Ha Shilth Sa Newspaper October 3, 2024

Vol. 51 - No. 19—October 3, 2024

Tla-o-qui-aht honours residential school warriors INTERESTING NEWS

Former students have their spirits boosted with an event at Tin Wis, the site of the Christie school’s last location

By Nora O’Malley Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Tofino, BC - Christie Residential School warrior Rose Tom says she felt like a queen on Sept. 30, Canada’s fourth National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Tom journeyed on a boat from the rocky shores of Meares Island and the site of Kakawis/ old Christie Indian Residential School (IRS) with a pod of fellow warriors, some paddling a dugout canoe and others on support boats, to Tofino’s First Street Dock.

It was an emotional morning, triggering memories of a time most don’t want to talk or think about, but as the residential school warriors cruised into the Tofino inlet, they were greeted by a sea of orange supporters and family – four generations strong.

Tla-o-qui-aht Chief Councillor Elmer Frank explained that the paddle from Kakawis to Tofino was a pathway for the warriors to heal from the trauma of residential school.

“Alot of hurt happened (at Christie) to our people. One of the ways to start healing is to start from where we were hurt. To paddle together, to uphold each other, to continue that strength that we have as

Inside this issue...

Tla-o-qui-aht and First Nations People.

To be able to overcome that hurt that we endured,” said Frank.

“Today we are here to celebrate; to celebrate our survival, to celebrate our healing journey, to celebrate together and collectively,” he said.

Tom was forced to attend Christie when she was five or six years old for three years. She said they separated the boys from the girls, so she didn’t even know her brothers had also attended the “school” at the same time she did.

On the 3.6-kilometre walk from Tofino to Tin Wis and the site of the newer Christie location, Tom didn’t say much about residential school other than she did not like it. Instead, she talked about her six kids, her 18 grandkids, her upcoming 78th birthday on Nov. 11 and the fact that she is 40 years sober.

“I wish the drugs and alcohol would just disappear,” said Tom, who lives in the Tla-o-qui-aht community of Opitsaht across from the inlet from Tofino.

Following the walk, Tla-o-qui-aht CouncillorAutlieyu (Francis Frank) welcomed the standing-room only gathering to the Orange Shirt Day community lunch that featured dishes prepared by Tofino’s culinary champions.

Nitinaht tragedy results in murder charge..................Page 2

Tla-o-qui-aht asks for exemption...............................Page 4

Residential school survivors speak up...................Page 8&9

Thrift store painting ignites interest in Yuquot.........Page 10

In search of a future beyond hydro dams.......Pages 14 & 15

“Nuu-chah-nulth are carrying heavy hearts for lost loved ones. Today is about reclaiming our spirits. It’s about helping our survivors reclaim their identity,” said Autlieyu.

“The goal of the residential school was to take the Indian out the child and also to remove us from practicing and living who we are, speaking our language and singing our song and dance,” he continued. “That’s what we are going to do today. They tried, but they failed. We are still here and we are going to be here for another 100 plus years.”

After lunch, the tables were stored away to open the space for dance, song and a special naming ceremony.

Honouring the residential school warriors by giving them quuʔas names

Tla-o-qui-aht Ha’wiih worked with their language team and the families of the IRS warriors to give them each a unique quuʔas (Indigenous) name.

“Alot of survivors expressed that their identity was taken away from them,” said Chief Frank. “Our names are English because of the colonial system that was created for us.”

Like a high school graduation, the IRS warriors were called up to the front one by one, they were blanketed by a Tla-oqui-aht youth and presented a certificate with their new Indigenous name. The crowd recited the names in unison and applauded as the warrior returned to their seat.

“Learn to sing a song. To dance. Develop your cultural self-identity. Learn your language. Sit with your elders and healers. Let’s heal together,” said language digital archivist Deb Masso during the naming ceremony.

Rose David

Eric Plummer photo

Hundreds filled PortAlberni’s streets with orange on Sept. 30, recognizing those who attended residential schools for over a century as the Dominion of Canada developed. FromAlberni District Secondary School, the march extended along the Somass River to cross over to the Tseshaht community. More on pages 8 & 9.

Tragedy results in second-degree murder charge

Sept. 28 incident brought a heavy police presence to Nitinaht, Hesquiaht marks the passing of ‘fine young man’

By Eric Plummer Ha-Shilth-Sa Editor

Nitinaht, BC - Tragedy rocked the small village of Nitinaht on Saturday, Sept. 28, with an incident that suddenly brought a heavy police presence to the Ditidaht First Nation community on southwest Vancouver Island.

The early morning incident left one young man dead, while another individual was arrested after multiple RCMP units descended on the village by Nitinaht Lake. On the following day police made a charge of first-degree murder against the individual, who is scheduled to appear in court Oct. 8.

In a statement from the Lake Cowichan RCMP, officers from the detachment were called to a home in the Ditidaht First Nation village just before 7 a.m. on Sept. 28.

“Upon arrival, police located an adult man who was deceased,” said Corp. Madonna Saunderson in an RCMP press release.

Other units were called for assistance, including the RCMP’s Emergency Response Team. This is a group that uses “tactics, specialized weapons and equipment to resolve high-risk situations,” according to the RCMP.

Meanwhile, Nitinaht residents were told to stay inside and keep their windows closed as the converging police units dealt with the situation.

“Ashort time later, with the assistance of ERT, a suspect, adult man was arrested without further incident,” stated the RCMP release.

As police remained in the community

conducting their investigation, the village grappled with the aftermath of sudden tragedy.Adinner was held in Nitinaht on Saturday evening for those who wished to come together. Less than 200 people live in the remote community, which is located west of Lake Cowichan.

“The families of those involved are asking for gentleness and kindness as we seek the truth, together as one,” wrote Ditidaht Chief Councillor Judi Thomas in a notice issued to members on Sept. 28.

“Out of respect for the families and loved ones, no names will be released at this time.”

Several organizations and individuals have been called to the on-reserve community for spiritual and mental health support. These include staff from the First Nations HealthAuthority, Tsow-tun-lelum in Duncan, workers from the Nuu-

chah-nulth Tribal Council’s health and cultural support departments, Counsellor Donna Brown, Uustukyuu and spiritual support from Margaret Eaton.

“If there are additional services you may require during this difficult time, please contact Norine Messer, deputy administrator, at 250-735-4111,” wrote Thomas in her message. “We encourage everyone to be with one another for support during this time.”

Two days after the tragedy, a statement came from the Hesquiaht First Nation on Sept. 30, Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, noting the “tragic and sudden loss of a valued and loved Hesquiaht member.”

“The legacy of this fine young man will live on,” continued the statement. “We stand with the family every step of the way.”

“Today and the days ahead will be tough for many,” said Hesquiaht Chief Councillor Mariah Charleson in the press release.

“My love is with all who are grieving the loss of a fine young man who was taken away far too soon. Please walk gently and take good care of one another. Stand together as one.”

The last month has been traumatising for many within Nuu-chah-nulth territory, as another murder charge was made within a month of the incident in Nitinaht.

OnAug. 31 a tragic stabbing incident in Ahousaht brought a second-degree murder charge against another individual.

Many affected by the tragedy in Ahousaht attended a press conference held by the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council on Sept. 19, which declared a state of emergency due to the ongoing toxic drug and mental health crisis.

With a provincial election quickly approaching on Oct. 19, Charleson stressed that more support is urgently needed.

“Today needs to be more than talk, we demand to see action,” she said in the Hesquiaht release. “We call upon Canada and B.C. to make a commitment to putting meaningful investment, including an action plan and adequate resources to end systemic and overt racism, create a First Nation-specific strategy to address the opioid crisis and harms of alcohol, create a First Nations-specific strategy to address the mental health crisis, implement the TRC 94 calls to action, implement the 231 MMIWG imperative calls to justice, and make a commitment to ensure our people can live respectfully and safely right here where we have been since time immemorial.”

“Today needs to be more than talk, we demand to see action,” said Hesquiaht Chief Councillor Mariah Charleson after a member of her nation was killed during a recent incident in Nitinaht.

Emergency declared for drug and mental health crisis

Ahousaht members present at NTC announcement, stressing the need for more support as tragedies continue

By Eric Plummer Ha-Shilth-Sa Editor

PortAlberni, BC - Calling on governments to recognize a crisis that continues to have a devastating impact on families, the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council has declared a state of emergency for how illicit drugs and mental health issues are affecting its communities.

The urgent message came Sept. 19, more than eight years since the Province of British Columbia declared a public health emergency for the opioid crisis, which continues to claim an average of six residents a day. The First Nations HealthAuthority has reported that Indigenous peoples are dying by overdose at a rate six times that of the rest of B.C., a phenomenon that has claimed a tragically prominent place in Nuu-chah-nulth communities.

“We are losing too many people, especially young people,” said NTC President Judith Sayers at a press conference.

The tribal council has a department dedicated the delivery of mental health services, as well as harm reduction measures to help in the safety of those who use illicit drugs. But Sayers stressed that more support is clearly needed, as losses continue while front-line staff are being overstressed with a crisis that shows little signs of abating.

“We don’t have enough capacity and dollars. Certainly, we provide services at the tribal council, but it’s not enough,” she said. “We are asking the governments, First Nations HealthAuthority, Vancouver Island HealthAuthority, to help us have dollars to be able to devise our own solutions, devise our own strategies on mental health, toxic drugs. We need to have this before we lose any more people.”

Adisplay of seven pictures sat on the table before the leaders as they gave the announcement in PortAlberni, including the late nephew of NTC Vice-President Les Doiron, who was uncertain if he could look at the framed photograph as he spoke.

