Ha Shilth Sa Newspaper November 2, 2023

INTERESTING NEWS Canada’s Oldest First Nations Newspaper - Serving Nuu-chah-nulth-aht since 1974 Canadian Publications Mail Product Vol. 50 - No. 21—November 2, 2023 haas^i>sa Sales Agreement No. 40047776

Family works together to break free from addiction A mother and her two adult children face addiction, overdoses and tragedy, seeking a path to recovery together

By Denise Titian Ha-Shilth-Sa Reporter Editor’s note: The following story contains instances of profanity. Out of respect for those who chose to share their stories of recovery, Ha-Shilth-Sa has decided not to censor this content.

Anacla, BC – It started with alcohol addiction for 50-year-old Jacquie Dennis of Huu-ay-aht, and eventually this led to hard drugs. In 2013 Jacquie first used crystal meth with her boyfriend in Vancouver.

“He used, I saw it always happening everywhere, so I decided to try it,” she recalled.

It was her boyfriend that gave her the first shot of crystal meth.

“That first rush, the first high is what I chased, but you keep trying and never get it,” she said.

Dennis was in addiction with her adult children in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. They have all kicked their habits and are living back at home in Anacla, where they support one another in sobriety.

“I want to share my story of where we’ve been, where we are now, and let people know that recovery is possible,” she told Ha-Shilth-Sa. Jacquie is now the housekeeping manager for one of the Huu-ay-aht businesses. Her son and daughter work with her at the motel.

Dennis said her addictions started long before hard drugs.

“It started off with alcohol addiction since I was 14 or 15. I was in very abusive relationship, in every sense of the word. When I broke free, I had all kinds of freedom. It was too much freedom. I was doing anything and everything,” she recalled.

She wound up moving in with her brother in Vancouver and got into partying.

“I was pushing carts and selling stuff on the skids,” she shared.

If she misses anything, it’s the amount of money she could make on the streets.

“Downtown Eastside is crazy, and it was hard to leave,” she said.

Through dumpster diving, Dennis remembered finding $860 in cash and another time she found Rolex watch.

‘Whenever I started getting into my feelings I’d use’ Over time, her children followed her to the streets. Stephane Dennis, 32, also says his addictions started with alcohol when he was in his teens.

“I started drinking at a young age and a

Submitted photo

Jacquie Dennis (right) now works at a hotel in Bamfield with her son Stephane and daughter Dani, as the three work through recovery from addictions. lot of it is a blur,” he shared.

2018,” she said.

Dennis’ mother fought cancer for seven Over time he began using drugs.

Her son, Fabian, had overdosed. months before passing away on June 30, “It started with cocaine and crack then I “For four years I honestly thought he 2020. moved on to the harder stuff, like heroin,” was still alive. I couldn’t wrap my head Asking for protection he said. “I used anything at anytime.” around him being gone,” said Dennis.

Dani Dennis, now 30, said her addicShe already lost a son in 1992 to sudden “For about five months I was on a tions started with alcohol when she was infant death syndrome, also known as downward spiral. At that point I didn’t about 13 years old. crib death. want to use needles anymore,” Jacquie “I started just for fun but by the time “I got more into addiction. Whenever I remembered. “I wrote a letter to my mom I was 15, I was in a juvenile detention started getting into my feelings I’d use,” and late sons, asking them to protect centre for doing stupid shit when I was said Jacquie. me and to … when I burned that letdrunk,” said Dani.

The loss was equally difficult for Steter, I swear I could not get the needle in She was given the option of time in phane. anymore.” juvenile detention or an alcohol treatment “I went hard after he passed,” she said, As hard as she tried, Jacquie felt like she centre. She chose alcohol treatment. adding that the family suffered many could not get high.

“I was sober for about six months,” she losses in a short amount of time.

“One night I bought $100 worth of remembers.

Jacquie had returned to Vancouver when dope. I flushed it down the toilet,” said Dani says that while she has done drugs, she got word that her mother had cancer.

Dennis, adding that she believes it was it was never as much of a problem for her “I came back to take care of her, I put her mom and sons that guided her. as alcohol was. She recalls never being the majority of my addictions on the back She also credits her remaining children in one place for long. She was in foster burner while I cared for her,” she shared. for her motivation to get clean. care and sent to live with her father at one One day, while at her mother’s home, “They were stuck in addiction with me point.

Jacquie found a full needle in her purse. in Vancouver, homeless, alcoholics,” said “I kept running away,” she said.

“I never used at my mom’s, and I wonDennis.

On her own at age 19, Dani went back dered if she knew how to use Narcan,” There was a lady at the SRO, singleto Vancouver. She lived in an apartment said Dennis. room-occupancy, old hotel rooms used with her boyfriend but was kicked out She prepared the needle for injection, to house the homeless, who gave Dennis due to her excessive drinking. By the thinking it was crystal meth. good advice. time she was 20 she was on DTES where “The moment I took the tie off I knew “She told me to lead by example. Her she stayed for about eight years.

I was fucked. Something was seriously words stuck,” said Jacquie.

Concerned about getting addicted to wrong,” said Dennis.

Shortly after Dennis left the streets, her drugs, Dani and her best friend made a She remembers calling for her mother. children followed her. pact.

“Mom said I made it from bathroom to “I had to get sober to help them,” she “If we found ourselves doing more kitchen, called out her and fell,” said Jac- said. drugs than drinking, well, we’d wind quie. “It was pure heroin in my system, Dani says she never had much contact up going to buy a bottle and drink some I overdosed in my mom’s arms, literally with her mother growing up, but Jacquie more,” she said. died in her harms.” would invite her home to Bamfield.

In 2018, after five years on the DTES, But she survived because there was a “My best friend shacked up and moved Jacquie went back to Vancouver Island.

Narcan kit there and the ambulance was away and I was thinking, what am I doing “My son pleaded for me to come home called. down here (DTES),” said Dani. but I didn’t want to. For him, I did it, “By rights I should be dead but by the Continued on page 2. but he died four days later on April 15, grace of God, I’m here for a reason.”

Inside this issue...

Tiny home village opens in Port Alberni........................Page 3 Usma connects children with veteran relatives..............Page 7 Transfer of school property in Kyuquot...................Pages 8&9 Paramedics recognized at Kennedy Lake.....................Page 11 AV Thunder wins tournament.......................................Page 15

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

Page 2— Ha-Shilth-Sa—November 2, 2023

Opioid forum explores complexity of drug crisis A range of expertise sounds off on why overdoses continue to ba•er First Nations, despite government alarms

By Eric Plummer Ha-Shilth-Sa Editor Port Alberni, BC - Over seven years into British Columbia’s public health emergency, a sobering message on the overdose crisis has come from a nurse who has worked with First Nations for 20 years.

Tanya Dick, a registered nurse with the B.C. Ministry of Health, said that relying on the provincial health care system to treat substance addiction “is like jumping in a boat with holes in the bottom.”

“The systems aren’t built for us, they’re not working for us, and they’re actually contributing to the loss of us,” said Dick, who was among the panelists in an opioid overdose forum held by the Nuu-chahnulth Tribal Council on Oct. 30 at the Port Alberni Friendship Center. “I personally don’t believe in the bigger health care system right now. I will continue to fight and be a part of it to try and close the gaps.”

As the opioid crisis shows no signs of abating, there appears to be countless systemic gaps, leaving drug users and their families to struggle in breaking the cycle of addiction. Over the first eight months of 2023, 1,645 people in British Columbia were lost to illicit drug use, far exceeding the 995 deaths when the issue became a public health emergency in 2016. Fentanyl has been detected in 82 per cent of fatal cases, according to BC Coroners data from last year.

Aboriginal people have been affected at a rate over five times that of the rest of the B.C. population, says a First Nations Health Authority report from 2022.

The issue has affected Dick personally, as her sister was wrapped up in drug addiction for over a decade in Victoria.

“I spent 10, 12 years, wandering the streets looking for her, finding her once in a while,” said Dick, who is a member of Dzawada’enuxw First Nations of Kingcome Inlet. “Nine times out of 10 I couldn’t convince her to come home.”

But eventually the sister did go home to Kingcome Inlet, where she reached out to family. Now the mother of four has been straight for a few years, and runs a water taxi business in the remote community.

“It was the big house, it was the family, it was the community, it was the nation

Eric Plummer photo

NTC Vice President Les Doiron speaks at the NTC Overdose Awareness Meeting at the Port Alberni Friendship Center on Oct. 31. that helped her find her way back,” said this level of intensive treatment.”

