INTERESTING NEWS Canada’s Oldest First Nations Newspaper - Serving Nuu-chah-nulth-aht since 1974 Canadian Publications Mail Product Vol. 48 - No. 21—November 4, 2021 haas^i>sa Sales Agreement No. 40047776
Beach clean-up efforts underway from Huu-ay-aht container spill off of Vancouver Island man loses Searchers collect refrigerators, Styrofoam and garbage on beaches near Cape Sco! life in MVA By Melissa Renwick Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Beach clean-up efforts are underway to remove the debris from 109 shipping containers that were knocked off a cargo ship in rough seas off the coast of Vancouver Island on Oct. 22. Hazardous chemicals are in at least two of the adrift containers that have not been located. Other contents, including Christmas decorations, sofas, poker boards, metal car parts, clothing, toys, yoga mats, stand-up paddle boards, as well as industrial parts, are starting to wash up on beaches along the northern coast of Vancouver Island. On Oct. 29, four containers and debris were found on a beach at Cape Palmerston. Contractors hired by the owner of MV Zim Kingston began to organize and remove debris from the containers on the beach over the weekend. “By Sunday afternoon, a total of 71 refrigerators, 81 bags of Styrofoam, 19 bags of garbage, and 11 helicopter bags of garbage were flown off of Cape Palmerston beach and into metal bins in a nearby parking lot,” the coast guard said in a release. All “large” debris is now off the beach, they added. Volunteers looking to help with beach clean-up efforts have been asked to wait. Karen Wristen, the society’s executive director, said there are many people with little to no experience of the coastal shores offering to go clean up the debris. And without anyone to supervise or organize volunteer efforts, she said it could complicate matters further. Quatsino First Nation was contracted for the work and “has been able to provide adequate human resources to get the job done—at least, the job that’s been identified to date,” said Wristen. The ship’s owner has stepped into its responsibility to deal with the material that was washed ashore in a manner required by international maritime law, she said. “It remains to be seen whether or not they recognize the vast extent of the debris field,” she added. Ashley Tapp is the co-founder of Epic Exeo, a non-profit based out of Port McNeill. She said that their beach clean-up efforts focus on the areas impacted by the cargo spill, on the north coast. “My phone is open, my door is open, my email is open, and I haven’t been contacted by anybody,” she said. Although fridges and other large items
By Denise Titian Ha-Shilth-Sa Reporter
Submitted photo
In late October debris was scattered over a beach near Raft Cove, south of Cape Scott on Vancouver Island’s west coast. have been recovered from Cape Palmerthe proposal to conduct an internationston beach, she said that Styrofoam has ally regulated “Concentrated Inspection broken into little pieces all over the beach Campaign” on cargo stowage and securand is entangled in the seaweed. ing. This would promote maritime safety “It’s horrible,” said Tapp. through the inspection of foreign ships in Living Oceans Society has reports of national ports. debris from the container spill that spans Various First Nations are contributing Vancouver Island’s north coast, from local knowledge by identifying resources Cape Scott to Cape Sutil, and beyond. at risk within the environmental unit of “Government representatives should response, and the Quatsino First Nation is have accurate information about the helping to clean up the shoreline around extent of the area impacted and act to en- the Cape Scott area, the coast guard said. sure that sufficient funds are maintained “Indigenous leaders are monitoring their available to clean it all up before winter territories and reporting on any potential storms disperse it even more widely,” debris or containers that come ashore,” said Wristen. “Time is of the essence here the coast guard said. “They are actively – the debris will only become more wide- patrolling beaches and participating in spread the longer it is left on beaches.” coordination calls with the Canadian Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns said Coast Guard to share information in a he’s concerned the federal government coordinated response.” isn’t acting fast enough. Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council PresiZIM Integrated Shipping Services, dent Judith Sayers said she was never which operates MV Zim Kingston, needs contacted about response efforts and that to be held accountable for every containit took several days before NTC’s emerer that went overboard, said Johns. gency coordinator was included in the The contractors hired by the ship owner coast guard’s coordination calls. for cleanup include New Westminster“They shouldn’t be scrambling around based Amix Group and Campbell Rivertrying to figure out which First Nations based Pacificus Biological Services. to get a hold of,” she said. “We need to “We’ve got governments promoting be included in the decision making that’s more and more shipping, and more and happening with the incident command more traffic, but they’re failing to protect team.” the existing coastline from the traffic that Satellite imagery, helicopters and ongoexists today,” Johns said. ing overflights by Transport Canada’s Transport Canada said “existing interna- National Aerial Surveillance Program tional and national safety regulations are continue to try and identify marine debris being regularly reviewed to address and and containers, the coast guard said. As improve safety measures.” of Nov. 2, only four of the 109 containers As issues with cargo ships emerge, have been found to wash up on the shore. Transport Canada said it’s supporting
Inside this issue... Booster shots coming to remote communities................Page 3 Laying internet cable off west coast...............................Page 4 Uncovering the truth under residential schools..............Page 6 Wolf ritual artwork coming to clock tower....................Page 9 Hesquiaht club prepares for All-Native tournament.....Page 11
Anacla, BC – A single-vehicle accident has claimed the life a Huu-ay-aht man just one week after physical work on road improvements began. The BC RCMP issued a statement saying that there were four occupants in the single-vehicle accident. “On October 24th, 2021, just before 1:30 a.m., the Port Alberni RCMP were advised of a single-vehicle collision on Central South Main Forest Service Road near Frederick Lake near the Centre Main Connector,” stated the RCMP press release. Another traveler saw the accident, gave assistance and called for emergency services. The RCMP says that it appears that the vehicle left the road to the right, striking a tree. “A male passenger in the vehicle was determined to be deceased at the time emergency services arrived…A female passenger was airlifted to Victoria General Hospital with potentially serious injuries; a child and the driver were transported to hospital to ensure their well-being,” said the RCMP statement. The family of Tim Manson, age 37, of Huu-ay-aht First Nations, have confirmed that he died in the accident. He leaves behind a young son and his wife and parents. The RCMP say the matter is still under investigation and alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the accident. “Road conditions, inclement weather and limited communication at this remote location posed challenges to the response to this collision,” said Sergeant Peter Dionne of the Port Alberni RCMP. There is no cellular service on the 90-kilometre dirt logging road that connects Anacla and Bamfield to Port Alberni. The Huu-ay-aht First Nations’ administration and businesses are closed for the rest of the month as citizens cope with the tragedy. “This is a time to heal together through our culture and beliefs. We will not conduct any business during this time,” read a release issued by the First Nation on Monday, Oct. 25. “As a Nation, we ask that everyone respect our request and give us the time needed to be with our families and practice our culture.”
If undeliverable, please return to: Ha-Shilth-Sa P.O. Box 1383, Port Alberni, B.C. V9Y 7M2