“Every day you hear the sirens in the community of PortAlberni,” said Doiron, thinking about his late nephew. “He died for a couple of reasons. One of them was he detoxed himself because there is no detox facility.”

Doiron noted that the lack of detox facilities in PortAlberni makes getting into one the equivalent of “winning the lotto.”

“Island Health has only two facilities, one in Nanaimo and one in Victoria, and the First Nations HealthAuthority has 10 in the entire province,” he said.

The NTC’s announcement follows another state of emergency made by the Ehattesaht First Nation early last year, as well as a previous call from the tribal council for “urgent and immediate action” towards the drug crisis inApril 2022. That call from over two years ago stressed the need for the FNHAas well as the provincial and federal governments to work together to bring a “seven-day-aweek rapid access addiction clinic within Nuu-chah-nulth Hahoulthee, along with a fully-certified detox centre.”

Some progress became evident this summer when Island Health issued a request for proposals to bring six to eight “stabilization and recovery” beds to Port Alberni, “where clients’basic needs are met while they continue to recover from substance use,” according to the RFP. But this is not nearly enough to address the community’s immediate needs, said

Tseshaht Chief Councillor Ken Watts.

“Have you ever heard the cry of a mother and a father who have lost their loved one?” asked Watts, holding back tears. “We’re asking British Columbians to ask their candidates running in this next provincial election, what are you going to do about it?”

The origins of the interconnected mental health and addictions issues are complex and historical, dating back to the original use of the building where the NTC press conference was held. It formerly served as Caldwell Hall, a student residence for theAlberni Indian Residential School that ran for most of a century on Tseshaht territory.

“I find it really ironic that we’re here in this building,” commented Watts. “We’re all suffering from the intergenerational trauma that happened right here, right in this building we’re standing in.”

“In Nuu-chah-nulth communities it’s the war on trauma, the war on dealing with the colonial past that we have had,” noted

Sayers.

Ahousaht addresses ‘horrific’tragedy

Also present at the press conference were severalAhousaht members. The First Nation has been under its own state of emergency since a tragic Labour Day weekend that resulted in two unexpected deaths in its Flores Island village.

Ahousaht Chief Councillor naasʔałuk, John Rampanen, urged mainstream society to be aware of the struggles of his nation.

“We seek the support from the provincial and federal governments to act accordingly, to be responsive, to be accountable to the hardships that we’ve been experiencing,” he said.

Family members present held images of Lennox Williams, a 20-year-oldAhousaht resident who died during a stabbing incident over that weekend.An arrest and second-degree murder charges resulted from the tragedy, but a publication ban is in place on the identity of the accused and

any court proceedings that are underway. Curtis Dick spoke on behalf of the grieving family.

“He had a lot going for him,” said Dick. “It’s horrific, to say the least, that it happened in our community to a young man who was 20 years old.”

“The trial dates, the coroner’s report, the police report, there’s a lot to come,” he added. “We want to put out a call for justice for Lennox on behalf of the mother, the father,Agnes, for this young man who was tragically taken from our community at such a young age.”

After the recent lossesAhousaht opened a wellness centre that was recently built in its Flores Island community.

“We had an outpouring of cultural supports and clinical supports that came into community right away, so we opened the doors of the wellness centre as well as other community buildings,” said naasʔałuk, noting that the new centre will open full-time in the coming days, but government support for operations has yet come through. “We have sought funding from the federal government and the provincial government to have the operational components in place.

Unfortunately, it’s been very challenging to secure those funding dollars, so we’ve been very creative in how we’re going to initiate this ourselves with a land-based healing component.”

Enforcement shortcomings

During the conference Nuchatlaht CouncillorArchie Little mentioned the prevalence of drug selling in PortAlberni, and how it appears that dealers are being able to continue operating. Shortcomings in the criminal justice system were highlighted last year, when the PortAlberni RCMP announced a conviction and 10year sentence for Josef Brodek, who was found to possess enough lethal doses of illicit drugs for the entire population of PortAlberni. Due to court and lab delays, Brodek continued operating in the city for nearly four years since his first drug trafficking arrest.

“We need to find ways to stop the import of toxic and poison drugs,” said Sayers. “This is a multi-agency effort. We call on the RCMP to work with us.”

Eric Plummer photos

As they announced a state of emergency on Sept. 19, a display of seven pictures sat on the table before Nuu-chah-nulth leaders in PortAlberni, including the late nephew of NTC Vice-President Les Doiron.

Ahousaht Chief Councillor naasʔałuk (John Rampanen).

Tla-o-qui-aht asks for exemption from limits to growth

Pending policy includes maximum water usage, a threshold that is already exceeded by aquaculture companies

By Nora O’Malley Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Future development and raw water supply needs were the focus of Tofino’s Aug. 26 Committee of the Whole (CoW) meeting, but Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation (TFN) has asked mayor and council for an exemption from any planning or policies pertaining to the future growth of Canada’s Surf Capital.

After suffering an unprecedented drought in 2023, District of Tofino staff created a Water Master Plan and Conservation Plan, which ultimately led to the creation of a Limits to Growth Policy that tackles the issues outlined in the Water Master Plan.

TFN Tribal administrator Jim Chisholm sent a letter onAug. 13 to Tofino Mayor Dan Law and his council regarding the Limits to Growth Policies.

Chisholm thanked district staff for meeting with him to discuss Tofino’s intention to limit growth. He went on to highlight that TFN’s ability to participate in Tofino’s economy has been “hobbled” by their limited capacity, which they are working to increase “by way of reconciliation discussions with Canada and British Columbia”.

“With our desire for a different and more prosperous future, discussion of limits to growth are occurring at an inopportune time,” reads the letter. “We note the irony that water supply is the principal driver of these considerations when Tofino’s water supply is from our Tribal

Parks on lands that we have worked for decades to protect. It seems an incredible disconnect that Tla-o-qui-aht’s desire to participate in the Tofino economy might be stalled due to concern about the supply of a commodity that is provided from our home territory without compensation or consideration to Tla-o-qui-aht.”

“While we continue to work together to find solutions to Tofino’s water challenges, we ask that any activity that Tlao-qui-aht undertakes be exempt from any limits to growth plans or policies that Tofino may adopted. We ask this is a good faith gesture from Tofino considering the foregoing explanation of our need to better align our resources and our desire to

participate in Tofino’s economy,” TFN’s letter continues.

During theAug. 26 CoW meeting, council passed a motion that directed district staff to proceed with a Limits to Growth Policy based on a limit of 100m3/day to 120m3/day use of raw water for a new development.

According to district staff, this allocation of 100m3/day to 120m3/day is the maximum amount of risk Council is willing to allocate for any single operation within the policy.

“Developments, including single-family homes, duplexes, townhouses, and apartments, consume an estimated prescribed amount of water daily, and staff use these

estimates to calculate overall water usage, and prioritized allocations. The policy will prioritize specific types of development and set conditions for approval until an additional water source is secured,” explained district staff.

By comparison, in the 2024 operational summer months of June and July, Tofinobased aquaculture company Cermaq used an average of 141m3 of district-supplied water per day, and Creative Salmon (Waterfield Management) used an average of 30m3 per day, said district staff.

Tofino mayor Dan Law corresponded to TFN’s letter on Sept. 3.

“During Council’s discussion, the remarks in your letter were deliberated.

Council conveyed their willingness to proceed with developing a policy that includes proposed options for the requests made by the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation regarding future development and raw water supply needs, given the chosen risk threshold,” said Law in his letter to TFN.

“District of Tofino Staff and Council remain committed to this discussion and working towards developing a policy that includes provisions for the developments proposed by the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation,” Law wrote.

The first draft of the Limits to Growth Policy is set to appear in front of mayor and council during the Oct. 8 regular meeting. District staff say the first draft will include details on how TFN is “prioritized in future water allocation decisions”.

Funding assists Mackenzie Creek restoration project

By Sam Laskaris Ha-Shilth-Sa Contributor

Tofino, BC – Tofino is one of 65 communities from across British Columbia that will collectively receive about $56 million from the province’s Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF).

It was announced via a news release in mid-September that Tofino is specifically getting $150,000 in funding, which will be utilized towards a Mackenzie Creek restoration project.

Preventative work that will be done with the funding is aimed at helping First Nations and local governments during emergencies by minimizing the risk of disasters.

This is accomplished in various manners including tackling current vulnerabilities. Minimizing the risks of future disaster events is also accomplished by assisting various communities to make informed future decisions.

All of the provincial funding was provided through the CEPF’s Disaster Risk Reduction - ClimateAdaptation stream.

“As we know, our coastal communities are very vulnerable to climate change,” said Jessica Hutchinson, who has served as the executive director of the Redd Fish Restoration Society for the past 20 years. “We’re really excited about this opportunity. It’s an opportunity to take preventative measures.”

The Redd Fish Restoration Society, which also simply goes by the moniker Redd Fish, is a registered charity based in Ucluelet that focuses on restoration, research and education.

Hutchinson said Redd Fish as well as officials from Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation and the District of Tofino joined forces to submit a funding application.

Josie Osborne, who is the MLAfor Mid

Island-Pacific Rim, is pleased that the group is one of the recipients of provincial funding.

“Mackenzie Creek is a valued salmonbearing creek that has suffered impacts from past development, and local organizations are working hard to rehabilitate the creek and its sensitive fish and wildlife habitat,” she said. “This funding will help Tofino in their efforts to restore Mackenzie Creek to a cleaner, healthier waterway.”

