INTERESTING NEWS
Overdose toll declines, but still leading cause of death
Harm reduction approach faces increasing political scrutiny as an election approaches, yet deaths drop in 2024
By Eric Plummer Ha-Shilth-Sa Editor
PortAlberni, BC - Eight years into a public health emergency, fatal drug overdoses are declining, bringing encouraging news to the many people affected by British Columbia’s opioid crisis.
At the current rate of over six fatalities a day, poisoning from illicit drug use continues to be the leading cause of death for B.C. residents under 60, surpassing car crashes, homicide, suicide and natural disease combined. But recent data from the B.C. Coroners Service shows some decline to the crisis’disturbing statistics.
The Coroners Service reports that 192 people fell to illicit drugs in July - a 15 per cent decrease from the same month last year. The Coroner states that “expedited toxicological testing” detected fentanyl in almost nine out of 10 of these tragedies. Up until the end of July 1,365 people in B.C. have died by overdose, but each month of 2024 has shown a decrease from the same periods in 2023. Last year was the deadliest for B.C.’s opioid crisis with 2,572 fatalities.
These most recent numbers came out Friday,Aug. 30, on the eve of International OverdoseAwareness Day.An hour after the statistics were released that morning Brandy Lauder, chief councillor of the Hupacasath First Nation, addressed the crisis to an audience at the Best Western Barclay Hotel in PortAlberni.
“How we deal with it reflects on us as communities, as townships, countries, provinces. For the longest time, I think, Canada has been one of the failing ones,” she said. “They haven’t initialized the whole program, they only take what they think they can afford, and watch it fail.”
Indigenous people have been disproportionately affected by the crisis, with a fatality rate last year that was six times that the rest of B.C., reports the First Nations HealthAuthority.
In recent years substance use has become a foremost concern for Nuu-chahnulth families as well.
“When your family member becomes addicted, you become the kind of person that has to save yourself, save the things you love, and what’s still remaining,” said Lauder, who stressed the importance of showing support to those in the grip of drug addiction - despite the difficulties of dealing with a loved one in such a situation. “We may have to back away a little bit to protect ourselves, but that does not mean we have to shut down and leave them out on the streets cold and addicted.”
People sing at PortAlberni’s Overdose Prevention
at a gathering held on the day before International OverdoseAwareness Day.
‘I want to get sober’
Earlier inAugust the FNHAemphasized the toll the drug crisis has had on overall health outcomes for First Nations people in B.C. Dr. Nel Wieman, the FNHA’s chief medical officer, said that continuing fatalities in the drug crisis are a “major driver” in the decline of First Nations’ life expectancy, which fell from 73.3 years in 2017 to 67.2 in 2021, according to an interim report by the FNHAand the Office of the Provincial Health Officer.
“Because a big part of the life expectancy data is tied into deaths related to the unregulated extremely dangerous toxic drug supply in this province, we have to do something about that,” she said. “These are not throwaway people. This is not a segment of society that we shouldn’t care about or that we’re not even a part of or connected to.”
“Their whole brain becomes rewired to their next fix. They can go without food, they can go without shoes, they can go without a bed to sleep, because the only thing that’s programmed in their head is their next fix,” continued Lauder. “All they’re trying to do is survive and run
away from the pain that they’re experiencing every moment of the day. They need the tools in order to figure out how to heal themselves, and the only tool they have is addiction.”
While Lauder and other elected representatives addressed an audience at the Barclay Hotel, further south in Port Alberni an event was held for people at the Overdose Prevention Site, a facility run by the PortAlberni Shelter Society on ThirdAvenue. It’s a busy place where Daniel Holland comes for support, as he awaits his chance to enter a recovery facility in two weeks. Holland has used crack for the past eight years, and the 51-year-old admits to first trying alcohol at the age of 8.
“My mom and dad used to always go to Hell’sAngels parties, they gave my first beer, my first cigarette, my first line of coke,” said Holland, who grew up in Richmond and is from the We Wai Kum First Nation. “You’re always chasing the dragon.”
Although he admits it’s hard being around illicit drug use at the Overdose Prevention Site, the support from staff there “levels out” his aggression. He had
spent the preceding night in jail before coming to the OPS for lunch.
“I’ve got six kids and four grandkids. I try to be the best person that I can for them, but it takes over,” said Holland of his addiction. “I want to get sober.”
Mounting political scrutiny
Over the course of the public health emergency overdose prevention sites have been established across B.C. to mitigate the worst harms of the drug crisis. Do date, just one death has been reported at a supervised site in B.C., as these facilities serve as a fundamental example of the harm reduction approach to substance use. Harm reduction focuses on reducing the harms of addiction without requiring abstinence. It enables those who use to choose how they will manage their habits and health.
But this year this approach to managing substance use has faced political scrutiny. InAugust the Province of Ontario announced the closure of 10 supervised drug sites, due to new rules that prohibit them from operating within 200 metres of a school or daycare.
Continued on page 2.
Eric Plummer photo
Site onAug. 30,
Harm reduction not the end solution, says action team
Injection sites are needed to buy time until the root cause is dealt with, says a community response team leader
Continued from page 1.
“Continuing to enable people to use drugs is not a pathway to treatment,” said Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones. This means Ontario will be closing almost half of its supervised substanceuse sites – with no funding for additional locations to replace them. Instead, the central province has committed $378 million towards 19 new Homeless and Addiction Recovery Treatment Hubs. It could be argued that British Columbia has led the way in harm reduction measures, as it became the country’s first province to decriminalize illicit drug use with a Health Canada exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. In January 2023 this was announced as a measure to reduce the social stigma that substance users face – causing social scorn that discourages people from seeking help. But B.C. scaled back this approach in May by again prohibiting illicit drug use in public spaces and hospitals.