Dick. “If we wait until the government, It may be an improvement, but the addiboth provincially and federally, creates tional beds fall far short of the NTC’s call a system that’s going to catch us and for an around-the-clock “rapid access adsave us from dying, I think we’re setdiction clinic” and certified detox centre ting ourselves up for failure. We have somewhere in Nuu-chah-nulth territory. to, on a parallel level, do that ourselves That call came on the sixth anniversary as nations, as individuals, as families, as of the public health emergency, in 2022, communities.” a year that Port Alberni saw double the On Vancouver Island, more help is on fatalities by illicit drug use to the provinthe way, according to a provincial ancial average. nouncement issued days before the opioid For Alice Sam, a cultural support workawareness meeting. Forty more publicly er with the Kuu-us Crisis Line Society, funded treatment beds are coming to the finding treatment facilities for her clients region, including 10 Indigenous focused can seem almost impossible. spots at the Kackaamin Family Develop“I have three right now that I’ve been ment Centre in Port Alberni. working with for the last three months to “This represents a significant expansion try and get them into treatment, try and and investment in substance-use services get them into detox, and it’s like fightfor clients experiencing dependence on ing a ghost,” said the Ahousaht member substances including, but not limited to, during the opioid forum. “People send me alcohol or opioids,” said Island Health here, send me there.”

“When we do have people struggling Board Chair Leah Hollins in a press release. “These are the first publicly funded and fighting, fighting for their own sobriety, let’s put the supports in place, before treatment services of this kind on Vanduring and after,” added Sam. “People couver Island. Previously, people would come out of treatment, where do they have to travel to the Lower Mainland for

go?”

Dr. Shane Longman was another panelist at the forum, a Port Alberni physician whose practice specializes almost entirely on substance use. A critical tool for him is opioid agonist therapy, the prescribing of medical drugs that serve as a safer alternative to illicit substances. More nurses are being trained to prescribe these alternatives, and the options are growing to include things like Sublocade, an injected medication that works like Suboxone but stays in the body for 28 days.

But Longman cautioned that treatment differs for each person.

“An understanding of how individuals got to where they were, and where they want to be in the future is essential to being able to know how to tailor the approach to help that person,” he said.

“That trauma and that pain is part and parcel of why people use. No one likes to be in pain, people want to be out of pain, and if they only know one or a couple ways of getting out of pain, eventually, they go back to using that.”

Meanwhile, the rest of society could be watching with guarded eyes. At the forum panelist Bijan Mahmoudi, a pharmacist in Port Alberni, spoke of the difficulties he has encouraging his staff to help someone who could, in some cases, be stealing from the store.

“We have stealing happening, but when that person becomes the person who’s using substances, that person stands out,” said Mahmoudi. “All my staff come to me a say, ‘Why do you have that person coming here? Why don’t you ban that person from the pharmacy?’ It puts me in a really, really bad position. Do I have to take care of my staff, or do I have to take care of my customer?”

It’s an illustration of the stigma attached to drug use, a challenge that British Columbia is trying to overcome by decriminalizing the possession of 2.5 grams of narcotics with a three-year Criminal Code exemption issued by Health Canada on Jan. 31.

Mahmoudi stressed that the crisis “needs ongoing attention from every corner.”

“There are so many factors involved that weren’t that person’s choice,” he said.

“We’re not here to save the world, we’re here to save one person.”

Challenges in ge!ing Methadone and detox treatment Continued from page 1.

On welfare day, Dani made up her mind to go to her mother’s house.

“If I didn’t leave then, it would have probably been a long time before I would think about going there,” she said.

She showed up on her mother’s doorstep late one night nearly a year ago.

“On November 2, I will be one year sober,” said Dani, laughing that she has no plans for celebrating the milestone. “It’s just another day.”

“My mom and sister were the first to clean up,” said Stephane.

It was over a year ago that he called his mother from Port Alberni and asked her to pick him up.

“I was in a bad place in Port Alberni, people were attacking me all the time, fighting over drugs,” said Stephane.

He tried quitting at least five times before but never lasted more than a week, each time. This time, he was able to sustain sobriety thanks to access to

Methadone.

“It’s hard to get and I didn’t know a doctor that prescribed it,” Stephane shared.

His former girlfriend knew a doctor that is licensed to prescribe the drug, which is an opioid, as is heroin or opium. Methadone maintenance treatment is used to treat opioid dependence.

“It’s an addiction in itself,” said Stephane, who says he is still being prescribed the medication. “My doctor is helping me to lower the dose.”

He credits his mother and sister for his sobriety.

The family are all working together at the motel. Stephane says he is happy there and learning new things all the time.

But he also credits himself for the time and effort he’s put in to getting clean.

“It took me a lot of tries to do this and people that go back after all this time don’t usually survive,” he shared.

Jacquie also credits her brother, Qiic Qiica (Robert Dennis Jr.), for inspiring

her to get clean. In January, Jacquie will be three years clean.

She dreams of helping others get sober.

She remembered how hard it was to get Stephane methadone when he left the streets.

“It’s a challenge, there are so many hoops you have to jump through,” said Jacquie.

Jacquie wants to do outreach work, and envisions Nuu-chah-nulth people going out to contact the people in all major urban centers.

“I want to see them develop trusting relationships and have the ability to bring them somewhere to get clean,” she said, adding that for now, it’s difficult to get someone into treatment when they want it.

Dennis wants to be involved in the decision-making and recently ran for council with her nation.

“When son came home, to get him on Methadone was a challenge, and he

wanted detox, but Vancouver Island only has 11 beds, and you need a referral. A walk-in detox centre would be ideal,” said Jacquie.

For now, she collects and distributes food, clothes, blankets, and tents to the homeless people.

“They say to me, you’re an inspiration Jacquie, I want to you to help me,” she shared. “I would love to go out and speak to at-risk youth.”

And for those wondering what it’s like to get high on drugs, Jacquie has this to say, “Don’t do it. It took everything from me. It took my children from me.”

“I recover out loud in hopes that my journey can inspire others,” she added.

“I am currently enrolled in a community mental health and addictions course at VIU.” From there she will begin a two-year social work program.

November 2, 2023—Ha-Shilth-Sa—Page 3

Tiny Home village finally opens in Port Alberni Units for the vulnerable open a year behind initially planned due to permits, inspections, rising building costs

By Denise Titian Ha-Shilth-Sa Reporter Port Alberni, BC – It’s been two years since the idea of a tiny home village for Port Alberni’s most vulnerable was first floated and now opening day has finally arrived. Port Alberni Friendship Center Executive Director Cyndi Stevens invited Ha-Shilth-Sa to an open house on Oct. 26 to make the announcement.

In June 2022, Ha-Shilth-Sa reported that the Friendship Center, in collaboration with BC Housing, the City of Port Alberni and a housing task force that includes Tseshaht, Hupacasath, the Nuuchah-nulth Tribal Council and other community agencies, would develop Wałyaqił - Tiny Home Village.

The tiny home village is located on 4th Avenue, next door to what is commonly known locally as ‘The Ghetto’, the Wintergreen Apartments and the adjacent lot filled with dilapidated trailers rented for approximately $400 per month to low barrier, vulnerable tenants. Since late 2022 a portion of the apartment building has been closed due to fire damage, in which a tenant lost his life. But the trailers remain along with a lone, smelly port-a-potty up on the other side of the fence next to the sidewalk.

Stevens was thrilled to announce that 20 tiny homes are complete. They have passed final inspection and occupation permits were issued almost immediately.

This means the first few tenants moved in on Oct. 27.

“The staff (for the village) started today and will be back at 6 a.m. and begin moving people in at 10 a.m.,” she told Ha-Shilth-Sa on Oct. 26.

The units are solid and well anchored.

“They’re probably safer than most houses,” said Stevens.

And that is why there were so may delays in opening the village. PAFC needed to apply and wait for permits. They had to wait for and pass inspections at various phases. They had to do revisions in some cases, driving up the cost of development.

Building expenses, Stevens said, doubled and tripled in some cases over time.

“We tore up the ground three times for the electrical work,” said Stevens.

Opening day may have come a year behind schedule, but Stevens is pleased that PAFC and all its partners can now offer a dignified, clean, safe space for

Denise Titian photo

Port Alberni Friendship Center Executive Director Cyndi Stevens speaks at the Wałyaqił Tiny Home Village on Oct. 26.