Hutchinson said the local area is more vulnerable to some disasters due to its exposure to the ocean. The region also has a tendency to see large precipitation events.

“We’re hoping to improve climate readiness for Tla-o-qui-aht, its surrounding communities and the District of Tofino,” Hutchinson said.

The province established the CEPF in 2017. Since its inception the program has provided about $369 million to First Nations and local governments to better prepare themselves and mitigate impacts of climate-related emergencies.

Atotal of about 2,100 projects have received some funding in the past seven years in various categories.

“Climate change is no longer a future concern, it’s happening now and we’re seeing its impact all over British Columbia,” said Bowinn Ma, the minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness. “Through disaster mitigation funding, our government is committed to helping communities become more resilient by empowering local governments to adapt to the changing climate and better protect themselves and their residents against future climate challenges.”

Provincial funding was divided into three categories. Funding for the Tofino initiative was provided through a cat-

egory for foundational activities, which includes risk planning and assessments. There was also a funding category for small-scale structural activities.And another one for non-structural activities, including land use planning, community education and the purchase of eligible equipment.

Now that the Tofino project funding has been secured, Hutchinson said the next steps are being planned.

“We’re doing a series of assessments looking for ways to improve our ecosystem recovery,” she said, adding assessments include determining culvert conditions and the status of shorelines. She said those assessments are expected to begin this winter.

“It will reach out into the summer as well,” she said.

Hutchinson also said a number of community engagement sessions will also be held with Tla-lo-qui-aht First Nation members as well as residents from the District of Tofino.

“This is about creating climate resiliency,” she said.

CEPF funding is administered through the Union of BC Municipalities.

“Local governments are looking ahead to what the changing climate means for public infrastructure,” said union President Trish Mandewo. “As climate events become more severe and more frequent, adaptation projects are needed to ensure our communities can withstand future disasters. This funding will help local governments whether they are assessing the changing risk, determining the adaptation needed or carrying out the work.”

Jessica Hutchinson is executive director of the Redd Fish Restoration Society.

Nora O’Malley photo

Tla-o-qui-aht members and others enjoy a parade in Tofino on National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21.

Canadian Medical Association makes public apology

Racism and systemic abuse in public health care are acknowledged by national group of medical professionals

By Denise Titian Ha-Shilth-Sa Reporter

Victoria, BC – The Canadian MedicalAssociation (CMA) issued a public apology to First Nations, Inuit and Métis people for past and ongoing harms to Indigenous people in the health care system.

The live-streamed event took place in Victoria on Wednesday, Sept. 18.

Dr.Alika Lafontaine, the CMA’s first Indigenous president (2022–23), announced the association’s commitment to an apology in June 2023 as an important part of the CMA’s response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls toAction.

With the goal of creating meaningful change in health care and in the relationship between physicians and Indigenous Peoples, the CMAis hoping the apology inspires members of the profession and medical organizations to begin their own reconciliation journeys.An apology is just the beginning. The CMAis committed to being accountable and working together with Indigenous Peoples to do better in the spirit of humility and reciprocity.

The ceremony featured speakers and performances representing Indigenous groups from across Canada. It was held on the traditional territory of the lək wəŋiʔnəŋ speaking people of Songhees and Xwsepsum Nations.

Invited Métis guest speaker, Jimmy Durocher, 84, comes from the Red River Valley, Saskatchewan. He said the legacy of colonization has left scars on First Nations people that can be seen to this day. His late wife, he shared, was a victim of forced sterilization in Canada’s health care system.

But he is feeling positive about the CMAapology.

“We need truth before reconciliation,” said Durocher.

Indigenous people, he said, have been subject to routine discrimination in the medical field.

“It’s going to take a long time because lots of damage has been done, but I’m so happy that the CMAhas taken the first steps,” said Durocher.

The Canadian MedicalAssociation is a national, voluntary association of physicians and medical learners that advocates on national health matters. Its primary mandate is to drive positive change in

Dr. Joss Reimer

health care by advocating on key health issues facing doctors and their patients.

Dr. Joss Reimer, president of the CMA, gave a brief history of the organization and its role in the Canadian health care system. The CMA, she said, was founded in 1867 with 164 physicians from across Canada.

In preparation for this day, the CMA conducted a review of its history with Canada’s Indigenous people.

“The historical review revealed that the CMAcontributed to systemically embedding and upholding anti-Indigenous racism in health care, thus creating an unsafe environment for Indigenous Peoples, patients and communities,” they stated.

For example, the Indian hospital system, which embedded systemic racism and discrimination in the Canadian health system by fostering racial segregation and conditions where Indigenous patients received substandard and unsafe care.

The CMAnoted that patients were subjected to abuse, experimental treatments and forced and coerced sterilization.

One of the presentations showed that day was the story of Sonny James McDonald. Sonny, born 1939, began coughing up blood while living in Fort Chipewyan.At age seven the little boy had contracted TB and was sent, by himself, from his home and family in a bush plane, then a train to an Edmonton Indian hospital where a portion of his lung was

CYPRESS

surgically removed.

The curious and affable little boy liked to wander around the hospital, visiting other patients. Someone decided to take his pajama bottoms in an effort to keep him in bed. McDonald recalled that he was only seven and didn’t care and ran around “bare butt”.

He recalls being taken into a restroom by an orderly where he was sodomized. McDonald’s next memory is having his lower legs set in casts, joined by a bar to prevent him from walking. He was kept in a small room where he grew lonely. He was at the hospital for two and a half years.

Other examples of abuse cited by the CMAare the medical experimentation conducted on Indigenous children in residential schools, including studying the effects of malnourishment and withholding necessary care.

They acknowledge that medical experimentation was conducted on Indigenous adults, including studying the effects of nutritional interventions and testing experimental tuberculosis vaccines and treatments.

“We still do not know the full extent of medical experimentation on Indigenous children or adults,” they wrote.

Inuit were forced to relocate to tuberculosis sanatoriums far from their homes, without community support, without their informed consent and against their wishes. Many patients died and their remains were never returned home.

There were physicians that took part in ‘60s Scoop ‘birth alerts’, where babies were taken from mothers and put up for adoption.

In more recent times, the CMAsays that Indigenous women, some men and two-spirit people underwent forced and coerced sterilization outside the Indian hospital system.

“Some reports suggest this has happened as recently as 2019,” stated the CMA.

CMAPresident Dr. Joss Reimer apologized to Indigenous people and spoke of the CMA’s commitment to being accountable and working together to do better in the spirit of humility and reciprocity.

There was an acknowledgement by CMAthat the medical system has a history of exhibiting and accepting racist, colonial and paternalistic attitudes toward Indigenous Peoples.

“Many Indigenous people suffered

mistreatment and lack of care, sometimes leading to health issues or even death,” they wrote.

“We have not lived up to the ethical standards the medical profession is expected to uphold to ensure the highest standard of care is provided to patients and trust is fostered in physicians, residents and medical students,” Reimer said. “We realize we have left Indigenous Peoples out of that high standard of care.”

The CMAhas developed the ReconciliACTION Plan which outlines how it will advance health and well-being for Indigenous Peoples, support the medical profession’s journey toward truth and reconciliation, and promote internal reconciliation as an organization.

The CMAsays that its 157-year history, and the history of the medical profession, is Canada’s history – including systemic racism, neglect and abuse.

“As the national voice of Canada’s physicians, it’s important that we deliver this apology. The CMAbelieves in creating a more accessible, equitable health system, including reconciliation in health care – a formal apology to Indigenous Peoples is a critical step in that work,” they stated.

The CMArecognizes this apology may reopen wounds and retraumatize First Nations, Inuit and Métis individuals, families and communities who have experienced harms in the health system. For anyone who requires additional support, please use this list of culturally safe supports:

THE INDIAN RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL CRISIS LINE: 1-866-9254419 The crisis line is available 24 hours a day for anyone experiencing pain or distress as a result of a residential school experience.

HOPE FOR WELLNESS HELPLINE: 1-855-242-3310, OR CHAT ONLINEAT HOPEFORWELLNESS.CAThe Hope for Wellness Helpline offers immediate help to all Indigenous peoples across Canada in the following languages: Ojibway, Cree, Inuktut, English and French. They provide 24/7 culturally grounded assessment, referrals, counselling and support in times of crisis, including suicide intervention.

SUICIDE CRISIS HELPLINE: CALL OR TEXT 9-8-8 (TOLL-FREE) The Suicide Crisis Helpline provides a safe space to talk, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. This service is available in English and French.

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Please note that the deadline for submissions for our next issue is Oct 11, 2024

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Reversing reconcilation by UNDRIP repeal?

First Nations Leadership Council concerned over Conservative leader’s comments

By Denise Titian Ha-Shilth-Sa Reporter

With the provincial election looming, the words of candidates are being carefully scrutinized, including what Conservative leader John Rustad said earlier this year.

On Feb. 1 the former minister ofAboriginal Relations and Reconciliation posted this statement on the Conservative Party of BC’s website: “We must also repeal the United Nations Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which was established for conditions in other countries — not Canada.”

The First Nations Leadership Council say that repealing the DeclarationAct, legislation passed in 2019 that sets to align B.C. laws with UNDRIP, would undo decades of progress made toward affirming theirAboriginal rights and title.

On Sept. 30, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the Conservative Party of BC released statements about how it would promote Indigenous rights. The party said that UNDRIP would be honoured, but criticized how the Declaration Act, or DRIPA, has been enacted since 2019.