With an election approaching in October, criticism of the province’s decriminalization policy was mounting amid a leaked memo from a Northern Health supervisor, instructing staff to permit the open use and exchange of illicit drugs in hospitals – with the exception of smoking.
“While we are caring and compassionate for those struggling with addiction, we do not accept street disorder that makes communities feel unsafe,” stated Premier David Eby in a press release from May.
An infancy of treatment models
Harm reduction was never meant to be the solution to the toxic crisis – cautions
Ron Merk, co-chair of the PortAlberni CommunityAction Team – only a means to keep people safe until individuals can find permanent solutions.
“The root causes are the issue. Harm reduction is a strategy that just helps us until we fix the root causes,” said Merk.
“Until we figure out the solutions to
those, and we have enough of them so that we can get 80 to 90 per cent of the people covered in them, we are faced with having these locations in our communities that are focused only on harm reduction.”
In many respects, the solutions being explored by health authorities are still
in their early stages, an infancy of new treatment models that will undoubtedly require provincial policy reconsiderations in the future. In July Provincial Health Officer Bonnie Henry released a report recommending that the government more freely offer medical alternatives to illicit drugs at “compassion club”-like locations that don’t require a prescription.
Her office noted that safer prescribed alternatives like Hydromorphone are only reaching a small fraction of the 165,000225,000 people who use illicit drugs, as just an average of 4,777 prescriptions for medical alternatives were given for each month last year.
The province rejected this report.
“Addiction is a health issue and people struggling with addiction need access to the full continuum of services provided by our health-care system,” responded Jennifer Whiteside, minister of Mental Health andAddictions.
Meanwhile, PortAlberni has seen 150 fatalities since 2016, and with 38 deaths last year, the region was behind only Hope and Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside in its rate of lethal overdose.
The good news is this summer Island Health issued a request for proposals to bring a six-to-eight-bed “stabilization and supportive recovery” facility to the community. But far more is needed, stressed Mark.
“We’re not resourcing the recovery process so that the demand matches the resource,” he said. “As long as we have that disconnect, the only tool that we have left in the bag is harm reduction, keeping people alive until we actually figure that other portion out.”
Hupacasath Chief Councillor Brandy Lauder addresses the opioid crisis at the Best Western Barclay Hotel onAug. 30.
The Labour Day long weekend brought two sudden deaths in theAhousaht village of Maaqtusiis, including one tragedy that launched a homicide investigation.
Ahousaht in mourning after two sudden losses
Chief and council enact 9 p.m. curfew, as police investigate an Aug. 31 incident that left a young man dead
By Nora O’Malley & Eric Plummer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter & Ha-Shilth Editor
AState of Emergency has been declared inAhousaht following a heartbreaking weekend of two unexpected deaths in the community.
Police are investigating the death of an adult man andAhousaht leadership has confirmed the tragic passing of a female youth worker.
In a statement Sunday, police say Ahousaht RCMP responded to a call on Saturday,Aug. 31 at 6:29 p.m. to a residence on RobinsonAvenue.
“When police arrived, they saw that BCEHS were on scene providing medical aid to an adult man. He was immediately transported to hospital where he was later pronounced deceased,” said Cpl. Madonna Saunderson in a media release.
“Ashort time later an adult man was arrested in connection with the incident. He has been remanded in custody pending a court appearance on Wednesday, September 4, 2024,” the police statement continues.
In light of the homicide investigation, Ahousaht chief and council have enacted a 9 p.m. curfew until further notice and there is a heightened police presence in the community. Cultural and counselling supports are also available, and a community cleansing was held on Tuesday, Sept. 3.
“Chief and council also recognizes that the current losses of life are deeply impacting our youth and that added supports are also required specifically for them as well,” reads a bulletin fromAhousaht chief and council.
“We all walk lightly and respectfully during these hard times. Pull your loved ones close and check in on those that may need extra love during this time,” notes the bulletin.
Ahousaht Hereditary Chief Hasheukumiss (Richard George) saysAhousaht is in desperate need of help.
“Intergenerational trauma is very real to this very day. This is high time that the government actually acknowledges what is going on,” said Hasheukumiss. “Why are we drinking so much? Because we are hurting. We are really hurting. It comes down to not having the proper facilities to turn the corner from the direct fallout from residential school.”
In recent years the First Nation built a wellness centre by its Flores Island community, on the former site of the Ahousaht Residential School. Part of a network of services offered in the community, this facility was sponsored by a private donor, with this support administered through the Power to Give foundation, according toAhousaht Chief Councillor naasʔałuk (John Rampanen), in an interview with Ha-Shilth-Sa last year when the construction was nearing completion.
According to Power to Give’s website the facility is “ready for use” this summer.
The wellness centre is described as “a place for members of theAhousaht Nation and all other Nuu-chah-nulth people to receive addition treatment within the safety of their own community.”
“We have supported the community in bringing their project to life from the inception of the idea, providing advisory services and programming dollars to support delivery of care,” stated Power to Give.
In another effort to provide healing services to its people, the Maaqutusiis Hahoulthee Stewardship Society bought the former Tofino Wilderness Lodge in 2022 with the intention of making it a tourist destination for the summer season, while the facility could be used for the health and well-being ofAhousaht members for the rest of the year. But this plan suffered a setback in May when funding was denied, according to Hasheukumiss. He went on to say that over 100 people have passed away inAhousaht due to alcohol and drug related causes over the last four plus years.
“It has taken five generations to get us here and it will take five generations to
get us out. We haven’t even scratched the surface yet. We are really hurting. We can’t be too proud to ask for help. We need help from the highest levels,” said Hasheukumiss.