The Living units opened for tenants on the following morning. With her are Wally Samuel (left), Tim Sutherland, Richard Samuel and William Ambrose Jr. Port Alberni’s most vulnerable, many of and his wife got their start in Port Alberni they are there for everyone,” he said. whom are Indigenous. in 1966. At one point they lived in the The new housing units are beautiful and Wałyaqił Tiny Shelter Village offers green building now known as “The Samuel said he hopes people will respect 20 living units, with bathroom, shower Ghetto”. It was a nicer apartment buildwhat has been provided for them, not and laundry facilities on the site. There ing then. only by the PAFC, but also the city and is a separate office at the entrance to the “Back then there were mills everywhere. other agencies and First Nations. property that will be staffed 24/7.

Everyone had jobs. It’s sad to see how “All local First Nations and the NTC The village has funding in place for two things have changed,” he remarked. support this project because their people years from the provincial government.

Aaron Angeli of the Tseshaht First Naare down here,” said Samuel.

Each unit is eight by 12 feet and is heattion welcomed people to the gathering And for that reason, Samuel reminded ed. Each unit has a single bed, a desk and on behalf of his nation. Tseshaht shares people not to judge others. chair, a mini fridge and storage containthe city with the Hupacasath, but he also “You don’t know what’s happened to ers under the bed for personal belongings. pointed out that Port Alberni is home to them – just respect each other, love each There are no cooking appliances in the many other Nuu-chah-nulth-aht. other,” he said. units. Instead, meals will be provided by Stevens says the housing units will be PAFC Chairman Richard Samuel was partner agencies like the Bread of Life filled in increments, about four at a time grateful that the village will open in a and the Salvation Army. Residents will until they are all occupied. The PAFC is matter of hours. He said there had been also have access to resources like cultural looking for funds to develop ten more a lot of barriers including weather and th support, health, education and counselunits to fill the 4 Avenue location to changes in plans but now the most vulling. capacity. nerable community members will have a It is anticipated that the new site will ofWally Samuel praised PAFC, saying it home. fer a sense of belonging and community offers a safe place for Indigenous people He thanked the city, First Nations and for those without access to basic necesto access services and culture. But it’s local organizations for their support. sities, while working with community to important to remember they do not dis“Thank you for having the confidence in transition them into longer-term sustaincriminate. us to run this village,” he said. able low-barrier housing.

“They don’t ask you for your Indian StaAhousaht elder Wally Samuel said he tus card when you go there for services,

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Page 4— Ha-Shilth-Sa—November 2, 2023 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.

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‘A window’ that can’t be missed Front-line workers focus on keeping people alive amid a ‘tidal wave’ of addiction

By Denise Titian Ha-Shilth-Sa Reporter Port Alberni, BC – A harm reduction outreach program is working to keep people alive in the midst of a spiraling illicit drug epidemic that has devastated man Nuu-chah-nulth families.

At the NTC Disability Access Awareness Committee Health Ability Fair, held Oct. 25-26 at the Alberni Athletic Hall, Gina Amos, a harm reduction outreach worker with the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, told the crowd that in the first seven months of 2023, 1,455 people lost their lives to illicit drugs in British Columbia. In the month of July alone, 198 British Columbians died due to drug use.

“We’re all affected – we’ve all lost family or a friend,” said Amos.

“What is harm reduction outreach, she asked.

“It starts with kindness, compassion and respect for people,” said Amos. “It is support offered with heart.”

Illicit drug use is an addiction, a condition considered to be a disease by most medical associations.

“In harm reduction, there may be a window of opportunity that we don’t want to miss,” said Amos. “In that moment, they may want to reach out for help to quit drugs. We want to be there to offer help, to be with them, to offer what we have.”

She said that the workers approach people without judgement or an agenda.

She uses a gentle approach, she says, because many of the people in the street suffer from illnesses or wounds, and they may be afraid to seek medical treatment.

“They are looked down on, so they are treated badly,” said Amos.

Some have had bad experiences in medical facilities. Sometimes, they just want someone to sit in silence with them, she added.

Outreach workers help with whatever they have. It could be food, clothing, or toiletries, but they also help with clean drug supplies, which can be perceived by some people as supporting addictions.

“People ask why we give away things like pipes,” said Amos. “We do it to help stop the spread of disease.”

This not only expands opportunities for people to beat addiction, but also puts less of a strain on the healthcare system.

Denise Titian photo

Lisa Watts (left), a MMIWGs family support worker, stands with harm reduction outreach worker Gina Amos at the NTC DAAC Fair on Oct. 25.

In her work, Amos also offers Nalox“Then, when we lose them, the dream one training, the life-saving antidote for ends,” said Watts. opioid overdose.

She recalls the ‘60s and ‘70s when “It saves lives and anyone with a status alcohol addiction was killing Indigenous card can go to a pharmacy and get a people. She said it was about 30 years Naloxone kit for free,” said Amos, adding ago when she first started seeing death that a nasal Naloxone kit is worth $298. from drugs.

When an addict survives an overdose “Now we’re dealing with a tidal wave,” they go straight into withdrawal sympsaid Watts. toms, according to Amos. They will expeDrug abuse, she said, is both a disease rience pain, agitation, nausea. and a poison, so it comes with stigma and “They say it’s like the flu, only 10 times judgment. And the loss of a loved one to worse,” she added. drugs is sudden and traumatic.

Amos pointed out that addictions were “We have one constant,” said Watts. never a part of Nuu-chah-nulth culture, “We are human, and we love deeply.” so there are no solid cultural methods to Everyone has been touched by the loss address the situation. Amos reminded of someone, or is living with the knowlpeople that we are all family. edge that their loved ones are addicted.

“We are a loving and giving people so, it Watts asked people to put those people in makes sense to treat our people with love their thoughts with love. and respect while we do our best to figure “Remember, there are some warriors things out,” she said. that walked through it and came back to Lisa Watts, a Missing and Murdered us. It can be done,” she said.

Indigenous Women and Girls family supWatts had this to say to anyone suffering port worker, followed up with a presenta- from grief and loss: You’re not alone and tion on grief and loss. remember to be kind to yourself. Be ultra “Grief is messy. There is no right or patient with yourself, she told the crowd. wrong way to deal with your pain,” she For those struggling with grief, Watts told the crowd. introduced an internet resource called “We all love someone deeply and we Bounce Back. Offered by the Canadian want everything good for them,” said Mental Health Association, Bounce Back Watts. is a program that allows people to work But when they get into addictions and through their grief in modules. They can all the bad behavior that comes with it, do the program in their own time and at that leaves people conflicted. their own pace.

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November 2, 2023—Ha-Shilth-Sa—Page 5

Comedian reflects on overcoming personal agony Speaker Don Burnstick brings his reflections on colonization, trauma and healing to DAAC Health Ability Fair

By Eric Plummer Ha-Shilth-Sa Editor Port Alberni, BC - According to comedian Don Burnstick, there are four actions needed to improve the wellness of First Nations: Pray, share, cry and laugh.

“If you want to heal the trauma, do these things – but you have to do all four,” said Burnstick during a recent talk in Port Alberni, part of the NTC Disability Access Awareness Committee Health Ability Fair, held Oct. 25-26 at the Alberni Athletic Hall.

Burnstick, who is a member of the Alexander First Nation from Alberta, regularly brings his insights and sense of humour to communities across North America.

At the recent stop in Port Alberni he addressed the lasting intergenerational effects of trauma on Indigenous people, and how this can be healed in the same way that the body eventually takes care of an external cut.

“Inside, you get hurt, you have the ability to heal in the same way,” said Burnstick. “You’ve got to keep getting up, you’ve got to keep helping our people.

But the best way to help our people is to help yourself.”

The health ability fair delved into a variety of topics concerning the wellness of Nuu-cha-nulth-aht, including harm reduction for substance use, dietary health and communicable diseases.

Burnstick held a session called Living in Balance, Medicine Wheel Teachings, which began with a drawing of a circle marked by four generational points: child, youth, adult and elder. These periods

Eric Plummer photo

Don Burnstick, a comedian and motivational speaker, speaks at the NTC Disability Access Awareness Committee Health Ability Fair on Oct. 26 at the Alberni Athletic Hall. normally begin in respective age intervals elders, how they move around, how they with a spinal condition. He was in a of 0, 20, 40 and 60, but Burnstick noted eat,” he said. wheelchair, and had spoken to his family that health issues in First Nations comBurnstick noted that social conditions preparing them for his eventual passing if munities have brought about the senior for his home in Hobbema, north of the condition worsened. But hope came years sooner.

Edmonton, worsened when a large cash when doctors introduced potential for a “I know 45-year-olds who live like settlement came to the First Nation when complex medical procedure. he was a young man.