“DRIPAlegislation was intended to represent a shift towards reconciliation and the recognition of Indigenous self-determination in British Columbia,” stated the Conservatives. “However, its implementation and interpretation by the NDP has stalled Indigenous-led development in industries like mining, forestry, natural gas and other sectors.”

The party noted that it would work with First Nations to develop new legislation to advance “economic reconciliation and Indigenous autonomy.”

The First Nations Leadership Council is concerned of what this could entail.

“This ‘plan’will set us back decades and will continue to pit First Nations against other British Columbians,” stated the council.

Cheryl Cassimer of the Ktunaxa Nation played an integral role in the establishment of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous PeoplesAct (DRIPA), and continues to advocate for the implementation of itsAction Plan.

DRIPA, she told Ha-Shilth-Sa, recognizes Indigenous Rights as human rights. It comes from UNDRIP and is fully

endorsed by the governments of British Columbia and Canada. B.C. was the first Canadian province to make UNDRIP law under John Horgan’s NDP government in 2019.

“It’s the first time in our collective history that Indigenous rights are being recognized as human rights,” said Cassimer. Described as a framework for reconciliation, Bill 41 (DRIPA) requires the government to take all measures necessary to ensure the laws of British Columbia are consistent with the United Nations declaration. It aims to create a path forward that respects the human rights of Indigenous Peoples while introducing better transparency and predictability in the work they do together.

Cassimer says she doesn’t know how Rustad would go about repealing DRIPA if he wins the election.

“It’s law and it states he must have free and prior informed consent to do certain things…I don’t think he’s going to get that level of consent from First Nations in the province,” she told Ha-Shilth-Sa.

The FNLC notes that Mr. Rustad’s platform includes a number of things the Eby government is already working on, including loan guarantees for equity in natural resource projects, capacity building, treatment and recovery services, as well as transferring authority over child welfare services.

“It (Rustand’s platform) also includes a commitment to ‘strategic land return to First Nations’and returning 20 per cent of B.C.’s forests to FN to manage, despite the current government having already

Ha-Shilth-Sa belongs to every Nuu-chah-nulth person including those who have passed on, and those who are not yet born.Acommunity newspaper cannot exist without community involvement. If you have any great pictures you’ve taken, stories or poems you’ve written, or artwork you have done, please let us know so we can include it in your newspaper. E-mail holly.stocking@nuuchahnulth.org. This year is Ha-Shilth-Sa’s 50th year of serving the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations. We look forward to your continued input and support. Kleco! Kleco!

transferred over 20 per cent of forestry tenure to First Nations,” FNLC stated.

“Our policies focus on fostering partnerships between First Nations and the private sector, unlocking opportunities in industries such as natural resource management, fisheries, forestry, and clean energy,” stated Rustad.

He stressed that First Nations should be enabled to be “leaders in British Columbia’s economic future.”

“Economic reconciliation is not only the key to self-determination but also the foundation for the health and prosperity of Indigenous communities across our province,” he continued. “As former minister ofAboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, I signed over 435 agreements with First Nations, and I know that true reconciliation is achieved through direct engagement, respect for governance structures, and empowering Indigenous communities to control their economic future.”

This is part of the reason that DRIPA was enacted, says Cassimer, as it recognizesAboriginal rights and title to the land and resources, requiring that First Nations are consulted in a meaningful way. Citing the conflict over the Coastal Gaslink pipeline in Wet’suwet’en territory, Cassimer said then-premier John Horgan met and negotiated with the Wet’suwet’en to resolve the dispute. She said she didn’t think that negotiation could have happened without government recognition of Wet’suwet’en inherent rights and title.

She expects Rustad would be met with resistance if he tried to repeal DRIPA.

“That would be going back to square one and back to conflict all over again,” said Cassimer.

“First Nations are not interested in going back decades with the work we have done – where decisions are being made without us and we’re not going back to a place where development can happen in our territories and with absolutely no regard to who we are and our right to the land,” she stated.

Cassimer reminds people that voting on election day is their individual right and responsibility. She suggests voters do their research and ask questions of their candidates so that they can make informed decisions.

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John Rustad

Meet your 2024 provincial election candidates

Mid Island-Pacific Rim North Island

Ross Reid, BC Green Party

Born and raised here in the Cascadian Bioregion, Ross was immersed in the outdoors as a young child that led him to pursue a career in storytelling as an adventure filmmaker after attending MSU for a BFAin Film and a Minor in Biology.After a decade he went back to school for an MBAto be more versed in the economics and drivers behind business of today. This variety of experiences, education, love for the outdoors and a background in storytelling culminated in 2019 with the birth of ‘Nerdy About Nature’, a wildly successful multi-media project that educates folks on nature and our interrelationship. Now, Ross works in the ecological restoration of forests and watersheds to help heal the damage done by industry in the past in order to create a healthier future with more opportunity for all.

Adam Hyaduk, Conservative Party

Adam is driven by a desire to see the communities and residents of the Mid Island-Pacific Rim riding thrive. He believes that a common-sense approach is crucial to addressing the challenges facing British Columbians. Adam Hayduk is a candidate with a proven track record of leadership, community involvement, and a strong commitment to practical solutions. His blend of business and political acumen, along with his deep-rooted connections to the Mid Island-Pacific Rim region, make him a compelling choice for MLA.Adam is dedicated to making British Columbia a safer, more affordable, and better-supported province for all its residents.

Josie Osborne, BC NDP

Josie Osborne has called Tofino home for over 25 years, first moving there to work as a fisheries biologist for the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council then leading an environmental education non-profit organization before serving as mayor of Tofino for almost eight years. In 2020 she was elected MLAfor Mid Island-Pacific Rim. She’s currently serving as BC’s Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation. Josie has always worked hard for people and to build partnerships to tackle the big issues that matter to people, from affordable housing to improving access to health care and making life more affordable. She is deeply committed to helping solve the climate crisis, and building a cleaner and stronger future.

Nic Dedeluk, BC Green Party

Nic Dedeluk, a dedicated marine biologist and environmental advocate. Having lived in the region since 2000, she has built her career around preserving the natural beauty and ecosystems of Vancouver Island. Nic cofounded the Cetus Research & Conservation Society and led the development of the Straitwatch Program, a pioneering initiative to reduce human impacts on whales. Her 25 years of experience in marine conservation have also seen her work closely with many First Nations. Nic is deeply committed to sustainable energy, environmental stewardship, equitable resource management and advance environmental initiatives.

Anna Kindy, Conservative Party Dr.Anna Kindy, a physician, addiction specialist and dedicated advocate, is running as a candidate for the MLAposition in North Island under the banner of the Conservative Party of BC. With a career spanning 35 years in medicine and a commitment to her community, Anna is poised to make a significant impact on the North Island’s well-being.Anna’s vision for the North Island is one of positive change and empowerment. She is excited to join John Rustad’s Conservative Party of BC team to help break away from politics as usual. Her mission is to provide the North Island’s population with a strong voice, driving improvements in their standard of living, work environments, and access to healthcare.

Michele Babchuk, BC NDP

Michele Babchuk has called the beautiful North Island home for more than 20 years, and was first elected as MLAin 2020.Aformer councillor for the City of Campbell River, chair of the Strathcona Regional District Board and school Board member, she has been a strong advocate for improving education, resource opportunities, and internet connectivity for the North Island. Michele knows that David Eby and the BC NDP team are on the side of regular people; improving education, healthcare and creating new job opportunities here on the North Island. She knows there’s more to do — and that there’s too much at stake. The last time John Rustad and Kevin Falcon were in government, car insurance rates skyrocketed, fees for services went up and hospitals and schools saw massive, reckless cuts. That’s not right for people on the North Island, and it’s not right for BC.

David Evans, BC Green Party

David Evans is a father, business owner and entrepreneur living in the traditional territory of the T’Sou-ke Nation. He has a degree in communications, has worked in radio, and magazines regionally, nationally and internationally. David views the political landscape through a unique lens, and he knows that the status quo is incapable of rescuing us from the problems that it created. Cost Of Living, Housing Insecurity, Healthcare, Political Division and Drought to the Climate Crisis and more.As a business owner, David knows that people are capable of wonderful things when they work together with a shared vision. Together, we can do it.

Marina Sapozhnikov, Conservative Party

Marina Sapozhnikov’s life story is a testament to unwavering dedication, adaptability, and a deep-rooted commitment to the well-being of communities. Born in Ukraine, Marina’s journey to becoming a candidate with the Conservative Party of BC is marked by resilience and a passion for healing. In Israel, Marina completed a rigorous four-year residency program in family medicine. Her versatile career in healthcare included roles in emergency medicine, internal medicine, family medicine, and even serving as the director of a primary care clinicI. Her journey to Canada has been defined by resilience, adaptability, and a deep-seated passion for healthcare and community service. Her extensive experience in medicine and her unique perspective on healthcare in BC make her a compelling advocate for the constituents of Juan de Fuca-Malahat. Marina is ready to bring her dedication and expertise to the forefront, ensuring a brighter future for the riding she proudly represents.

Dana Lajeunessa, BC NDP

Alongtime resident of Sooke, he expected to grow up and work in the forestry industry, like his Dad and his Grandfather before him. Then, in 1989, a life-altering injury changed everything. Unable to continue in forestry, Dana earned a diploma from Camosun College in Mechanical Engineering Technology and worked in the industry for twenty-four years. He built strong connections in his community, serving on the Mayor’sAdvisory panel for economic development and Sooke Region Chamber’s Board of Directors. He was elected to the District of Sooke Council in 2019 and re-elected in 2022.