“The youth are really shaken up over this along with the whole community ofAhousaht. The school administration is shook right up,” he continued. “We would like the school to continue to be open. It’s a safe place and a place of healing as well when you bring in the facilitators. Keeping the school open is the healthiest thing for the children and the nation as well.”
In a bulletin posted Sept. 3Ahousaht’s Maaqtusiis Elementary School principal announced that classes would commence as originally planned after the Labour Day weekend.After offering condolences to the families connected to those that were lost, PrincipalAndrea Frank advised that school would begin Sept. 3 for all Kindergarten to grade 12 students. The first full day of school for all, including the Maaqtusiis Childcare Centre, will be on Sept. 4th and 5th.
She went on to say that the first week of school will be conducted in a quiet and respectful manner.
“We will also respect any parents/guardians’decision to keep their children home from school this week and would like to keep the schools open to support parents/ guardians who work,” wrote Frank.
In a social media post, Tseshaht Chief Councillor Ken Watts had this message for the people: “Sending all ofAhousaht my thoughts, prayers, condolences and loving healing energy today.”
He shared his sentiments to all the families and other first nations impacted by the tragic incidents.
“If there is anything I or our nation can do, please do not hesitate to reach out,” Watts wrote.
Hasheukumiss (Richard George) says his community needs government help.
Physical activity presents antidote to chronic illnesses
Diabetes and heart disease among worsening health conditions for First Nations, life expectancy drops six years
By Holly Stocking Ha-Shilth-Sa EditorialAssistant
This summer the Tlu-piich Games returned to PortAlberni after five years, reminding Nuu-chah-nulth-aht of the health benefits of physical activity.
But according to Diabetes Canada, many adults who face the challenges of today’s society can easily fall into the habits of a sedentary lifestyle, increasing their risk of diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and obesity. This makes it even harder to prioritize exercise, and First Nation people are already at a high risk of diabetes. Diabetes Canada states that eight in 10 Indigenous people are projected to develop diabetes over their lifetime.
But the good news is that the national organization also reports that regular exercise - 30 minutes five times a week - can help delay or even prevent diabetes from developing.
With Canada’s ever-increasing cost of food, utilities and everyday bills many adults struggle to afford the price of a gym membership or fees for organized activities like hockey or softball.Asurvey done by Participaction shows only 18 per cent of Canadian adults get the recommended amount of exercise needed to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Boaz Harris, a summer student with the First Nation HealthAuthority (FNHA), is working towards his degree in kinesiology, the study of the human body’s movement and the science of exercise.
He tells Ha-Shilth-Sa “it’s about a shift in your mindset” when asked about what people with obesity or other illnesses can do to get started.
“More about building a habit, start with five to 15 minutes a day, something small so you don’t become overwhelmed,” he said. “Even a small amount of exercise can help regulate your blood sugar and help your body utilize the blood sugar you do create in a more efficient way.”
Arecent report released by FNHAin partnership with the Provincial Health Office found that the life expectancy First Nations peoples in B.C. has decreased, dropping from from the baseline of 73.3 in 2017 to 67.2 years in 2021 - a total loss of 6.1 years. Some of the factors for this decrease were the worsening healthy birth weight, diabetes, and all-cause mortality reasons such as tobacco and weight-related diseases.
ThisAugust the Tlu-piich Games returned to PortAlberni, providing an opportunity for Nuu-chah-nulth-aht to engage in sports competitions. The Games’emphasis was on youth, but a growing number of health indicators are showing the need for Indigenous people to engage in physical activity through adulthood to ward off chronic illnesses.
Some of the findings from the report noted that a connection to land has an important role in First Nations culture, which is key to the wellness of Indigenous peoples. It goes on to say we need to advance the roots of health and wellness for the next generations, including priority populations such as First Nations babies, children and youth while setting a good example in leading a healthy and active lifestyle.
“I try and give a hand up but not enable, and lead by example” says Gail K. Gus, Crisis Care and Wellness coordinator for the Tseshaht First Nation.
Gus is on the forefront in her community, organizing several free adult activities aimed to increase physical fitness while having fun. These include yoga at the Cultural Centre, a personal trainer at the Maht Mahs basement gym and Gus teaches a boot camp three times a week every year from January and until the end of March.
Along with fitness Gus also focuses on
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healthy eating; she works the community garden and offers healthy food boxes once a month to Tseshaht members.
“I don’t only want to teach a boot camp, I want to teach people how to eat,” she said.
Gus stresses the importance of reading labels, understanding what they mean and what is in processed foods these days. She wants people to ask themselves, “What can you change in your life for yourself and you kids?”
Astudy done by the Mayo Clinic in December 2023 shows that along with the many physical benefits exercise also helps with mental health as a natural and effective anti-anxiety treatment. It relieves tension and stress, boosts physical and mental energy, and enhances wellbeing through the release of endorphins. The study also shows that stress can cause many of the same diseases as an unhealthy lifestyle can. Stress symptoms can affect your body, your thoughts and feelings, and your behavior. Knowing common stress symptoms can help you manage them and stress that’s not dealt with can lead to many health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart dis-
ease, stroke, obesity and diabetes. Priscilla Sabbas Watts, Hesquiaht mother of three and a member of theAlberni Valley Crossfit gym says, “Crossfit is the best thing I have ever done for my mental health.”
Being a busy mother and an assistant deputy minister with the province makes it hard to find the time to prioritize exercise, but finding the crossfit community and the amazing group of people there has made it easier for her to get to the gym three to four times a week.
Also being a positive role model is important to Watts. She wants her kids to see her working hard and to know we have to take care of our bodies.
