Ha-Shilth-Sa Newspaper June 2nd, 2022

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INTERESTING NEWS Canada’s Oldest First Nations Newspaper - Serving Nuu-chah-nulth-aht since 1974 Canadian Publications Mail Product Vol. 49 - No. 11—June 2, 2022 haas^i>sa Sales Agreement No. 40047776

Family files hospital mistreatment complaint Man allegedly strapped to a bed once his wife left Nanaimo General By Melissa Renwick Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Photo by Karly Blats

Willard Gallic Jr., Tseshaht First Nation artist, has designed artwork depicting the wolf that will be installed at the top of the aging clock tower at the Harbour Quay as part of the city’s redesign plans.

Tseshaht prepares to unveil Wolf Tower Harbourfront’s new design to be revealed National Indigenous Day in Port Alberni By Denise Titian Ha-Shilth-Sa Reporter Port Alberni, BC – The Harbour Quay Clock Tower, built in the 1980s, has gotten a facelift and is about to be unveiled at National Indigenous Day celebrations, hosted jointly by Tseshaht First Nation and the City of Port Alberni. The Clock Tower has been under wraps for months as it goes through its transformation to the Wolf Tower, or ƛuukʷatquuʔis in the Tseshaht language. Port Alberni City Council and the Tseshaht First Nation leadership have been collaborating on the transformation of the clock tower. “When we were first elected we said we can’t have reconciliation without talking about land and territories,” said Ken Watts, Tseshaht’s elected chief. He praised Port Alberni’s city council, led by Mayor Shari Minions, for putting action to their words. “They got the funding in place and partnered with us,” said Watts. “Walking together is an expression of meaningful action and ongoing commitment to reconciliation efforts. We look forward to celebrating Indigenous culture and all cultures that make up Port Alberni and surrounding areas,” reads a City of Port Alberni invitation to the June 21 event.

The city says they will, in partnership with Tseshaht First Nation, celebrate the re-awakening of ƛuukʷatquuʔis with the unveiling of the Wolf Tower. Tseshaht men have been traveling to each Nuu-chah-nulth nation over the past several days, inviting the people to paddle to the shores of Harbour Quay. They will spend the day celebrating a significant cultural event, the recognition of the sacred site that the Tseshaht used for their winter wolf rituals. It was also the winter home of the Tseshaht. “For more than 100 years the Tseshaht people have been kept from performing our Wolf Ritual at our Winter Village site ƛuukʷatquuʔis that was lost under duress without treaty for settler occupation,” the Tseshaht people stated in their invitation. They went on to say that ƛuukʷatquuʔis remains a sacred part of their Aboriginal title territories. Hundreds of guests are expected to attend the day-long event. “During our dawn-until-dusk celebration, we expect to welcome upwards of 1,000 people,” reads the invitation. Ha’wiih from neighboring nations were invited to arrive at the ceremony via chaputs (dugout canoe), where they will be welcomed ashore by Tseshaht beach keepers. “Together we uphold Tseshaht responsibilities and protocols by challenging our

Inside this issue... West coast tourism back to normal.................................Page 3 Illicit drug possession decriminalized............................Page 5 Mysterious fish traps in Nootka Sound..................Pages 8 & 9 Practitioner helps people with their bodies...................Page 10 Journey to reawaken the spirit......................................Page 15

neighbouring Nations and other dignitaries to paddle their chiefs to the ceremonial grounds from their own territory or launch from Clutesi Haven Marina and be escorted by our Beach Keepers vessel for a traditional welcoming protocol of coming ashore,” the Tseshaht added. The event will be open to all people. “Ed (Tseshaht Councilor, Ed Ross) says it is important to share with other cultures,” said Watts. There will be a new installation made by Tseshaht artist Willard Gallic Jr. unveiled that day. Tseshaht people will celebrate with their songs and dances before allowing their invited guests to perform. Guests will be treated to breakfast, lunch, and snacks throughout the day, followed by a traditional feast of salmon and seafood for dinner. There will be space available for crafters, artisans and Indigenous-focused small businesses to sell their wares. Tseshaht will be performing many of our songs and dances and invite other Nations and cultures to take the floor and share theirs as well. It has been decades, if not more than a century, that a cultural event of this magnitude has been held at a site that is sacred to the Tseshaht. “Our people singing and dancing there is really exciting,” said Watts.

One week after being diagnosed with bone cancer, Leo Manson Sr.’s nose started to bleed profusely while visiting his son in Ty-Histanis, a Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation community on Vancouver Island. His wife, Maxine, immediately brought him to the Tofino General Hospital before he was transferred to the Nanaimo General Hospital for further care. After being awake and by his side for nearly 24-hours, Maxine said she left him in the hospital’s care to get some rest. Unable to breathe properly and disorientated from the loss of blood, Manson sat up on the edge of his hospital bed, and intermittently stood up to catch his breath. This allegedly prompted hospital staff to restrain him by strapping Manson to his bed. When Maxine returned, she said she found her husband’s arms, stomach and back covered in dark bruises. The straps were placed over his hips where Manson has “tremendous pain,” disallowing him from laying down comfortably, Maxine said. “They threw him against the wall [and] bent his wrists back,” she said through tears. “They were really roughing him around.” Because of Manson’s bone cancer, Maxine said the doctor was concerned his body was going to have to fight even harder to heal from the bruises. “He’s going to have the fight of his life with this cancer,” she said. On May 25, Maxine filed a complaint against the hospital through the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA). “I don’t ever want to see another native person be treated like that,” she said. “We’re just people too – we’re humans. We just want to be treated with respect. This never should have happened in a hospital when someone is so vulnerable.”

If undeliverable, please return to: Ha-Shilth-Sa P.O. Box 1383, Port Alberni, B.C. V9Y 7M2

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