“They said, ‘If you can take the pain, “About 35 years ago we got a bunch of Mr. Burnstick, we can fix you. But we money,” he said. “When you put money cannot give you anything for your pain’,” into a situation with a bunch of unhealthy he recalled. people who’ve never had money before, Burnstick went ahead with the surgery, man I tell you, those were hard times for which entailed removing eight vertebrae our people.” from his neck for the insertion of steel “The violence, the suicides, the teen rods, then the spinal pieces were put pregnancies, the gangs, it spills over,” back. added Burnstick. “Drugs, alcohol and Afterwards he remembers waking up, sexual abuse. These three go hand in screaming in agony. hand for Indigenous people.”

“And that’s when I started praying,” These social issues began with Eurosaid Burnstick. “I heard the Creator talkpean contact, observed the comedian, a ing to me. He said, ‘There’s only one time when unfamiliar diseases weakened person that loves you as much as I do. social systems that had sustained IndigThat’s your mom’.” enous people for countless generations.

“I felt my mother’s kiss on my cheek,” “We have this natural process of learnhe added, tearfully. ing, for thousands of years our people Although he still carries a disabled sign lived this way,” he said. “The contact was in his car, the comedian is now active the first crack in that shield.” again, walking the stage freely. Like the Hundreds of years later, Burnstick loss and trauma he has endured in his life, reflected that some of his people “are alfully realizing the agony of the surgery ways in a state of grief” amid the ongoing has helped in his recovery.

“I talked about it, I cried about it, and I effects of colonization – but in his talk he included a personal story as example of healed,” said Burnstick. “You’ve got to how pain can be overcome. fight for your life…Last year I fought for Last year the 60-year-old was paralyzed my life.”

Page 6— Ha-Shilth-Sa—November 2, 2023

B.C. funds therapeutic recovery center in Victoria A long-term program for men assists those struggling with repeated incarceration, homelessness and addiction

By Alexandra Mehl Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Victoria, BC – In mid October B.C.’s Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions announced their contribution of $4.39 million to New Roads Therapeutic Recovery Community in Victoria, providing support to an additional 330 more men struggling with repeated incarceration, housing instability and addiction over the next three years.

“What it allows us to do is to keep this work going; work that we really feel is a beacon of hope in quite a dark time in terms of the drug crisis and the opioid crisis in our province,” said Julian Daly, chief executive officer of Our Place Society, which oversees New Roads. “That’s 300 more men who will have their lives changed.”

According to the BC Coroners Service, in 2016, the year the province declared a public health emergency, the total deaths due to illicit drug use amounted to 995. Seven years later, in the first eight months of 2023, the province has seen 1,645 deaths due to unregulated drugs, with men accounting for 1,282 of these fatalities.

For many of the men, shared Daly, they have said that New Roads has saved their lives.

New Roads runs a “long-term residential daily structured program”, with commitments ranging from nine to 24 months.

According to the provincial government, the typical time frame for residential treatment programs is 60 to 90 days.

“We’re allowing the men the time they need to really understand what’s driven their addictions, to learn skills… to manage those addictions and to sustain their sobriety,” said Daly.

Though New Roads is “not an Indigenous program per se”, said Daly, it is “deeply informed by Indigenous culture”.

“About 18 per cent of the men at any given time at New Roads [are]... Indigenous men,” said Daly. “It’s really important for us to serve them in a culturally appropriate way and to make that available to them.”

Additionally, Daly shared that roughly 50 per cent of the men at New Roads have gone through or arrive directly out of the corrections system.

Among their Indigenous Programming, New Roads has special permission for a sweat lodge, built by residents, available on their campus. An elder also comes in to facilitate a sharing circle and is available to work with the men one-on-one, shared Daly.

Submitted photo

New Roads runs a “long-term residential daily structured program” for men, with commitments ranging from nine to 24 months, according to Julian Daly (right), chief executive officer of Our Place Society, which oversees the program. rates therapy, recreational activities, daily diction and mental health challenges, “Some people have had deep engagement with their culture all their life and community assignments, relapse prevenwhile also developing the life skills and some people have had none, or very littion discussion, individualized recovery community support network they need to tle,” said Daly. “New Roads represents an programs, work as therapy, among other live happier and healthier lives when they opportunity for some men… to re-engage components. As men gradually re-enter leave this incredible service.” with culture, some to continue engagetheir broader community, New Roads is “The opposite of addiction is not ment with their culture, [and] some come designed to support them while they obsobriety, the opposite of addiction is conto it for the first time.” tain employment and housing, said Daly. nection,” shared Daly, reciting a quote “We see that as a very important “Recovery is rarely linear and everyused at New Roads. “Part of the healcomponent of the healing process for one’s pathway is unique,” said Jennifer ing process is connecting people with these men,” he added. “There’s no doubt Whiteside, minister of Mental Health their culture, Indigenous folk with their that the presence of an elder, the sharand Addictions, in a press release. “New culture.” ing circle, the daily access to culture Roads helps people address their adand smudging and… the regular sweat lodges, all play a role in helping the men understand their addictions and how they got there.”

New Roads is broken down into four stages: orientation, primary recovery, early re-entry, and re-entry, reads the Residential . Commercial press release.

During their stay, the program incorpo-

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November 2, 2023—Ha-Shilth-Sa—Page 7

Usma connects children to war veteran relatives Past service members for Canada and the United States are linked to youngsters, some of whom are in care

By Denise Titian Ha-Shilth-Sa Reporter Port Alberni, BC – A growing collection of photos featuring Nuu-chah-nulth war veterans was featured at a dinner hosted

by Usma Nuu-chah-nulth Family and Child Services on Wednesday, Oct. 25.

But the purpose of the event was not only to pay tribute to heroes, but also to demonstrate the family connections between Nuu-chah-nulth children and war veterans ahead of Remembrance Day. According to Leisa Hassell, Usma connections worker, the event is the second one the agency has hosted.

“We honour the Nuu-chah-nulth war veterans by inviting their descendants who are connected to Usma to share a meal. We provide a presentation and acknowledge family members in the room,” she told Ha-Shilth-Sa. The event started with a turkey dinner shared with invited families.

Following dinner, Hassell, standing in front of a photo display of Nuu-chahnulth war veterans, told the families that the children there each have a connection to at least one of the war heroes. Most of them had served in World War II which lasted from 1939 to 1945.

The children, some of whom may be in care, cannot be named to protect their privacy. But when called upon, they stood proudly in front of the display, sometimes pointing to their hero. Each was given a printout of their family tree, showing how they are connected to war heroes in their families.

“The purpose of the event is to highlight the roots of children and youth in care by

Denise Titian photo

A growing collection of photos featuring Nuu-chah-nulth war veterans was featured at a dinner hosted by Usma Nuu-chahnulth Family and Child Services on Wednesday, Oct. 25. Each child at the event was given a printout of their family tree, showing how they are connected to war heroes in their families. connecting them to their ancestors who present youth with each other and to a of the children won beaded poppies that served in the war, so they can take that piece of their history, she added.

Usma staff made for the occasion. information as a small piece of their idenSome of the children already knew According to Usma Director Kelly Edtity and share it with family, friends, and about their war veteran ancestors. One gar, Hassell, in her position as Usma conpeers in the days leading up to Rememwas connected to five of them. nections worker, has taken on the project brance Day,” said Hassell.

“You have ancestors from your past that which was initiated by Dave Jacobson, The event is a beautiful way to connect did amazing things for Nuu-chah-nulth Usma elders navigator, and is doing a and for Canada,” Hassell told the chilphenomenal job. dren.

“They are both such a huge asset to our In addition to the family tree gifts, some team,” said Edgar.

Remembrance Day November 11, 2023

Remembering those who served Michele Babchuk MLA North Island

Josie Osborne MLA Mid Island-Pacific Rim

Michele.Babchuk.MLA@leg.bc.ca Phone: 250-287-5100 or 250-949-9473

josie.osborne.mla@leg.bc.ca Phone: 250-720-4515

In memory of those who gave their lives so that we may live in peace.

www.clayoquotbiosphere.org

Page 8— Ha-Shilth-Sa—November 2, 2023

‘Ready to be heard’: Ownership transfer of school property

An agreement with School District 84 will give Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k’tles7et’h’ authority over the school land, furthering self-determ

By Eric Plummer Ha-Shilth-Sa Editor Kyuquot, BC - Since the Maa-nulth Final Agreement came into effect over a decade ago, a hole has existed right in the middle of the Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k’tles7et’h’ First Nations treaty settlement land. Amid an ongoing housing shortage in its village on the northwest coast of Vancouver Island - with pressing needs for infrastructural upgrades - the 40 acres that remained under the ownership of the region’s school district lingered over the years as a barrier to the First Nation gaining the full self-determination that it had fought decades for leading up the Maa-nulth treaty.