“I want my daughter to know we are strong,” she said. “I want all my kids to know there is no age where we should stop being active.”
When asked what advice she would give to anyone wanting to start getting active she said, “It’s really important to find the community and your people for the activity and fitness. For me it’s not just the physical activity, it was finding these people.” TSESHAHT MARKET
Hours of operation - 7:00 am - 10:00 pm Phone: 724-3944
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Tofino stops dumping raw sewage into the ocean
Wastewater treatment system expected to ease shellfish closures in Clayoquot Sound, says cultural guardian
By Nora O’Malley Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Načiks (Tofino), BC – West Coasters won’t be surfing in their own poop anymore after the District of Tofino officially opened its new $77.5M wastewater treatment plant onAug. 22.
The environmental impact of historically dumping raw sewage into the beautiful waters of Clayoquot Sound wreaked havoc on shellfish harvesting areas, according to a Nuu-chah-nulth cultural lifeways guardian.
“The north waterfront of downtown Tofino was a clam garden until recent decades,” said Gisèle Martin.
“I’d love to see the day where clams could be eaten right from the shores again,” Martin added. “If you go to other countries, I was just talking to somebody fromAustralia, they said you could buy oysters right in the bay from the shore. You can’t do that in Tofino because of the sewage and pollution. There is no reason why, if we were just a little more organized and disciplined, we could be eating clams right from the shore again. I hope we get there in my lifetime.”
Tofino’s wastewater treatment plant, located at the end of Industrial Way with the new outflow pipe at the end of Cedar Street, will service the tourist town of about 2,500 residents, roughly 600,000 annual visitors as well as the neighbouring Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation (TFN) communities of Ty-Histanis and Esowista.
The sewage treatment plant also has enough capacity to intercept wastewater from the TFN community of Opitsaht, which is a quick boat ride across the Tofino inlet, according to Tofino’s manager of infrastructure and capital projects Simon Kirkland.
“There is a future project TFN is going to undertake to install a force main to Tofino from Opitsaht, but it is not in place yet,” said Kirkland.
TFN is in the predesign stage for the 3.2-kilometre pipeline that will connect the village of about 125 Opitsaht residents to Tofino’s wastewater facility. The First Nation has had an agreement with the district since 2008 to pay their share of sewage treatment, according to Tribal Administrator Jim Chisholm.
Kirkland says the district also has the capacity to flow sewage from the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, but an agreement with Parks Canada has yet to be
established.
NorthAmerican Construction (NAC) and WSP, the engineers on the project, worked with district staff to deliver the project “on time and on budget”, heralds Tofino Mayor Dan Law of the town’s largest investment ever.
“Nothing happens without money. I do want to say how profoundly grateful we are for crucial contributors; federal government, provincial government and our tourism sector who have through the MRDT (municipal and regional district tax) program been contributing a significant amount, $400,000 a year, towards this capital project,” said Law at theAug. 22 ribbon cutting ceremony, a latrine themed affair that included a poop emoji cake, an apropos poem recited by Tofino Poet Laureate Janice Lore and a performance from the Smooth Moves Choir.
Tofino has the putrid honour of being the last municipality on Vancouver Island to treat its raw sewage.
“We have generations of staff that helped with this,” notes Law.
MLAJosie Osborne was Tofino’s mayor from 2013 to 2020.
“When I moved here 26 years ago, we had a shellfish closure area that was quite small right around where the outfall is and no harvesting of shellfish because the risk of contamination and the risk to human health,” Osborne recalls.
“Over the years, that shellfish area has grown bigger and bigger and bigger as more people moved here and more
people visited here. I am so looking forward to the next few years to see that shellfish area grow smaller and smaller and smaller. We know that we are finally doing the right thing, we are taking care of this breadbasket Clayoquot Sound that sustains us all,” said MLAOsborne at the grand opening.
Courtenay-Alberni NDP MP Gord Johns had a hand in advocating for federal project funding.
“This is long overdue. We had decades where we couldn’t get money. We are just too far from Ottawa where they just didn’t care,” said Johns. “This is our priority; protecting the oceans and the ecosystem. These are the values of the people of Tofino.”
Tofino’s wastewater management regime includes two main steps: the first part of the process called the ‘headworks’ removes all the large debris and the secondary treatment involves an aerobic biological process where a vat of bacteria eats all the organics.After the water settles, it’s blasted with UV for disinfecting and then piped into the ocean. The remaining sludge is taken to landfill and can be used for composting.
“Our deepest and my deepest thanks to the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation. The partnership, guidance and support and just learning about the Nuu-chah-nulth culture since I’ve been out here has been invaluable throughout the processes of this project,” said Kirkland.
“We remain committed to protecting the
natural space and rich marine ecosystems that the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation has carefully stewarded for millennia,” he said. “I also want to thank the residents and businesses of this area for their patience over the years.”
The project saw a lot of roadblocks, both figuratively and literally – during the summer 2023 construction phase the Cameron Bluffs Wildfire closed Highway 4, forcing crews to take the backroads to get to site.
“This project took decades in the making,” said Tofino’s ChiefAdministration Officer NylaAttiana. She went on to thank her predecessor Bob Macpherson and her dedicated staff who worked on the project.
“Without the perseverance of these individuals, we would not have been able to complete our liquid waste management plan, receive the necessary grant funding from the provincial and federal government and arrive where we are today with an operational wastewater treatment facility,”Attiana said.
Surfrider Pacific Rim, a local nonprofit dedicated to protecting the world’s oceans, waves and beaches, are notably stoked on the news.