Juan de Fuca-Malahat

‘I’m just finding my voice now’: Residential school survivors speak

Several former students of the Alberni Indian Residential School recall horrors of Caldwell Hall, as Sept. 30 gathering recognizes their

By Eric Plummer Ha-Shilth-Sa Editor

Warning: The following article contains subject matter related to child abuse and suicide, and may trigger some readers.

PortAlberni, BC -Attending residential school caused children to emotionally shut down inside, part of a survival tactic that resulted in years of silence about their experience at the assimilationist institutions.

This is what Jennifer Wood has experienced and observed, who is a unit lead for commemoration projects and community relations with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. With some other staff from the NCTR, she ventured from Winnipeg to be part of PortAlberni’s event marking the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. On Sept. 30 hundreds walked through PortAlberni to a gathering hosted by Tseshaht on the former site of theAlberni Indian Residential School, which shut down in 1973 after operating in various forms on the Tseshaht reserve since 1893.

“I know about PortAlberni and I know it was one of the worst schools in Canada,” said Wood, who is Ojibway from Neyaashiinigmiing First Nation.

Like her five siblings, parents and grandparents, she went residential school, attending the Portage Indian Residence in Manitoba.

“Alot of survivors won’t talk about it because they weren’t asked what they thought about anything,” she said. “You’re conditioned not to talk, you’re conditioned not to give your opinion on anything.”

But the experiences one endures during childhood remain, albeit hidden within the passing years. Stories end up re-emerging, something Wood’s sister Vivian experienced as an adult while undergoing a medical procedure that revealed a mark on her head. Her memory returned to when she was six.

“She peed the bed, and the nun made her strip the sheets,” said Wood. “She said, ‘You stand there until I come back.’Well, the nun didn’t come back.”

Standing in the dark, Vivian fell down, fracturing her head on the bed. Without getting any medical attention, she healed, but the mark remained.

“It wasn’t until 40 years later, she had to get a CAT scan or something on her head, and the doctor asked her, ‘What happened to your head?’,” continued Wood. “Instantly she remembered.”

During the Tseshaht gathering Dolly McRae, a Gitxsan member who attended AIRS, asked residential school survivors to join her before the crowd, sharing their childhood stories of when they were away from family for so many years.

Tom Watts attendedAIRS for four years.

“I learned a lot of things: I learned how to lie, how to steal, how to be hungry. They taught me how to hate my parents,” recounted the Tseshaht elder. “I used to walk up the hill there picking fern roots to eat, looking in the garbage cans for food.”

Watts saw children trying to hang themselves in the “miserable place”, although there was one positive element to the experience.

“All we did all day was play sports, sports, sports. So everybody who came out of this residential school were good athletes,” said Watts, who played on the seniorAAlberni Athletics basketball team, winning a national championship in 1965.

Nora Martin of Tla-o-qui-aht also went to AIRS with her brothers and sisters, although she never got to see them while at the institution.

“When we were here there was a little boy, I never knew what his name was. He hung himself in that building over there,” she said, pointing at once was Caldwell Hall, a former student residence and one of the two structures from the residential school that still stands. “There was a lot of abuse at this school, there was a lot of neglect.”

Martin said her brother found the boy hanging. He became an alcoholic and refused to live with anyone, said Martin of her brother.

Many former residential school students have struggled with addiction, which becomes an emotional refuge amid the trauma, explained Wood.

“That’s the only thing that made them feel warm and comfortable,” she said. “When you’re shut down emotionally, you’re not growing, your brain isn’t growing. That’s why you face all these challenges when you go out of school.”

Huu-ay-aht member Ben Clappis attended AIRS from 1963-71. He knows about the boy found hanging in Caldwell Hall.

“That was my wife’s youngest brother, Mitchell,” he said.

After years of silence, Clappis found him-

self finally opening up about his childhood experiences at the institution as he was part of a court case that delved into child abuse atAIRS.

“I got brave enough to speak after all those years I was silent,” said Clappis, who now helps others in their healing with his role at the Kackaamin Family Development Centre. “I was abused in this school. I was sexually abused.”

Grace Frank attendedAIRS and Christie residential school. She stepped inside the old Caldwell Hall building a few weeks ago to climb the stairs, but had to turn around and leave, as memories returned.

“I’ve had people tell me to get over it and let it go. How do you let it go when you’ve been traumatized for your whole life?” she asked, addressing he crowd.

“For all the years that I tried to commit

Dolly McRae speaks with other residential school survivors at a gathering organized by the Tseshaht First Nation on Sept. 30, marking National Day ciliation. Tseshaht elder Randy Fred, below right, was among the several former students who spoke at the event.

survivors speak up

30 gathering recognizes their survival

Eric Plummer photos

Nation on Sept. 30, marking National Day for Truth and Recon-

suicide, I’m so glad that I’m here today. I have five kids that I love very much.”

Frank is grateful that Tseshaht plans to demolish the old Caldwell Hall building, and is invitingAIRS survivors to participate in the tearing down process. Tseshaht Chief Councillor Ken Watts says the federal government has committed to fund this demolition, and that the First Nation plans to replace Maht Mahs gym, the other remainingAIRS building, with another facility.

“Our communities are struggling right now,” said Watts. “The best way for us to heal as a people is to do exactly what we’re doing today.”

“We need teachers to support us and make us feel good,” said residential school survivor Clara Clappis, who is 66. “My voice was taken away, and I’m just finding my voice now.”

Reconciliation today for tomorrow’s kids, Huu-ay-aht invites greater community

By Denise Titian Ha-Shilth-Sa Reporter

Anacla, BC – The people of Huu-ay-aht invited the community of Bamfield to join them on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Sept. 30, where they were treated to a catered lunch at the House of Huu-ay-aht.

But first, Chief Councillor John Jack invited the crowd out to watch children lower the flags outside the Huu-ay-aht Government Office in honour of residential schools survivors, and to remember those that didn’t make it home.

Chief Jack said one of the flags is the Huuah-aht First Nation flag.Asecond flag is the Maa-ulth Treaty flag and the third is the orange survivor’s flag.

Of the treaty flag, Jack said it represents

an example of what reconciliation looks like.

“We work together and live together now and for generations to come,” he told the crowd.

But damage has been done due to institutions like Indian residential schools and racist government policy.

“We need to remember what happened, but not let it dissuade us,” said Jack. He said it will take generations of consistent work to reverse the damage.

The three flags outside the Huu-ah-aht Government Office are lowered to half mast for at least a week, said Jack. He said they do it to remember those that didn’t survive residential school, and those that survived and kept moving forward. They were also lowered in recognition of the “tragic event” that took place in neighboring Nitinaht over

the

With the flags lowered, a new, commemorative bench was unveiled outside the House of Huu-ay-aht.An engraved plaque reads, “In Honour of the Huuay-aht citizens and all affected by Indian Residential Schools. To those who never returned home, those still enduring its lasting impact, and future generations. May truth and reconciliation guide us as we walk the path of healing together, united as one.

ʔiisaak (Respect) - ʔuuʔałuk (Taking Care of) – Hišuk ma čawak (Everything is One), September 30, 2024.”

The community sat together for lunch before heading down to the main road where large, orange-painted rocks line the roadside. People were invited to place black handprints on the rocks, a visible daily reminder that every child matters.

Denise Titian photo

Acelebration was held at the House of Huu-ay-aht on Sept. 30 inAnacla, marking National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

weekend.

Nora O’Malley photo

Ucluelet Secondary School hosted its fourth annual museum exhibit for Orange Shirt Day. The exhibit explores the concept of reconciliation through artistic expression and what that means to youth in Canada. There was student poetry books for sale as well as a limited supply of student-created orange shirts.All proceeds went to next years’work on the national day.

Thrift store painting ignites interest in 1963 Yuquot

Mysterious acrylic work found in Nelson was made when site was still Mowachaht/Muchalaht’s main village

By Denise Titian Ha-Shilth-Sa Reporter

Nelson, BC –Awoman shopping at a thrift store in Nelson, BC is intrigued by a framed painting. The thick, brilliantly coloured, oil paint brought to life a scene of a small, rugged settlement surrounded by rocks and forests. Priced at only $1, the woman took the beautiful painting home.

Entitled ‘Friendly Cove’, the color painting features a cluster of houses, some on stilts, surrounded by lush, green forests. In the background, peeking over the tree tops is the steeple of a church. On the back of the painting, printed in block letters are the words, ‘Friendly Cove, sketched 1963’and is signed France Sue (Prior) McIntyre.

Dawn Slye emailed Ha-Shilth-Sa in late September. She wrote that she bought the painting that very day, at a thrift shop in Nelson, BC.

“I had never heard of Friendly Cove, even though I had lived and explored Vancouver Island for many years, but looked into it and thought I’d share a bit of your history with you!” Slye wrote in an email to Ha-Shilth-Sa.

Through research, Slye discovered that a place known as Friendly Cove exists. Today, it is known by its Mowachaht name, Yuquot.

Slye sent photos of the painting, front and back to Ha-Shilth-Sa.

“The photos do not do the painting justice but I’ll send them along anyway,” she wrote.

What is known about the painting, based on information printed on the back, is that it was sketched in Friendly Cove in 1963, when there would have been more people living there. The sketch wasn’t painted until 1971.