But this is now set to change, with an agreement for School District 84 to transfer ownership of the land to Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/ Che:k’tles7et’h’. After the First Nation gains authority over the property SD84 will continue to run the Kyuquot Elementary Secondary School, according to a memorandum of understanding signed between the school district and Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/ Che:k’tles7et’h’ on Oct. 24.

Taking care of the “donut hole in treaty land” is an important addition for the First Nation in how it develops its main village of Houpsitas, according to Jeff Nielson, Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k’tles7et’h’’s director of Lands and Resources.

“I think the attitudes [of] both the school district and the ministries responsible for ownership of land have changed,” he said, reflecting on how things have developed since the treaty came into effect in 2011.

Years after the treaty was implemented, Dean Johnson, SD 84’s director of Instruction, Operations and Technology, approached the First Nation about the school property.

“I remember pulling out the map and thinking, ‘Oh my goodness, there’s this big chunk of land that the nation doesn’t even own. How can they develop and build around it?’,” said Johnson. “This didn’t sit right with me.”

“The school district still has effective ownership of the school property, but they’re only using a quarter of the property,” explained Nielson. “It means that the nations can use the rest of the property, and that’s fully accessible to the nations.”

The ownership transfer comes at no cost

Benjamin Gillette, Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k’tles7et’h’ legislative chief, signs an agreement with SD 84 Board Chair Arlaine Fehr to transfer school distr the First Nation. Behind them are Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k’tles7et’h’ Director of Education Jenniffer Hanson, SD 84 Superintendent Lawrence Tarasoff Allison Stiglitz. Cultural celebration followed the signing in the Kyuquot Elementary Secondary School’s newly expanded gymnasium. to the First Nation, and as SD84 continues hope that ownership transition will lead to began to be quite run down.” to run the school provincial funding for improved maintenance of the remote com“It’s been a great joy of mine to see the maintenance and expanding the facility will munity’s school. school being rebuilt and renovated,” said still be available.

“When I became the facilities director, Johnson.

The ownership transition was announced I came up to the school and saw that it Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k’tles7et’h’ is in the in the school’s newly renovated gymnawasn’t up to standard,” he said. “It wasn’t middle of planning how the acquired land sium. When the community celebrated because of anything about the nation or will be developed, said Nielson. He expects the signing of the agreement the paint was even anything about the school district; it’s that the full ownership transition will be barely dry in the newly expanded gym, a hard place to maintain facilities. Crews completed next year, making the school which grew from half to full size over the would come up and try and work on things, district property treaty settlement land. summer months. but they didn’t always have the right mate“When that happens we’ll be able to At the Oct. 24 event Johnson expressed rials, and over a period of years the school determine what goes where and will be subject to Strathcona Regional District bylaws,” noted Nielson. “The only road out of the village goes through this property, so it is the logical place where you would start

November 2, 2023—Ha-Shilth-Sa—Page 9

ol property awakens opportunity in Kyuquot

nd, furthering self-determination aspirations as the remote First Nation hopes to build more homes we all moved in with my grandmother, she took us all in. There was a lot of us in the house, but she got us up every day for breakfast, got us out. She’s the one who got us up every morning, got us motivated to go to school, telling us how important it was.”

Jules graduated from KESS in 2000, the third Grade 12 group since the school began including the senior grades in 1998.

Before then teenagers had to move away from the community to continue their high school studies, staying in Campbell River or elsewhere with any family who could house them.

“That took a lot from our community,” said Jules, who serves as a legislative member for the First Nation. “We still have people who moved away for their children’s education, who can’t come back because of our lack of infrastructure. We can’t build any more houses at the moment.

The capacity of our electricity outloads, we can’t add to it.”

Jules worked at KESS as an education assistant after graduating, but in the years since he has been unable to return to the Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k’tles7et’h’ village due to the lack of infrastructure for housing.

“I’ve been wanting a house here for a long time, I had to move due to a lack of housing,” he said, hoping that the necessary electrical and sewage services can be improved to finally bring more homes to Houpsitas. “Maybe one day I can bring my son and he can go to school here.”

Awakening to opportunities

Eric Plummer photos

Arlaine Fehr to transfer school district property over to 4 Superintendent Lawrence Tarasoff and Tahsis Trustee expanded gymnasium. to build more when you have the ability mine to see the to do that.” renovated,” said First graduating class in 1998

is in the the acquired land Nielson. He expects ansition will be king the school ettlement land. e’ll be able to ere and will be gional District “The only road out gh this property, so ere you would start

As a youth Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/ Che:k’tles7et’h’ member Kevin Jules moved to Houpsitas to attend the KESS for his high school years. He moved in with his grandmother, the late Patricia Nicolaye, who had converted a small kitchen in her house to make another bedroom.

“Three bedrooms, and we had 13 of us living in there. It was a tiny little old house,” recalled Jules. “My mother passed away in 1999, so that was when

Since 1998 graduating classes have ranged from the nine that Jules was a part of to just one student in some years. For a community with no roads connecting it to the rest of Vancouver Island, where the closest city is a 40-minute boat ride followed by a three-and-a-half-hour drive (partly on a logging road) to Campbell River, formal education has not always been a top priority.

But recent results indicate that this could be changing. Six of the seven KESS gradu-

ates from the last school year are now in post secondary, attending institutions such as North Island College, Vancouver Island University and the University of British Columbia. This took a lot of coaching and individual attention over the students’ final year of high school, said KESS Principal Natalie Dickson.

“I came in to not a lot of success at that high level, so there was a lot of non-grads,” said Dickson, who started at KESS for the 2022-23 school year. “What you do is the really authentic work on career planning.

Our job is to take away barriers.”

This includes visiting campuses with students to help them prepare for the transition.

“With our student that went to UBC Okanagan, in June we drove up there to do an orientation so we know what that’s going to look like, what that’s going to feel like,” said Dickson.

The First Nation even paid for one of its university students to travel back to Houpsitas for the Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k’tles7et’h’ people’s assembly on Oct. 23 and 24, where formal education was discussed among top priorities.

But this hasn’t always been the case, said Jules.

“When you’re out here in an isolated community, you get through with your education, then you just go on with life,” he said.

“People are starting to realize that there’s more opportunities out there, especially within our nation. Our office is growing so fast, and there so many jobs there that are available, but we need people who are properly educated.”

Community involvement is critical Like many schools in remote communities, in the past retaining good teachers has been a challenge for the small school. Partway through the 2019-2020 year, two of the school’s five teachers left. Then in February 2020 a parents advisory committee was formed in the hopes of better engaging with parents to support their children in school.

The following November the community

faced the unfortunate dilemma of a teacher who was reportedly verbally abusive to students and showing up to class in a drunken state. He was suspended after his in-class ramblings were secretly recorded by a student, who hid a cell phone under a binder, according to a Ha-Shilth-Sa article from the time.

But Dickson saw opportunity when she arrived in 2022, and started her term as principal with an entirely new roster of teachers. Now seven serve the 44-students, providing one-on-one attention that most small community schools could only dream of. Despite the remote location, Dickson was able to “hand pick” educators who were right for Kyuquot.

“It’s about shared beliefs and values,” she said. “What I’m able to do is select people that want to kayak after school, that want to be connected on the land.”

The school district is also funding the training of six local people to serve in the roles of education assistants and human services, bringing the necessary community interaction into the day-to-day education offered at KESS. “They bring learning opportunities to us; I don’t need to ask them,” said Dickson of the role that Kyuquot and the First Nation takes in the school. “That connection to language and culture grounds students for success.”

For the next several years SD84 will run the school, but the property transfer comes with a hope that Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/ Che:k’tles7et’h’ will gain more influence on the curriculum, eventually taking over operations at KESS. “The majority of the students here are KCFN, so we do want to eventually be able to run the school. We want to phase in,” said Cynthia Blackstone, Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/ Che:k’tles7et’h’’s chief administrative officer.

Blackstone pointed to the value of the First Nation’s Warriors youth program as an example of how the curriculum could eventually be changed. The Warriors recently built a cabin nearby on Spring Island, but although this project drew upon several teachings from the classroom, it wasn’t recognized for high school credit.

“They had to consider archaeology, they had to consider all the math in it, they had to consider the logistics of getting all the materials out there, they had to consider all the weather conditions,” said Blackstone. “You couldn’t actually teach someone about it without actually putting them through it. It’s those sorts of projects that build the life skills that I think we can provide in the school versus just classroom time.”