“We’re delighted to see that the wastewater treatment plant is operational,” said Surfrider Pacific Rim co-chair Eliza Worrad. “This critical infrastructure is a significant milestone for reducing ocean pollution, enabling cleaner and healthier waters for all on the west coast.”
Nora O’Malley photo
From left: Tofino CAO NylaAttiana, TFN TribalAdministrator Jim Chisholm, Tofino Mayor Dan Law, Tofino’s Utility Operator Lead Christine Biegler, Tofino’s Manager of Infrastructure and Capital Projects Simon Kirkland, MPGord Johns, MLAJosie Osborne and Tourism Tofino’s Board Chair Sabrina Donovan cut a symbolic ribbon of toilet paper to open the town’s new wastewater treatment plant.
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Travel Beyond podcast is set to return
Show’s second season delves into how Indigenous stewardship and tourism meet
By Sam Laskaris Ha-Shilth-Sa Contributor
Tofino, BC – Tourism Tofino officials are excited they will continue to raise awareness of their district via a podcast.
Travel Beyond, a six-episode podcast series, was released earlier this year.
And Brad Parsell, the executive director of Tourism Tofino, is thrilled that more episodes will soon be produced.
“Part two of the podcast will be out in early 2025,” said Parcell, adding an agreement was reached this past Thursday,Aug. 29, to record a second season of the podcast.
Travel Beyond is produced by Destination Think, a Vancouver-based marketing agency.
Parsell, who is originally from New Zealand and is part Maori on his father’s side, has been Tourism Tofino’s executive director for almost two years now.
He was one of the guests on an episode of the podcast series earlier this year.
“Travel Beyond is focused on the relationship between Indigenous stewardship and conservation and tourism and how one impacts the other and how increasingly tourism is being leveraged to create resources for profits and nations to do stewardship,” he said. “We had multiple people from Tofino speak to different parts of that.”
Those included were members from Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation who spoke about the Tribal ParksAllies program.
This entails businesses collecting a oneper-cent fee from the visitor and then remitting it to the First Nation to support restoration and stewardship work.
“Alot of my interview in particular focused around some of the work Tourism Tofino is doing and how we’re trying to educate visitors on whose territory they’re on and the history of stewardship and trying to invite visitors to leave something behind when they visit Tofino, whether that be a financial contribution to the nation or volunteering some time for a beach clean,” Parsell said.
He added that creating awareness about Tofino’s history is vital.
“I think people are already captivated and in awe of Tofino and the surrounding area,” Parsell said. “So, I think people are already engaged in the environment and
have a willingness to learn. I think historically we really haven’t done a great job. Indigenous folks on the west coast have been marginalized from tourism for a long time.”
And that’s why Tourism Tofino officials are among those looking to make changes.
“I think it’s really powerful to look at this place through the lens of the First Nations and through that stewardship lens,” Parsell added. “I think ultimately the experience of the visitor is a lot richer. People come to Tofino for different reasons, so we’re just trying to make sure that they respect the place that they’re visiting.”
Tourism Tofino reps are not the only ones trying to raise awareness.
“I think there’s over 40 not-for-profits working in the environmental space out on the west coast of Vancouver Island,”
Parsell said. “So, there’s no shortage of people really trying to chip into this effort.”
Parsell also said others have been taking the lead on this front.
“There have been roundtables facilitated by the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust of getting all of those groups together with the nations and Tourism Tofino and making sure we all know what each other is up to and trying to make that that we’re using our resources in sort of an efficient way,” he said.
Parsell said Tourism Tofino reps have also held separate meetings with officials from Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations “around
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!
Indigenous representation and correcting myths like this place is a wilderness. It isn’t. It’s been looked after for thousands of years.”
Earlier this summer Tourism Tofino also launched a new website.
“It’s really comprehensive and was an in-depth engagement with Indigenous elders to really try to reframe Tofino in that kind of lens,” Parsell said.
The Travel Beyond podcast has also garnered plenty of positive feedback Parsell added.
“Creating space just for Indigenous voices on the west coast has been really well received,” he said. “I think having Indigenous leaders speak about different initiatives that are happening, even just for the non-Indigenous community in Tofino has been really educational and eye-opening.
“And I think for visitors once again just letting them get a little bit deeper into the destination and the history of what makes this space so special. I think it’s been really-well received.”
Other guests on episodes of the first season of Travel Beyond included Moses Martin, an elder and former chief of Tlao-qui-aht First Nation,Ahousaht First Nation Tyee Ha’wilth Hasheukumiss, Richard George, Tla-o-qui-aht elder Joe Martin, Saya Masso, who is Tla-o-quiaht’s lands and resource director, and Gisele Martin, who is a guardian and handles outreach for Tla-o-qui-aht’s Tribal Parks.
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Brad Parsell photo
Tourism Tofino executive director Brad Parsell is one of the guests in the first season of the Travel Beyond podcast.
Pandora Ave: Summer enforcement may bring change
Some service providers believe that Victoria Police’s plan to move an encampment will lead to positive change
By Alexandra Mehl Ha-Shilth-Sa Contributor
Victoria, BC - Victoria’s Pandora Street has been amid a rumbling of change this summer, as VicPD enforced a Safety Plan after a paramedic was physically assaulted while attending to a patient on the 900-block. While some service providers in the area believe the result of what has happened throughout this summer has finally spurred much needed action towards meeting the housing, health, and addiction needs for Victoria’s unhoused population, other frontline workers have been facing frustrations and challenges.
According to a series of press releases provided by VicPD, in mid-July, as paramedics were responding to an emergency on the 900-block of Pandora, the individual being helped assaulted one of the paramedics, “striking and kicking them in the face.”
As the paramedic fled to a Victoria Fire truck, they were pursued by the individual, the statement reads.AConductive Emergency Weapon, otherwise known as a taser, was deployed after the individual failed to respond to instruction from VicPD.