Ha-Shilth-Sa searched names on the back of the painting and is waiting for information to come back from a person that may have painted the image. With its rugged beauty and rich his-

Phrase of the week

Entitled ‘Friendly Cove’, the color painting features a cluster of houses, some on stilts, surrounded by lush, green forests. On the back, printed in block letters are the words, ‘Friendly Cove, sketched 1963’, signed France Sue (Prior) McIntyre.

tory, Yuquot has long been an inspiration for artists. It is the place of first contact on the Northwest Pacific Coast with England’s Captain James Cook in 1778, followed by Spaniards in 1789. Drawings of scenes from the village were made by artists accompanying both sets of explorers.

In more recent times, Yuquot was the inspiration for some of the works of notable artists like Emily Carr (1871-1945) and Jock McDonald (1897-1960).

It was in 1928 that Emily Carr spent time in Yuquot, sketching scenes from the village, including the little white church that was to become her most famous painting.

Intrigued by Indigenous art, Carr began travelling to B.C.’s coastal First Nations villages to see the totem poles and other carvings that were rapidly disappearing from the landscape. In 1898 she went to Ucluelet and visited with the

Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ. It was there that she was given the name Klee Wyck. Her first book was entitled Klee Wyck.

In 1929, Carr’s painting she named ‘Indian Church’was complete. The church was a simplified version of an older church that had burnt down and was replaced. In the painting, the stark, white church is flanked by rows of simple white crosses protected by picket fences. Indian Church was Carr’s most famous painting. It was renamed, in consultation with the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation in 2018. The painting is now called ‘Church in Yuquot Village’.

In 1935, Scottish/Canadian artist Jock McDonald and his family boarded the SS Maquinna destined for Yuquot.According to his biography by theArt Institute of Canada, McDonald hoped seekng the natural beauty of Vancouver Island would give him ‘spiritual expression’– that and he was looking for land to buy.

Unable to find suitable property to buy, and running out of money, McDonald sent several of his Yuquot sketches to a dealer in Vancouver. He sold his oil on canvas painting, ‘Friendly Cove’, for $350, enough to get his family through the winter.

Aback injury in 1936 ended the McDonald family’s time in Yuquot and they returned to Vancouver. But sketches from the village were transformed into paintings, sustaining the family into the future. He supplemented his teacher’s salary with art sales, starting with the 1937 painting called Indian Burial, which shows a Yuquot burial scene, the subjects dressed in contemporary clothing.

Other paintings made from McDonald’s Yuquot sketches were Nootka Lighthouse in 1936, Pilgrimage in 1937, Drying Herring Roe in 1938 and B.C. Indian Village in 1943.

In 1939 McDonald was commissioned by Hotel Vancouver to paint a mural on the dining room wall. The mural was a scene from Yuquot featuring a house with a woman and child standing in front. They are surrounded by totem poles, forests and mountains. Jutting from the tree tops in the background, is a church steeple.

Sadly, this mural no longer exists, likely destroyed during renovations.

It’s been nearly a century since Emily Carr first painted her impressions of Yuquot. The Catholic church featured in the Carr and McDonald paintings is gone, replaced by a similar-looking white church. It is this replacement church that the mystery artist saw in 1963, when she made her sketches.

In 1963 more people lived at Yuquot, but they moved away at the behest of the federal government. The houses in the paintings are long gone. But the natural beauty of Yuquot, still showing remnants of the distant past juxtaposed with modern construction, remains a place of inspiration for artists.

-†%ayaaš†a%is%a>†T’at’uus†p’a+kpaya†%ath=c^ii%a+quu†q’waaca>+aqk%iš†%a>

Pronounced:†‘Ahh†ya†is†alth†taa†toos†pa†alt†paa†kaa†ath†hir†cha†alt†koo†kwa†culth†ayaa†saa†ayaa’,†this†phrase†means†There†is†lots†and†lots†of†sprinkling†stars† in†the†night†sky,†very†very†beautiful,†lots†and†lots†of†them†.†Supplied†by†ciisma

Huu-ay-aht looks at Dark-Sky status for Bamfield

The Three Stars Dark Sky festival educates about protecting the visibility of the night sky for future generations

By Nora O’Malley Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Standing in the home of his ancestors at Kiixin (pronounced kee-hin), Huuay-aht’s ancient summer village site, knowledge keeper Qiic Qiica spoke about connection.

“That’s one of the most beautiful things about being Indigenous is our connectedness. We are not above or below anything in the world. We are a part of it,” said Qiic Qiica, a cultural interpreter for Kiixin Tours.

“We are deeply connected to everything around us. Not just the land or the ocean, but it’s also the cosmos. Our people were so connected to the cosmos, it’s only with our modern technology and conveniences that we have become disconnected,” said Qiic Qiica as he led a group of scientists, Indigenous leaders, tourism delegates, economic development partners, journalists and professional stargazers on a journey through time.

Under ancient skies, the group walked the shores at Kiixin to “where the mossy pillars of a long-ago archway are angled to mirror the three stars of the Big Dipper”, and Qiic Qiica revealed the legacy of Huu-ay-aht’s three stars – “Where have I been, where am I now and where do I want to be in the future.”

The group of about 30 gathered from Sept. 17 to 19 to experience the inaugural Three Stars Dark Sky Festival, a pilot project hosted by Huu-ay-aht First Nation (HFN), the Huu-ay-aht Group of Businesses and Foundry Events. The invite-only festival served as a preliminary guide to determine the feasibility of hosting a yearly public event anchored to the cosmos.

The First Nation intends to use the event to assess if it should apply to the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) to become an official Dark-Sky Preserve. Inspired by the Jasper Dark Sky Festival,

councillor

ance from amateur astronomer Bill

in Jasper,Alberta, HFN says a Dark-Sky project has the potential to expand its shoulder tourism season and “create a sustainable, educational, eco-friendly, and Indigenous-led tourism product while blending both scientific and Indigenous perspectives of the sky”.

HFN councillor Stella Peters thinks becoming a Dark-Sky Preserve would be a positive move for the nation and the Bamfield community.

“I think this is a good opportunity.

Pachena Bay, Brady’s Beach, Kiixin, the beach before Kiixin Second Beach, Outer Shores… Those are all ideal locations where you could see a lot of stars and also for sunsets,” said Peters from the Rix Centre for Ocean Discoveries, Bamfield’s breathtaking conference centre that overlooks Barkley Sound.

RASC member and amateur astronomer

Bill Weir set up his telescopes on the Rix Centre observation deck with the hopes of introducing guests to the night sky, but sadly was foiled by an overcast night.

“I have always looked up at the sky from being a little kid. I didn’t grow up in a big city, I grew up in a small town and not very far out a blanket of stars. I’ve always enjoyed looking up at it. I like looking for things. I really enjoy showing people the day and the night sky. I just like sharing joy,” said Weir.

On behalf of RASC, Weir gifted HFN an entry-level scope and book called ‘NightWatch:APractical Guide to Viewing the Universe’by Terence Dickinson. He went on to express his support to the nation for their commitment to preserving the night sky.

“This place is very similar to Jasper and the Grasslands, which both have the designation because there is so much darkness around it,” said Weir.

What is a Dark-Sky Preserve?

There are currently 26 Dark-Sky Preserves in Canada, according to RASC. Areas with a Dark-Sky Preserve designation are required to limit and strictly control artificial lighting while actively promoting and educating the reduction of light pollution.

“There are a bunch of hoops you have to jump through. It can be a long process,” notes Weir.

The Ha-Shilth-Sa sent a message to RASC requesting more information and will update this article when more details come in.

Astro photographer Jeanine Holowatuik travelled from Northern Saskatchewan to experience the Three Stars Dark Sky Festival and HFN traditional culture.

“Nothing shines brighter than a -40C night,” said Holowatuik during an inspiring slide show presentation of her night photography.

“The night sky is getting harder to find. Light polluted areas are one of the biggest problems no one is talking about,” she said continued.

Holowatuik showed the group an interactive website called lighpollutionmap. info that maps light pollution around the world with NASAinfrared imagery.

“Eighty per cent of the world’s population live under polluted night skies. Satellites are changing the night sky,” said Holowatuik.

The Union of Concerned Scientists keeps a database of all satellites deployed. It’s latest update from January 2024 shows 7,561 satellites orbiting the Earth, with 3,995 of those satellites belonging to Elon Musk’s Starlink.

The number of satellites launched into orbit began to increase at an exponential rate, from 210 (2013), to 600 (2019), to 1,200 (2020) and to 2,470 in 2022, according to a recent report by the United Nations (UN) called ForAll Humanity –the Future of Outer Space Governance.

With the Three Stars Dark Sky project, HFN aims to promote and prioritize light pollution reduction. HFN’s Sacred Principles, including ʔiisaak (Greater Respect), ʔuuʔałuk (Taking Care Of), and Hišuk ma cawak (Everything is One), are central to the project and seeking the Dark-Sky Preserve designation.

“It is a collective initiative involving the community, its people, and traditional knowledge through storytelling. This sustainable, eco-friendly, and educational initiative aims to boost the local economy for present and future generations while preserving resources provided by the land and natural world,” HFN said.

Huu-ay-aht language warrior Hinatinyis shared the word “tatuus”, which means “star” in Nuu-chah-nulth language. The sound of the ‘t’is explosive, Hinatinyis explained.

“Barkley dialect sounds a lot like water rushing across the rocks, back and forth, back and forth,” said Hinatinyis from the House of Huu-ay-aht.

And like Qiic Qiica, she connected the wonders of the sky to the magic of the sea by conjuring up imagery of bioluminescent phytoplankton sparkling in the water like a starry midsummer night.

Nora O’Malley photo

Huu-ay-aht

Stella Peters takes a look at the telescope with the guid-

Weir.