Over recent years the First Nation’s ancestral language has been increasingly incorporated into the school, and now panels can be found in the hallways that play a Nuu-chah-nulth word when touched.

“It brings back a lot of pride to our people,” said Jules of the First Nation’s content in the school. “When I went to school here we had First Nations and French. We had to either pick which one we wanted to do.

Now it’s opened up the doors to learning more of our own history, our own language.”

One of the recent grads from last year has started working with a language mentor from the community, studying with the elder via video link as she attends UBC. She’s trying to eventually become fluent in the language of her ancestors, said Dickson.

“I think it’s a big goal in Kyuquot that we all work together to help everyone,” she noted. “I love how excited Kyuquot is for the future. I’ve never seen a community so ready to be heard, and ready to take huge steps into what’s next. That is extremely exciting to be part of.”

Page 10— Ha-Shilth-Sa—November 2, 2023

Rains cause sliding debris, floods on Bamfield road Newly chip-sealed road sees temporary delays during a rainfall warning in mid-October, as Sarita River rises

By Denise Titian Ha-Shilt-Sa Reporter West Coast Vancouver Island – Heavy rains coupled with high tides are wreaking havoc on industrial roads leading to Bamfield and Nitinaht.

Local motorists from Anacla, Bamfield and Nitinaht shared photos of road conditions on the way to the remote communities.

Kristen Young of Huu-ay-aht shared a photo of a slide that occurred at the 44 kilometre marker outside of Bamfield on the morning of Wednesday, Oct. 18. She reported that the debris had been mostly cleared by 9:30 that morning and drivers could get through.

C̕awak ʔqin Forestry General Manager, Geoff Payne, told Ha-Shilth-Sa that the slide was actually a clump of trees that came down on the road at the location.

“It was not a landslide. Some of the trees have been cleared and vehicles can access through that location,” he said.

He added that the trees were on an embankment above the road and with the heavy wind and rain after a hot, dry summer, the trees slid down onto the roadway.

Additional work is planned to remove the rest of the tree debris in the next day or two.

At another part of the newly chip-sealed road, the Sarita River broke its banks, flooding the road in sections. Young captured images of the flooded roadway.

“With the heavy rains some minor flooding and full ditches were observed between 63 km and 44 km in some lowlying areas,” said Payne.

Kristen Young photo

Kristen Young of Huu-ay-aht shared a photo of a slide that occurred at the 44 kilometre marker outside of Bamfield on the morning of Wednesday, Oct. 18. She reported that the debris had been mostly cleared by 9:30 that morning and drivers could get through. the morning of Oct. 18 sible, Environment Canada warned.

When the road was improved over the “A Pacific weather system will stall over An estimated 90 to 120 millimetres of past year, upgrades included better ditchthe region, bringing abundant moisture rain is expected over a 24-hour period. ing. Those who rely on the route hope The warning remains in effect until the that the temporary flooding will not dam- from the subtropics,” stated the government agency. “Rain, heavy at times, will morning of Thursday, Oct. 19. age the newly chip-sealed road. continue through today. The heavy rain Please continue to monitor alerts and Over at Nitinaht, Brian Tate, a Ditidaht will taper off on Thursday.” forecasts issued by Environment Canada. member, shared images of the flooded The heavy downpours can cause flash To report severe weather, send an email roadway just outside of his community. floods and water pooling on roads. Local- to BCstorm@ec.gc.ca or tweet reports Environment Canada issued a rainfall ized flooding in low-lying areas is posusing #BCStorm warning for inland Vancouver Island on

Phrase of the week: Wikwiitasn’iiš wikwiinc^i> siiwa suuwaqtiik%itks ha>um qwaa%ah=%aa %uunak %aami +eekuu +eekuu!

Pronounced ‘Wick wee tad nish wick win chilh glee see waa suu walk itks haa tluth um qwa hah ooh nock aa me’, it means, ‘We will never forget what you sacrificed so we could have our tomorrow! Thank you Thank you! ’ Supplied by ciisma.

Illistration by Tiana Michael

November 2, 2023—Ha-Shilth-Sa—Page 11

Paramedics recognized at Kennedy Lake 13 years later Tragedy led to multimillion-dollar safety project on Highway 4, as well as be•er protocols for staff rest periods

By Denise Titian Ha-Shilth-Sa Reporter Kennedy Lake, BC – It’s been 13 years since two veteran Tofino paramedics lost their lives when the ambulance they were in went off the road and plunged more than 100 feet down the cliff into Kennedy Lake. On Oct. 19 dozens of paramedics from Tofino and around the province gathered at the site on the 13th anniversary to dedicate a memorial stone at the site of the accident.

Much has changed since that fateful day. The section of road where the accident occurred no longer exists. The provincial Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure funded a major highway improvement project at Kennedy Lake Hill that widened and regraded the steep, curvy section of road - largely because of this incident and pressure from the BC Ambulance Service.

It was on October 19, 2010 when Tofino Ambulance Paramedics, Jo-Ann Fuller, 59, and Ivan Polivka, 65, were returning to Tofino after transferring a patient to West Coast General Hospital in Port Alberni. According to the former B.C. coroner Lyn Blenkinsop, the paramedics were paged at 1:36 a.m. to transfer the patient. They had been off duty for five hours before they were paged.

The patient transfer was uneventful, but on their return trip to Tofino, at the windy section above Kennedy Lake, the accident happened. The ambulance “drifted into concrete barrier that was just 37 centimetres -- or 14 inches -- high located at the top of a 33-metre cliff,” said Blenkinsop in her report.

“The ambulance then rode the concrete barrier with both right-side tires over the edge,” she said. “Near the end of the barrier, the ambulance overbalanced and slipped off to the right, tumbling down the embankment to the lake.”

Later that morning the ambulance was discovered submerged under 10 metres of water. Fuller was found in the driver’s seat with her seat belt on, while Polivka was found unrestrained and in the back of the ambulance, where it is believed he had been sleeping.

Fuller was the unit chief at the Tofino ambulance station and had worked with the service for 23 years. The coroner determined she had drowned. Polivka died of head and chest trauma. He was a veteran of 14 years.

The coroner cited driver fatigue as a factor in the accident, believing that Fuller may have fallen asleep at the wheel.

On Thursday October 19, 2023, a small gathering was held at the newly constructed rest area on Kennedy Hill to remember Fuller and Polivka. Representatives from BC Emergency Health Services and the Ambulance Paramedics of BC, along with community members, gathered at the site on Highway 4 to dedicate a memorial marker honouring the Tofino paramedics.

It was 13 years to the day that Jo-Ann and Ivan lost their lives.

In 2018, when the Kennedy Hill Safety Improvement Project began, the small roadside memorial to Jo-Ann and Ivan was moved to the Tofino Ambulance station.

According to the BC Emergency Health Services, a new memorial boulder was unveiled in 2020 at the ambulance station on the 10th anniversary of the accident.

The memorial was moved to its permanent location on Highway 4 once the road improvement project was complete.

The event started with an honor guard as

Denise Titan photos

On Oct. 19 dozens of paramedics from Tofino and around the province gathered at the site of a tragic ambulance crash on its 13th anniversary to dedicate a memorial stone.

dozens of BC Emergency Health Services workers and their supporters followed a lone piper from the lookout up the hill to memorial, on the side of the highway above Kennedy Lake.

Tla-o-qui-aht elder Levi Martin was there to offer a traditional Nuu-chah-nulth prayer. As he chanted, two ravens flew over the crowd to the shore of Kennedy Lake and back to the forest.

Natalie Dennis, an Ahousaht member and a BC Emergency Health Services manager, said Jo-Ann and Ivan were incredible people and well-known in the community. Because of people like them, Dennis said she was honoured to be part of the group of paramedics.

BCEHS Executive Vice-President and Chief Ambulance Officer Leanne Heppell said it was important to honor Jo-Anne

and Ivan, their legacy, services and sacrifices to the community.

“It was a tragedy that shook the community and BC Health Emergency Services – we will never forget,” she vowed.

She went on to say that her heart goes out to the families.

Fred Webber, stepson of Polivka, was thanked for remaining involved in memorializing Jo-Ann and Ivan.

“I’ve been there since the beginning,” he told Ha-Shilth-Sa.

He was part of the procession in which 5,000 emergency services workers from across Canada honoured Fuller and Polivka in Tofino following the accident. He adopted Polivka’s cat, giving it a home for the remainder of its life.