With a crowd of 60 people surrounding first responders, bystanders grew increasingly hostile after the individual was arrested, the statement continued.
The series of press releases highlighted an incident occurring roughly a month earlier where a number of individuals surrounded and threw rocks at officers on the 500-block of Ellice Street.
“Since then, officers have experienced even more escalated aggression and violence throughout the city,” a statement from VicPD Chief Manak reads.
“I recognize the 900-block of Pandora Avenue is made up of many individuals with different needs, backgrounds and circumstances that have brought them to this place. Some have more complex needs than others; however, regardless of the circumstances or need, those who are there to save lives should not feel concerned about their own safety,” Manak wrote in the statement.
VicPD has orchestrated a Safety Plan for PandoraAvenue and Ellice Street which, in stages, aims to result in the complete removal of Pandora’s 900-block encampment.
Karen Mills, co-founder and lead coordinator of Peer2Peer Indigenous Society shared that there is about half the number of tents than she recalls there being a month ago.
“There’s lots of people there; there’s just half the tents,” she shared.
For Mills, her organization is now seeing people moving further down Pandora, Douglas Street, Quadra, and North Park.
“There’s literally nowhere for anybody to go,” said Mills. “They just kind of wander around during the day with their carts and tents, and then put their tents back up when they’re allowed to, some are just erected all day long, taking those chances, and dispersing into other neighborhoods.”
When asked how the unhoused population has been responding, she shared with Ha-Shilth-Sa that “they’re not happy.”
“Pandora has always been full of people, because that’s where all the resources are,” she said. “That’s their community as well.”
Mills shared that for her and her organization, the situation has been frustrating since they work on Pandora four days a week.
In late January encampments on Victoria’s PandoraAvenue spread for blocks on all sides of the street, but service providers in the area have seen the tents lessen this summer as measures to find more shelter spaces have intensified. Police have taken more stringent action in the area after a paramedic was assaulted on Pandora in July.
“We’ve been down here for quite a while, and we’ve built a huge rapport with our clients,” she said.
Mills notes that as bylaws are being enforced, she has difficulty locating her clients. It is particularly concerning for her when she can’t find clients who are going into detox that day, or have a housing opportunity.
Mills also shared with Ha-Shilth-Sa that when she can’t locate a client she also has concerns of overdose.
“We spend the next few hours trying to find our client,” said Mills. “Especially for detox, you’re on a time limit. If you don’t show up that day, you’re back [at] the end of the line.”
“It just keeps going, it just never ends,” said Mills. “It’s always the same circle, and nothing ever seems to get done.”
For Our Place Society, among other organizations serving Pandora street, have been meeting with the City of Victoria Bylaw each week.Additionally, Our Place Society has been participating in weekly meetings with VicPD, Island Health, BC Housing, Ministry of Housing, Ministry of Health and other service providers to push forward action.
“What’s been happening has been leading to something positive in my mind,” said Daly. “Most of the people who are unhoused right now will have a shelter space by winter.”
“Which we’re really happy about, we’ve been asking for that for some time,” he shared.
In anAug. 22 statement, the Ministry of Housing announced the addition of 72 shelter beds to existing shelters in Victoria, with 40 allocated to Our Place Society and 32 to the SalvationArmy.
The additional beds are a part of an MOU signed between the province and the City of Victoria in late February to “coordinate rapid supports for people experiencing homelessness in the community.”
This announcement included the reopening of 30-unit Caledonia Place, providing interim housing for those who have been staying in shelters long term.
The MOU has also orchestrated the conversion of 30 extreme-weather response beds into year round beds at St. John
Divine Church.
This makes a total of 132 additional shelter spaces in Victoria since the MOU was signed, readsAug. 22 the Ministry of statement.
“There’s been a lot of changes and movement and events on Pandora this summer,” said Daly.
“Awhole lot of things happened that basically have led to the provincial and municipal government stepping up and providing a lot of shelter beds for people who are unhoused.”
Daly clarifies that the recent addition of 72 beds in Victoria is only the first step of more to come.
“There is an ongoing process to identify more shelter beds and enough, I hope and I believe, to house or at least provide shelter in the first instance, for all the people who are absolutely unhoused,” said Daly. “And also to get them the health services, especially mental health and addiction services, that they need in order to be sheltered and to maintain their shelter and ultimately their housing.”
In the 2023 Greater Victoria Point-InTime Count, 242 individuals were unsheltered in a public space, park, tent, or vehicle, while 282 stayed in emergency shelters.
According to Daly, there is currently a coordinated outreach process to identify the current number of absolutely
unhoused or unsheltered folks there are located on Pandora, Ellice Street, Rock Bay Landing, and in Victoria’s parks.
“What the province is doing and BC Housing is trying to identify shelter spaces for all the people who are absolutely unhoused,” he said.
According to the Point-in-Time Count, the total number of people experiencing homelessness in Victoria in 2023, was at least 1665. This number includes, in addition to those unsheltered and in emergency shelters, those who were couch surfing, staying in public systems such as treatment centers, hospitals, or correctional half-way houses, and transitional housing.
The Point-in-Time Count indicated that 32.9 per cent of respondents identified as Indigenous, despite only making up five per cent of Greater Victoria’s population. Atotal of 23 respondents were Nuu-chahnulth.
“There’s a lot of Indigenous people down there, and I’ve always thought, because I’m Metis… that they should not be displaced on their own lands,” said Mills. “That’s a huge thing for me and as well as for the Indigenous people that are living unhoused as well; this is their territory.”
“There’s not a lot of Indigenous organizations down there, but nobody’s coming to talk to the ones that are there,” said Mills.
