendship Centre. Family Dance at 6:00pm – 8:00pm Youth Dance (ages 12 -18) at 8:00pm – 10:00pm
August 7 – Day 2 Track and Field – Bob Daily at 9:30am (8:30 NTC Employee 1600m Challenge) 3 on 3 Basketball (17 & under) – Maht Mahs at 6:30pm Lahal – House of Gathering at 8:00pm
in partnership with Port Alberni Friendship Centre
August 10 – Day 5 Slo-pitch Tournament – Echo Minor Fields [Times TBA] Orthodox Exhibition Game – Echo Minor Fields [Time TBA]
August 8 – Day 3 Canoe Races – Canal Beach, Registration starts at 8:30am 3 on 3 Basketball (seniors and 13 & under) – Maht Mahs at 5:00pm Lahal – House of Gathering at 8:00pm
August 11- Day 6 Slo-pitch Tournament – Echo Minor Fields [Times TBA] Closing Ceremonies - Echo Minor Fields (after the final ball game)
Volunteers We are always looking for volunteers for the games. If you you are looking to volunteer this year please contact Earl Tatoosh at 250.724.5757 or earl.tatoosh@nuuchahnulth.org Tlu-piich Staff: Mercediese Dawson Earl Tatoosh Briah Watts-Pearson Annette Nookemus
Don’t forget to use hashtags #tlupiichgames #tg2019