The BC Ambulance Service said in a statement that it conducted an internal investigation after the accident and made five recommendations, all of which have now been implemented.

The service said it informed the provincial government about the state of the highway, told staff about the need to use seat belts while in the back of ambulances, and raised awareness with drivers about the hazards of Highway 4 and similar road sections.

It has also implemented policies and scheduling protocols for rest periods.

“They saved and touched countless lives over the course of their careers. Their deaths devastated their communities and deeply affected many at BCEHS who lost two dedicated and compassionate colleagues and friends,” BCEHS stated.

An ambulance based in Tofino will also now bear a memorial marker with Jo-Ann and Ivan’s names.

Page 12— Ha-Shilth-Sa—November 2, 2023

President’s Message Greetings everyone. Hope you are all well. The month of October has flown by. So much going on all the time. My condolences to families and communities for the many losses we have suffered.

Always hard to lose family and community members.

The NTC grad and scholarships were held the long weekend in October. We had postponed them from June because of the Highway 4 closure. We wanted to celebrate all our grads and scholarship recipients and when people couldn’t get in or out of the valley we decided to reschedule. The ceremonies were awesome and the NTC staff did a good job of decorating and MC’ing the evenings.

Of course, it involved good food as well.

Was great to see many family and friends come to hold up grads and winners. I know we will see good things come from this group in the future that we celebrated.

Things seemed to be working out on Highway 4 despite the heavy rains and so far there haven’t been any more closures due to debris falling. Highways is monitoring it closely to ensure everyone is safe and have made it so there can be a quick closure of the highway if need be.

I continue to work with First Nations on cultural heritage. We are still working hard to get the Heritage Conservation Act amended during the spring sitting of 2024. We are trying hard for a greater role of First Nations in decision making, more and better protective mechanisms for sacred, spiritual and cultural sites, and better mechanisms for compliance and enforcement. There have been quite a few sessions with First Nations to get your input. There have also been sessions with stakeholders who also want more certainty in heritage conservation.

I attended the provincial organization meetings of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs and First Nations Summit, but it’s good to meet with First Nations across the province and find out what they are doing and issues they are facing. It is time for collective actions in working with the province to protect our rights and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Right now there is work on an emergency management act trying to better prepare for fires and floods and other natural disasters. An emergency Risk Reduction Plan was adopted by the chiefs both at UBCIC and FNS. Work is also being done on an anti racism act to try and prevent and eradicate racism in public bodies.

I have been doing a fair amount of work on clean energy. The B.C. government, after 15 years, has finally made a call for power. I have been working with other First Nations leaders, the First Nations Energy and Mining Council, the B.C. government and BC hydro trying to make sure we can have opportunities in developing clean energy. Also working to ensure that First Nations receive maximum benefits from projects in their territories. Right now, BC Hydro wants large intitiatives like wind projects in north-eastern B.C. and is not targeted to the kinds of projects we would have in our territories. Economic reconciliation is critical to relationship building with B.C. and to implementing UNDRIP. I made presentations on climate change and transportation in October. The effects of climate change are impacting our lands and waters negatively and trying to find solutions to slow down or mitigate climate change is very important. Also,

Community&Beyond Nuu-chah-nulth Baby Group

Every Monday

Westcoast Community Resources Society Community Lunch

Every Thursday

CYS - 4841 Redford Street 10am-12pm. We offer Prenatal and infant development information, special guests, snacks provide and $20.00 food voucher per family. Referrals when needed. NTC Nursing and Doula’s 250-724-3939.

Enter from 4th avenue side, building with orange stripe.

Westcoast Community Services hub – 500 Matterson Drive, Ucluelet 11:30am – 1:00pm. 250-726-2343, admin@wccrs.ca, www.wccrs.ca

Cultural Brushings with Quu asa

Girls Group

Every Friday

Every Tuesday

Administration Building

Port Alberni – Usma culture space discussing issues that impact our communities in transportation, like buses and lack of public transportation, highway closures, alternate routes out of our communities, making float planes safer, and rail.

The local education agreement for School District 70 is ready to be signed and negotiations have begun with School District 84. These agreements are important to ensure our students get the best education and supports they need along with our culture and language.

The Council of Ha’wiih met for two days to discuss fish and strategize for action to take with the federal government.

Appointing Nuu-chah-nulth to the many committees dealing with fish was a large exercise. Discussions on salmon and herring were also important dialogues.

This week there is the First Nations Leader Gathering (FNLG). This is where the B.C. government’s cabinet ministers meet with leaders of First Nations on any issue we want to discuss with them.

There are also plenary sessions on various topics and it is a very well-attended event.

NTC also had a one-day forum on the opioid crisis, bringing people together to brainstorm actions to stop all the people we are losing to opioids.

NTC AGM is also happening on November 30th.

There will be an election for national chief of the Assembly of First Nations in December. Nominations close November 1st, and so far there are four declared candidates. I will report out more on this once I know the slate of candidates.

Right now, there are no candidates from B.C. At the provincial assemblies there were motions passed for ISC to look closely at providing more funding to First Nations.

We are trying to get a meeting with the minister on funding for the eight nations who are part of the comprehensive funding agreement. ISC has been changing its funding formulas and practices without talking to the Nuu-chah-nulth, although the minister says they have been working with First Nations across the country.

Somehow they left us out of any dialogues and we need to change this.

We are also working on a new MOU with the First Nations Health Council on how we will work together going forward. We had one for five years and it worked well. But now, we have to renew it and make changes that will benefit our Nuu-chah-nulth members.

There is always many issues to work on and I will try and keep you updated every month in my column.

Cloy-e-iis Judith Sayers

5:00pm-7:00pm Girls ages 13-18. Need a safe space? Want to express yourself?

Looking to learn to bake and cook? Do you enjoy doing crafts? Come join us for fun activities with food and refreshments every Tuesday!

9:00am-12:00pm Cultural Brushings in support of the Tseshaht Community.

If you have any questions, please call Leanne Harding, Administrative Assistant 250-724-1225

Looking for......

Usma Nuu-chah-nulth Family and Child Services are looking for individual/s or families who are interested in caregiving for teens with high-risk behaviors.

The Caregiver(s) would provide 24-hour care in a culturally safe and suppor•ve environment, responding effec•vely to challenging behaviours.

Compensa•on would be built around the specific needs of the youth and the Caregiver, and could include both direct services and financial support to allow Caregivers to meet the needs of the youth.

For more informa•on, please call Joni or Julia at 250-724-3232.

November 2, 2023—Ha-Shilth-Sa—Page 13

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

Check out our new Facebook page Nuu-chah-nulth Jobs and Events Updated daily!

Page 14— Ha-Shilth-Sa—November 2, 2023

Nuu-chah-nulth members go to Hawaii for tournament Two baseball teams with Nuu-chah-nulth members fly to Honolulu in November to compete in a tournament

By Alexandra Mehl Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Tseshaht members Camille Hamel, coach for the Master Batters, and Ryan Clutesi Tebbutt, coach for the Finishers, are bringing their teams to Hawaii in early November to play in a slo pitch tournament at Kapiolani Park.

Both Hamel and Tebbutt found an ad for the slow pitch tournament in Hawaii while on social media and signed up with no hesitation.

“I never thought in the world when I signed up for this Hawaii trip that we’d play another Port team,” said Tebbutt. “[I’m] grateful we all have a chance to go to Hawaii and try to play ball there.”

For the Master Batters, they are made up of friends and family from midIsland up to Port Hardy, including many Tseshaht members and connections to Ahousaht and Hupačasath.

“With my own background of playing ball and my love for ball, [there was] no hesitation, [and I] sent the money to the organizers,” said Hamel. “From there, I just started building my team of people that love the game as much as I do.”

Though the Master Batters have not played or practiced as a team yet, each player has been on the field for the entire softball season, making this their final tournament of the year.

“It’s the sport we love,” said Hamel.

“We all have a big passion for the game, and to go to Hawaii is amazing.”

For the Finishers, they are entering their third year playing together and this might be just the beginning of international tournaments for them.

“I want to do more of it, definitely,” said Tebbutt. “We’re planning on going to the Dominican Republic next year too.”

Though both teams have not made plans yet to connect with the Indigenous people of Hawaii, both Hamel and Tebbutt said they have interest in learning of their

Submitted photo

The Finishers are entering their third year of playing together as they head to Hawaii for a slo pitch tournament in early November. culture. to get to know their cultures just as well ning for me,” said Hamel. “We’re going “We haven’t made any definite plans as I know my own.” to go play against people of every caliber yet, but I expect to,” said Hamel. “I want “Just the experience on its own is winso it’s going to be a great experience.”