Eric Plummer photos
Oil spill in Ucluelet sheds light on gaps in response tactics
Due to protocol inconsistencies, top-of-the-line response equipment sat across the bay from an una ended boat leaking diesel into
By Nora O’Malley Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Ucluelet, BC –Arecent diesel and oil spill from a sinking vessel in the Ucluelet harbour has triggered alarm bells amongst locals about Canada’s response process.
OnAug. 6 at about 10:30 p.m., Gerry Schreiber called the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) emergency response line to report oil leaking from a vessel at the Ucluelet East government dock in PortAlbion.
“I said, ‘You gotta get your guys out here. The oil is pouring out of this thing’,”
Schreiber told the Ha-Shilth-Sa, adding that two other locals reported the spill as well.
Schreiber says the response he received from CCG was, “it’s dark, we can’t do anything at night.”
“It wasn’t stormy. The tide was turning and there was a lot of oil coming out,” Schreiber continued. “Why aren’t they responding? They knew within half an hour that this was going down and they did nothing. Why?”
The CCG crew from the Bamfield Lifeboat station arrived on scene at about 10 a.m. the next morning, roughly 12 hours after Schreiber’s emergency call was placed. Depending on the vessel, Bamfield is about a 2.5 to three-hour journey to Ucluelet.
In a written statement, the CCG says a “light, non-recoverable sheen was observed, but there had not been a significant release of fuel from the vessel”.
Dane Stabel, a marine biologist and scientific diver, lives in Stewart Bay located at the mouth of the Ucluelet harbour.
“I noticed diesel all out the mouth of the harbour the next morning around 9 a.m. The tide pretty much pulled it out this way. You could smell it. I didn’t notice it coming onto the beach, thankfully,” said Stabel.
“Just directly across from that dock are the very expensive orange and blue spill response boats that we have up and down the coast. I know they are full of gear and ready to go, so I’m wondering why they didn’t respond,” Stabel adds.
Western Canada Marine Response Corporation (WCMRC), an industry-funded organization established to respond to marine oil spills, has a mini-barge and a boom-skiff permanently stationed in Ucluelet about 200 metres from where theAug. 6 diesel spill took place.
WCMRC also keeps a 53-foot equipment trailer (with 5,000 feet of boom) and two small boom trailers (for a total of 9,000 feet of boom) permanently stationed in Ucluelet.
CCG did not call WCMRC to help with the spill.
“It’s not that we weren’t able or interested or available to respond to that spill, it’s just because of how the legislation works because we weren’t activated, we weren’t involved in the response,” said WCMRC senior manager of communications Michael Lowry from their Burnaby head office.
Canada’s spill response regime is a partnership between the federal government and industry, built on the polluter-pay principle.Any vessel over 400 gross tonnes or any oil-carrying-vessel over 150 gross tonnes by law must have a membership with WCMRC and by law must activate WCMRC to respond in the event of a spill, according to Lowry. CCG can also activate WCMRC to respond.
“If there was a large spill from a commercial vessel, that commercial vessel is going to activate us,” said Lowry.
Over the past decade, WCMRC invested $170 million in new equipment and new response bases to support the significant
increase in oil tanker traffic driven by the Trans Mountain expansion project.
“I can understand why it can be frustrating for the community to see that these assets are there and sometimes they are not used in particular responses, but we are there for those large-scale situations. That’s primarily what we are designed for,” Lowry said. “The idea is that the Coast Guard can handle smaller spills and they can activate us if they want. I know our crews would love to be involved in the smaller spills as well.”
CCG say they hired a local contractor byAug. 10 to “regularly check the status of the vessel and the containment boom for any releases of pollu-
tion.”
UclueletAquarium curator Laura Griffith-Cochrane says by then “the damage has been done.”
“For me, I feel the responsibility of care for all of the animals that are in the aquarium, and I also feel the responsibility to our staff and our community that we’re providing a safe place for people to come into to interact with animals,” said Griffith-Cochrane.
“The highways aren’t under construction these days. For me, the spill response time is under two hours. Call people out from PortAlberni,” she said.
Stabel echoes the sentiment.
“There was a lot of time deciding who is responsible for it and whose jurisdiction it is, and that’s the time
when it’s crucial to get booms (in the water) and contain the spill. I would have liked to see something a little quicker,” he said.
Ahousaht First Nation’s Kurt John is part of the Coastal Nations Coast GuardAuxiliary. He said he was surprised CCG didn’t hand it over to Ucluelet’s harbour master or someone else local that could assess it faster.
“It’s a no brainer for us. If something happens in our harbour, we are going to respond to it anyway. We have the booms stored in our harbour,” said John.
He added that they also report incidents to CCG, who in turn notify CCG Marine Environmental Response, who then would callAhousaht HarbourAuthority, which takes them back to John since he’s the harbour master.
“It’s like passing the baton,” John said. “If you’re having a coffee and you accidentally knock it over, you’re not just going to let it sit there. If someone else spills their coffee, you will probably help that person and replace their
Ayellow containment boom deployed by the Canadian Coast Guard’s Marine Environmental Hazard Response personnel surrounds a sin dock.
UclueletAquarium curators Laura Griffith-Cochrane, right, and Britt Buirs take a moment to analyze Canada’s oil spill response regime. They are hosting a Harbour Health Open House on Sept. 20, and would like to see a clearer pathway to deal with ocean pollutants.
ended boat leaking diesel into the harbour
coffee.”
If there were people in the sinking vessel and lives were at risk, John says the CCG would have been there right away.
“We are always thinking safety first. You are not going to risk three or four lives to go look at a small oil spill. If it were a major oil spill like a tanker, it would be a major call,” said John.