President’s Message

Hello Everyone. Hard to believe we are already past the end of September and we are now into the fall season. Daylight has shortened a lot and everyday we get less light. Again, my deepest sympathies to all families friends and communities to those who have lost loved ones.

This month the directors of the Nuu-ahnulth Tribal Council called an emergency meeting and declared a state of emergency over the opiod/toxic drugs and mental health crises. There have been far too many deaths, especially our youth and the directors are saying “enough is enough”. We need action, we need solutions and we certainly need more resources to deal with mental health, and dealing with trauma and addictions.

The motion passed stated that the healing must be Nuu-chah-nulth driven, working with our people and communities to determine our path forward to deal with this crisis. We are a self determining nation and we must be able to move forward in collaboration with governments and organizations.

The directors have asked to fully resource theAhousaht First Nation with all the required mental health, cultural and other supports required to address their recent crisis and nation’s state of emergency.

They also called to implement the Alberni Valley Toxic Poisoned Drug (Opioid) Crisis Strategy, that was led by Tseshaht First Nation but had many involved in its development.

The Directors asked for resources for the development of a Nuu-chah-nulth Toxic Poisoned Drug (Opioid) Crisis’ strategy, and a B.C. First Nations Opioid and Mental Health Strategy. Such strategies will seek the input of our First Nations, members, those with addictions, front line workers and other to combat the current crisis.

The motion also asked to have senior officials of governments and health organizations to meet with Nuu-chah-nulth leadership as soon as possible to develop an action plan with respect to this state of emergency.

As an executive, we have already had one meeting and are planning another. It is important for all B.C. government agencies, FNHAand Island health to understand our needs to deal with this crisis. We are planning a second meeting that will include Health Canada. In our first meeting we went over Nuu-chah-nulth needs and what the B.C. government, FNHAand Island Health are providing. We need to focus on Nuu-chah-nulth and our needs.

We have had many First Nations and groups sending messages and asking to help in any way they can. The National Chief was one of the first ones to send her message of wanting to help. As did Cheryl Casimir, task Group of the First Nations Summit. Gord Johns got up in Parliament and asked the PM and minister of Health what they were prepared to do about the Nuu-chah-nulth State of emergency.

Our press conference and press release was well publicized as we were featured on tv, radio and online newspapers nationally and province-wide. The premier was asked to comment on our state of emergency and he pledged his government’s support. He said he was “keen

to sit down with Nuu-chah-nulth and talk about their proposal for how we can provide better care in their communities that have been so badly hit.” I was also able to ask him when he was at the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs meeting what he was willing to do to work Nuu-chahnulth. He talked about how they have given money to FNHAand are opening a youth centre with detox and the new centre in Campbell river. He did say he would work with us well but not much detail and what that would look like. As directors and executive of the NTC we have made this a priority. We are now into a provincial election. Some Nuu-chah-nulth do not like to get involved in another government. For those that do, think carefully how you vote. What is the position of each party on our rights and title, on implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples? John Rustad has been very negative about Indigenous rights. For example, he unveiled his policy paper on mining with no mention of First Nations right of consent, of the use of our land and water. He is also pro nuclear power, which has nuclear waste which requires to be buried underground and when we live in earthquake zones, this can be very dangerous for us.

Rustad has said that recognizing Haida title puts all British Columbians as risk in their private property so title will not be recognized in his government if elected. Rustad has been against shared decision making models with First Nations that are recognized in the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous PeoplesAct - so expect changes to that act if he is elected. Just be careful in who you chose to vote for. We know what the NDP government has done - may not be everything we want and need, but we know where their intentions lie. Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau is asking for a minority government. Ask all candidates what their positions are on things that are important to you.

I have also been busy with heritage and policing issues. Meetings with various officials to discuss changes needed. As the province is in election mode, not a lot can be accomplished until early December when cabinet is appointed. I also tuned in to a couple days of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, where there were many issues discussed including fisheries, forestry, bear dens and the final agreement on children and families.

- Cloy-e-iis, Judith Sayers

Basketball is back: 20242025 season comes to life

Ahousaht looks to follow up on championship last season, while Yuu>u%i>%ath= youngsters are eagar to play

By Nora O’Malley Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Nuu-chah-nulth basketball is back in full swing.

Young players have sights set on the 2025 JuniorAll Native Tournament (JANT), March 16 to 22, in Kelowna on Syilx Okanagan Territory, while adults are looking towards theAll Native Basketball Tournament (ANBT), Feb. 8 to 15 in Prince Rupert, B.C.

For Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ U13 coaches Marissa and Edward Mack, opening up the Hitacu gym for their first practice of the year felt like ripping off another band-aid – their dear friend and assistant coach Joseph Clutesi passed away suddenly in May, leaving a huge mark on the team and community.

“The kids talk about him all the time,” said Marissa. “Something that Joey taught them that I’m really grateful for is that they say ‘I love you’to each other. That was directly from Joey ‘cause he told everybody that. Now we’ll hear these teenage boys telling each other that they love each other. That’s so different from when I was a teenager.”

“We opened up the gym with the idea of just having conversations, but when we got there, they ended up taking up the mats by themselves and they just started playing basketball without us even telling them. They were ready,” she said. Marissa and Edward just sat and watched the kids play for the first practice.

“It took away that scary feeling. Joey was Edward’s best friend. Losing him was really tough on our team, especially because his daughter plays with us. Our last time in the gym together was at his funeral,” Marissa told the Ha-shilth-sa. Ahousaht boys U13 and U17 coach Luke Swan Jr. shares the feeling. He saysAhousaht has been somber with the recent passing of young community members.

“It’s been a tough time. The gym was closed,” said Swan Jr. “Everything in Ahousaht kind of changed in a sense. We changed to cultural support. We were in the schools doing brushing with the youth to help them with the grief and the loss and ground them in a good way.”

Swan Jr. went on to say that even though it was tough, the best thing he could do for the youth was to keep showing up for practice.

“Just to be there… I lost young friends in my young life and some people were just there to give time and that’s all I can give back is my time,” said Swan Jr., who coaches his sons Tavita, 11, and Ty, 9. “Sometimes they’re the ones pushing me. It keeps me grounded. Before I would be at work from 8 in the morning until 6 in the evening, but with the gym spot at five it gets me out and in with all the boys,” he said, noting thatAhousaht is planning to host two tournaments this year: one around Christmas and the other on a long weekend.

Adding the U13 basketball division to the program was a good call, says Marissa.

There was no U13 division when she was a kid.

“It was a little bit discouraging to be 12 and playing against 18-year-olds. Not only is this new U13 good for the kids, but it also brings out their whole family,” she said, noting that the youngest player on her U13 squad is seven.

“The energy in the gym is huge because there are so many fans for both teams. In the time that we’ve been coaches, I’ve never really experienced any negative energy in the stands because everyone is just there to have fun and learn.”

Swan Jr. said they used to have all their young players going to play for different nations, but that’s all changed. Last year, Ahousaht U13 boys went undefeated at the 2024 JANT and journeyed home from Nisga’a North in Terrace, B.C. with a championship banner to hang from the rafters of the Maaqtusiis gymnasium.

“Now, they have the opportunity to play from home.After winning, everybody’s been full on basketball here in the community. It’s ignited even the men here to get back in the gym,” he said.

His winning team has been training twice a week all summer long, in the water, on the beach and making use of hills. Heading into fall, they’ll switch to four practices a week with some key players aging up to the U17 division.

“The core moves on, but there is another strong core coming in,” Swan Jr. said.

“It’s only getting better and stronger. Our goal is to make sure that we are better than yesterday.”

Marissa is constantly wowed by how competitive the U13 division is.

“They are fearless at that age. They don’t care how big the opposing team is. They are just happy to be there,” she said.

Jen McLeod photo

Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ U13 Ravens boys squad and U13 West Coast Thunderbirds girls team line up for a group pic before making the big trip north to the JANT in Terrace, B.C. last season.

In search of a future beyond hydro dams

BC Hydro needs to diversify its power, but transmission limitations leave Vancouver Island out of the solution

By Eric Plummer Ha-Shilth-Sa Editor

Tofino, BC - BC Hydro saw “a strong response” for its call to diversify the province’s sources of power generation, but it appears that for the time being Vancouver Island will remain heavily reliant on mainland sources for electricity.

Closing on Sept. 16, the competitive call for power was the first issued by the provincial utility in over 15 years. For the first time BC Hydro introduced the stipulation that the proposed projects have “a meaningful First Nations partnership component” through at least 25 per cent Indigenous ownership.

“The First Nations economic participation model was developed in collaboration with First Nations to ensure the call creates opportunities for meaningful economic benefits, in alignment with our United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Implementation Plan,” stated BC Hydro in an email to Ha-Shilth-Sa.

For this call to power projects had to be large, with a minimum generation capacity of 40 megawatts – far more than any project undertaken so far in Nuu-chahnulth territory. BC Hydro is looking to add five per cent to its current provincewide capacity, meeting a growing need for electricity that aligns with the province’s push towards electric vehicles and heat pumps in homes.

Twenty-one proposals came through, representing three times the total generation BC Hydro requires from this call for power. Seventy per cent of these prospective projects harness wind, with 20 per cent of the proposals generating solar power and the remainder being biomass and water generation. Eight of the proposals came from B.C.’s southern Interior, with four from the central Interior, five from the northern coast and two from the Peace region in the northeast.