Tseshaht pitcher wins Minor Athlete of the Year

By Alexandra Mehl Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Port Alberni, BC - It was roughly a month ago when Hayleigh Mae Watts of Tseshaht found out that she was awarded Softball B.C.’s Indigenous Minor Athlete of the Year. According to Softball BC, Watts led in the U15 B category to many achievements, and dominated all year as an elite pitcher.

“It was really exciting because I’ve never had an award like this before,” said Hayleigh. “So it was really nerve racking, and overall, it was just really exciting to be known that I was [Indigenous] Athlete of the Year.”

The 14-year-old player has been at it for a decade, putting her all into every practice and game.

“She’s exceeded more than I’ve ever expected her [to],” said her father, Jonny Watts. “Her growth in the sport has just… excelled so quick; faster than my eyes can even see.”

“But she does put… 220 per cent into every practice,” he added. “It almost never surprises me… how well she’s done at this game.”

This year some notable tournaments Hayleigh participated in include playing with Abbotsford in the Western Canadian Championships where they took home

fourth, playing in Halifax for the B.C. team at the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG), where she took home bronze, and in Port Alberni’s annual Mother’s Day Tournament, where she won gold.

At NAIG, Hayleigh reflects that her biggest challenge was playing other provinces for the first time. She enjoyed meeting new people and making new friends at the tournament.

For Hayleigh, softball is all about the team.

“I really enjoy, well, the game overall,” she said. “I really love team spirit and working as a team and pursuing good things with my team.”

Jonny has “hardly ever” missed a game or a practice.

“It brings me joy that he’s there watching me, [and] it always reminds me to just do my best, and just to cool off if I’m having a rough time,” said Hayleigh.

Hayleigh strives to hone her skills as a pitcher and pursue her dream of playing in division one college softball in America.

“I feel like my development has really come a long way… I’m getting better as time goes on,” said Hayleigh. “Having the coaches that I have really [has] helped my game and helped my pitching and everything I do in this sport.”

Submitted photo

Fourteen-year-old Hayleigh Watts of the Tseshaht First Nation has been named Indigenous Minor Athlete of the Year by Softball BC.

November 2, 2023—Ha-Shilth-Sa—Page 15

AV Thunder wins tourney in memory of Bill Surry After a captivating and close game, the hosting AV Thunder men claims victory after a weekend of basketball

By Alexandra Mehl Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Port Alberni, BC - It was a neck-andneck battle between the Vancouver Outsiders and Alberni Valley (AV) Thunder in the final game for the men’s division of this past weekend’s annual AV Thunder tournament. Both teams battled it out with fierce offense and an even fiercer defense for a captivating and close game where AV Thunder, the host team, ultimately took the win.

“The strategy right from the get go was to just come out strong,” said Kevin Rush, a Tseshaht member and coach of the Alberni Valley Thunder men’s team.

“Play really smart basketball, focus on our passing and driving and shooting altogether.”

Of the AV Thunder team, Mike Lange and Jacob Thom were named All Stars while Jess Black was named MVP. Kevin Rush acknowledged Lange, Thom, and Black, as well as Jason Fortin, as key players to bringing the team victory.

“Our core players… they know each other really well,” said Rush.

“It was really great to be able to go out… with that focus of just give it our all; giving it our all as a whole team,” added Rush. “Each and every one of us throughout the whole weekend pitched in on the floor.”

The day prior, AV Thunder lost to the Vancouver Outsiders.

“I lost my confidence after the first game,” said Eddie Rush of Tseshaht, a player on the AV Thunder. “One of their main players, on the Vancouver team, had just lit up at the end.”

“Coming into this game… I kind of refocused,” he added. “[It] gave me that confidence back that I need to contribute more on defense.”

The weekend’s tournament was dedicated to the late-Bill (William) Surry, former manager of the Alberni Athletic Hall. Since 2016, when the AV Thunder tournament first started, the former basketball player had an instrumental role in

Alexandra Mehl photo

The AV Thunder basketball tournament was held Oct. 27-29 at the Alberni Athletic Hall, with the host team claiming the top spot in the men’s division. organizing the annual competition, Kevin “So for me it’s very important that we nity, because… tournaments, especially Rush told Ha-Shilth-Sa. came out on top and it’s amazing,” said First Nations tournaments, have been “He would come out and he would Kevin Titian Jr. “I think he was alongside really quiet.” cheer us on many times,” said Kevin us the whole time.”

“It’s always nice to see how much the Rush. “This weekend was really about “It was a top-level competition the community comes together and how Bill Surry.” whole time,” said Outsiders captain Bill rich the basketball community is in Port For Kevin Titian Jr. of Tseshaht, he Mackinnon, who is from the Tallcree Na- Alberni,” said Mackinnon. “It’s a really remembers watching the finals for the AV tion in Northern Alberta. “I think everykind of binding thing for the culture in Thunder tournament with Surry last year. body got to just really enjoy the game of Port Alberni, especially for the Nuu“He was yelling at the refs because it basketball.”

Chah-Nulth culture.” was really unfair; I could still hear his The weekend was also about bringing The tournament hosted teams from voice saying, ‘Come on!’,” said Kevin communities together, promoting health throughout Nuu-chah-nulth nations and Titian Jr. “I can still hear him here and and building connections alongside beyond. there throughout games.” strong competition. “[It was] awesome to be able to host “He played a big role in our lives for the “It’s great to see basketball… on the go such a great tournament,” said Titian Jr., last… 12 [or] 13 years,” he added. again in the valley; it’s been really stag“to watch everyone have fun out there, For Kevin Titian Jr, Eddie Rush, and nant the last couple of years in tournaplay their hearts out, play the game we all Kevin Rush, they considered Surry famments,” said Eddie Rush. “It’s all about love for everyone we love, and showing ily. keeping basketball alive in our commuwhat we love to do.”

Hesquiaht, Tseshaht team contend for women’s title

By Alexandra Mehl Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Port Alberni, BC - Tseshaht Pride, a team of mainly under-17 youth, fought for first place against the Hesquiaht Descendants in the final game of the women’s division in AV Thunder’s basketball tournament, placing second overall.

“I’d say it’s a bit different going to a tournament and playing people my age and then going against women,” said Natalie Clappis, a player on Tseshaht Pride. “A lot of people are a lot older than us. It’s more challenging, but I like the challenge, it’s fun.”

“It was really different coming from a junior level because I’m only in Grade 11,” said Genaveve Pierre, another player on Tseshaht Pride. “Coming up from Grade 11, playing against tougher, stronger women who know what they’re doing [and are] more experienced than I am. I felt that was more challenging.”

But for Tseshaht Pride, a team of primarily U17 girls, with a couple U19 players, this was not the first women’s tournament they played in. In August they played their first tournament of the season in a women’s division.

“For their junior ranks, U17, there isn’t anybody else on the Island for them to

play,” said Joe Charleson, coach for Tseshaht Pride. “They’re proving that they belong in the division.”

For both Clappis and Pierre they were surprised they placed second in the women’s division.

“Halfway through the game I realized… we are playing for first and second place,” said Clappis.

“I feel like, my first game we all played kind of shy [and] scared because we’re playing against older women then throughout the rest of the tournament, we got used to it,” said Pierre. “[What] I was most proud of is that I really stepped up during the next few games.”

“I feel like we played a lot better this game compared to our first game,” Clappis added.

“They’re playing with a lot more adversity,” said Charleson. “They may be a U17 group, but they’re playing like a ladies team.”

“They’re putting their team name on the map,” Charleson added.

For the Hesquiaht Descendants, who took home the women’s division win, this was their first time playing together.

“We all worked well really fast,” said Destiny Hanson, who plays shooting guard. “It looked like we’d been playing for years.”

Alexandra Mehl photo

Tseshaht Pride, mainly a U17 team, earned second in the women’s division at AV thunder basketball tournament, falling to the Hesquiaht Descendants. The tournament took place Oct. 27-29 at the Alberni Athletic Hall she’s seen the team since.

“The girls played extremely hard in the “They all know how to play the game final game today, even though they were and they all move the ball and incordealing with a loss of a family member,” said John White, coach for the Hesquiaht porate themselves into position,” said White.

Descendants. “They played hard for a “Nothing but talented players to build win for that family member.”

Mariah Charleson, captain of Hesquiaht on momentum to go to All Native [basketball tournament],” said John.

Descendants, started the squad about eight years ago and said it’s the strongest

Page 16— Ha-Shilth-Sa—November 2, 2023