Just two proposals came from Vancouver Island, where the total generating capacity meets just 23.6 per cent of the region’s peak demand. This means that three quarters of Vancouver Island’s electricity comes from elsewhere –mainly hydroelectric dams in the Interior that “act as batteries” for the province’s

electricity needs, according to BC Hydro, while independent producers like the ones that submitted proposals to the utility in September serve as “intermittent renewables” when the power is available.

“The reservoirs store water and allow BC Hydro to ramp production up or down almost instantly, providing a reliable backup when the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing,” stated the provincial utility of its 82 hydroelectric dams throughout the province.

Heavy reliance on large dams

Currently British Columbia’s newest major dam is filling up with water in preparation for starting operations next year. Located on the Peace River in B.C.’s northeast, when Site C fills the 83-kilometre reservoir will widen the existing expanse of water by two to three times. With a 1,100-megawatt generating capacity, Site C is set to be the province’s fourth largest hydroelectric producer, located 80 kilometres downstream from the larger W.A.C. Bennett Dam that began

operating in 1968.

The project stands as a legacy of B.C.’s previous Liberal government, with a cost that has multiplied over its construction.A2007 feasibility study projected Site C’s cost would be $6.6 billion, but since then the project has ballooned to an estimated $16 billion.As the reservoir will permanently alter the Peace River’s banks, flooding agricultural land in the region, multiple court challenges have arisen from landowners and First Nations on both sides of the B.C.-Alberta border, citing a breach of century-old treaty rights.

Chris Henderson is the founding Executive Director of Indigenous Clean Energy, a national organization that advocates to empowerAboriginal communities to claim a role in the sector. He sees the Site C development as being part of “a 10-year dark period in B.C.”, but BC Hydro’s recent call for power is indicating a willingness to open more opportunities for Indigenous-led ventures.

“We need more power, so there has to be

more decentralized locations, decentralized ownership, because these are always going to be on a First Nation’s territory,”

“We will not be able to have a clean energy Canada, or not be able to deal with climate change, unless First Nation, Métis, Inuit people are at the centre of clean energy – and we’re well on that way to that reality,” added Henderson, who has identified 71 federal programs that support Indigenous participation in the renewable energy industry. “Clean energy fits with Indigenous culture, it fits with terms of protecting their lands, protecting their waters.”

Henderson spoke at an Indigenous renewable energy gathering at the Tin Wis Conference Centre in Tofino, territory of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation. Over the last decade Tla-a-qui-aht has led a wave of small-scale hydro projects on western Vancouver Island, starting with run-ofthe-river generating stations at Canoe and Haa-ak-suuk creeks that opened in 2014. Harnessing the power of streams descending from the mountainous terrain during the rainy colder months, these projects were followed by the Tla-oqui-aht’s Winchie Creek project, which opened in 2018.

At peak operations during the wet winter, the three river-driven projects have a combined generating capacity of 16 megawatts. This is enough to power approximately 11,000 homes, far more than there exists in the nearby communities of Clayoquot Sound.

Power generated from the sites is sold to BC Hydro for incorporation into Vancouver Island’s power grid.

“Collaborating to achieve these projects is a key step in Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation’s economic and self-governance plan,” stated Saya Masso, Tla-o-qui-aht’s former economic development director and current natural resources manager, when Haa-ak-suuk Hydro was launched.

“At the peak generation they are definitely exporting out to PortAlberni,” said Yuho Okada, president of the Barkley Project Group, which developed the hydro projects with Tla-o-qui-aht.

Transmission limitations

Before the Tla-o-qui-aht’s run-of-theriver projects, the China Creek Micro-

BC Hydro photo

The Site C dam is currently filling its reservoir with water in preparation to begin generating operations in 2025.At an estimated cost of $16 billion, the facility is set to become B.C.’s fourth largest hydroelectric producer.

Barkley Project Group photo

Apen stock carries water down a mountain to the Canoe Creek Hydro powerhouse. Canoe Creek began operations in 2014 near the west coast of Vancouver Island.

Hydro Power Plant came into operation in 2006, a facility near PortAlberni that is majority owned by the Hupacasath First Nation. With a 6.5-megawatt generating capacity, at peak production in the winter the plant produces enough electricity for 6,000 homes, according to the City of PortAlberni.

More recentlyAh’ta’apq Creek Hydro was completed in 2022 for the Hesquiaht First Nation by its village of Hot Springs Cove. The First Nation plans to use the project to reduce its reliance on diesel by 71 per cent for the remote village in Clayoquot Sound.

But current economics and limitations in transmission appear to be getting in the way of more Vancouver Island First Nations that want to help diversify British Columbia’s supply of power.

Okada believes that there is a need to increase generation on Vancouver Island, where there exists ample resources to produce this power, but rising costs have made micro-hydro projects more challenging to build.

“The costs associated with hydro projects are going up. It’s largely the construction costs,” he said. “The permegawatt costs have increased dramatically, whereas large-scale solar and wind, their costs are still coming down.”

Some of Vancouver Island’s existing transmission lines are limiting any further harnessing of the region’s “very rich and diversified clean energy resources,” explained Okada, who also attended the clean energy conference at Tin Wis.

“Right now there’s no way of bringing in more wind power from the north island because the transmission line between Gold River and Port Hardy is maxed out, it’s full,” he noted. “The transmission line between Tofino and PortAlberni is full. So you can’t do any more hydro projects out here, even though it rains like hell.”

BC Hydro does have plans to upgrade transmission on Vancouver Island, but these are all near Victoria in the south. In the utility’s 10-year capital plan are the replacement of undersea cables by the Gulf Islands and switching old underground lines for new ones to service Victoria, Esquimalt and Saanich by 2028.

These Victoria-region cable replacements will “increase capacity by over 60 per cent, enough to power more than 100,000 additional homes and meet the continued electricity growth in the area for the next 20-40 years,” stated BC Hydro.

This isn’t nearly enough for the province to diversify its supply of power sources, cautions Kwatuuma, Cole Sayers, who is the executive director of the Clean EnergyAssociation of B.C.

“There isn’t going to be much more available in terms of generation opportunities if we don’t build more transmission,” he said, stressing that this is essential for B.C. to lessen carbon emissions. “We need to essentially double our transmission capacity to meet our net-zero targets.”

Sayers, who is also a Hupacasath member, believes that First Nations can improve the transmission shortage by building the lines themselves with industrial partners who are willing to buy the power.

“We want to play a role in transmission planning because we want to be self-sufficient,” he said. “We believe that’s going to have a cascading effect on the grid so that you don’t have to bring power to the Island from the mainland. There’s going to be more power available to Vancouver and other centres.”

“First Nations on the Island have expressed interest in initiating their own transmission, in owning their own transmission,” he added. “First Nations do

want to be part of those conversations because, as of to date, First Nations haven’t been included in those talks.”

Afuture in wind power

Submissions to BC Hydro’s recent call for power indicate that wind could become a big part of the industry’s future. Meanwhile 55 massive turbines with 100-metre wingspans have been spinning on the northern end of Vancouver Island since 2013. Cape Scott Wind has a 99-megawatt generating capacity, enough to power 26,000 homes, according to the province. This is far greater than what the nearby town of Port Hardy needs, bringing a revenue opportunity for three local First Nations that share an impact benefit agreement for the project: the Quatsino, Tlatlasikwala and Kwakiutl First Nations.

Kara Wilson of the Quatsino First Nation says that the turbines can be heard if you stand under one, “but it’s more like a swishing noise like you would have with a house fan.”

Located on the Knob Hill Plateau 35 kilometres west of Port Hardy, the turbines

produce power consistently, says Wilson.

“More of our wind season is during the fall and winter,” she said. “Summertime would be the lowest point for wind, but it’s still generating.”

Cape Scott Wind currently exports power to B.C.’s mainland as well as the Seattle area. Wilson said this helps fund social programs for the Quatsino.

“The royalties do help with a lot of the programs that the reserve runs with the youth, some of the elders and the school,” she said, adding that when an agreement expires in 2033 the three First Nations hope to negotiate full ownership of the project.

Other sources of power are being explored by First Nations on Pacific coast. The University of Victoria and the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation have explored the viability of harnessing wave power at Yuquot. The development seeks to create an energy microgrid at the site, something that could bring a renewable source of power to supplement the diesel generators currently relied on at the ancient village.

Further north the Haida have recently installed 4,050 solar panels at the Masset airport on Haida Gwaii. The town of Masset is not connected to the BC Hydro grid, and has been entirely reliant on diesel. The solar development is a major part of the Haida’s plan to get off diesel for electricity by 2030.

Currently Haida Gwaii burns over 10 million litres of diesel a year, accounting for over half of the fuel used in B.C. for electricity, according to Sean Brennan, Implementation Manager for Tll Yahda Energy (which translates into making things right).

“The long-term goal is energy selfsufficiency, energy sovereignty on Haida Gwaii,” he said.

Across Canada, Henderson is seeing the Indigenous ownership of renewable power projects grow every day. But this is only possible if leaders have the full support of their communities.

“You’ve got to get your elbows up and negotiate hard, but it’s a lot easier to do that if the community is behind you,” he said.

Nora O’Malley photo

Clean Energy BC’s Cole Sayers, left, and Hesquiaht Chief Councillor Mariah Charleson, centre, hitch a ride in the back of the truck last summer for the site tour of theAh’ta’apq Creek Hydro project near the Hesquiaht First Nation village of Hot Springs Cove.

BC Rural Centre video still

The Hupacasath pioneered the development of a First Nation micro-hydro operation with the China Creek Micro-Hydro Power Plant, which has been in operation since 2006. China Creek produces approximately 24 gigawatts of power annually.