Lowry pointed out that if WCMRC isn’t activated by CCG or one of their members, they are not legally protected under Canada’s ShippingAct.
What about the boat owner?
The Coast Guard has not yet been able to identify the owner. Under Canadian law, vessel owners are responsible for the costs of addressing their problem vessel. This includes cleanup or repairs, and any remediation action taken by the CCG, reads a statement from the federal agency.
The boat owner, who did not provide his name for this article, said they bought the boat to live in and are now homeless. They are currently trying to resurrect the sinking boat with floats, so they can get their home back.
“That’s another part of it. Liveaboards are such an important part of our housing crisis, and I don’t feel like they are being recognized by community services,” Griffith-Cochrane said.
On Sept. 20 the UclueletAquarium is hosting a Harbour Health Open House from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in an effort to establish goals for the future wellness of the harbour.
Kurt John will attend a September roundtable meeting in Victoria with the Canadian Coast Guard to discuss environmental response – oil spills being central to the conversation.
New
methods of monitoring European green crab, yet they continue to spread
Invasive species affects smaller shore crabs, clams and oysters, interfering with habitats
By Sarah Banning Ha-Shilth-Sa Contributor
European Green Crab (EGC) are aggressively invading coastal waters and decimating ecosystems in the Pacific Northwest.
This highly effective predator was first identified on the West Coast in San Francisco in 1989 and has been rapidly progressing northward, destroying marine habitats in its wake. Its only known predator is river otters, but eaten in such small quantities, they considered a threat to the crabs.
According to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, in areas where European green crabs have been able to establish large populations for extended periods of time they have had dramatic impacts on other species, particularly smaller shore crabs, clams, and small oysters. Their digging can have significant negative impacts on eelgrass, estuary and marsh habitats.
With this type of destruction, EGC threatens aquaculture for fisheries in the United States and British Columbia.
“We definitely consider EGC to be a threat to First Nations’food security,” said Diana Chan, natural resource manager for the Heiltsuk Integrated Resource Management Department. “We’re already seeing their impacts on shellfish populations, and we are concerned about their potential impacts on other species like salmon through their destruction of eelgrass habitat.”
Sadly, because of the massive amount of eggs one female EGC can lay - up to a half million larvae per year - and the vast stretch of water the voracious creatures have occupied, the situation is beyond eradication. Keeping the population under control is the goal of work currently being done by agencies and tribal partners up and down the coast in British Columbia and Washington State.
Largely, trapping and disposing is the predominant method of controlling EGC. However, due to their ever-growing threat over the past few years, several agencies and tribal nations have developed new tactics to help keep EGC to manageable
numbers.
In Washington State, Lummi Nation and the Tulalip Tribes are using slab traps, which the Tulalip Tribes created, to attract gravid females.According to Todd Gray, an environmental protection ecologist for the Tulalip Tribes, the trap is simple and works by using a small piece of 18-inch-by-threeinch piece of wood to create an ideal location for EGC.
“The premise behind the design of the crab slab is that it simulates a flat rock, or other similar structure with some space under it that provides refuge and cover for EGC,” Gray explains. “Animals can move freely in and out, but EGC will often hunker down under such structures when an ebb tide exposes them, and await the next flow cycle.”
These traps can be used all year round, checked periodically and require no bait, making them very accessible to many communities battling EGC invasions. Chan has employed them with her crews in Heiltsuk Territory where EGC were discovered in 2012. The animal’s numbers have exploded since then, topping out at 1,000 crabs trapped in a day.
Lummi Nation has also employed an underwater drone to help mitigate EGC numbers. It will be used to survey the health of eelgrass beds to quantify the impact of EGC, according to Shawn Evenson,Aquatic Invasive Species Division manager for the Lummi Nation. The drone eliminates the need for underwater divers and allows for more frequent observation of eelgrass areas that constantly remain underwater. Using a tagging method similar to the price tags used on clothing in stores, biologists with the Makah Tribe near Neah Bay in Washington State are gathering invaluable data that will help them understand movement and survival in order to keep the EGC numbers low. Marine ecologistAdrianneAkmajian and green crab biologist Dawson Little are setting traps on a weekly basis to remove EGC, but separately catching and tagging crabs and releasing them for data. By tagging a small number of
EGC (approximately 300 out of 9,500) and releasing them back into the water, they can understand behavior that will help successfully increase their number of trapped crabs.
“We can see changes over the season that relate to both when and where crabs are in the water - up or down river, closer to the ocean - as well as changes in where male and females might distribute,” explains Akmajian.
Understanding where the crab are moving makes trapping them more efficient, asAkmajian and Little work towards their goals of ensuring food and resources for generations of the Makah Tribe to come, while helping the tribe adapt to changes in the marine ecosystem.
The largest number of EGC are found in the Clayoquot Sound and Sooke Basin.
Approximately 760,000 EGC have been removed from this area, according to Crysta Stubbs, Science Department director for the Coastal Restoration Society (CRS). Thanks to a massive effort between CRS, Indigenous and federal governments, as well as environmental non-profits, this extraordinary number will hopefully continue to increase, while daily totals decrease.
“Some sites in Clayoquot Sound were close to 10,000 EGC being captured from 40 traps/day at the beginning of the project. Now we’re down to between 1,000 and 2,000 per day in 50 traps,” Stubbs reports.
Teams are dropping traps daily and collecting data that will guide management decisions for the west coast of British Columbia while monitoring how the invasive species is impacting the environment.
“As global sea temperatures rise, we can expect to see a continued northward spread of EGC,” said Stubbs. “They have already reachedAlaska and have created selfsustaining populations there. The future of this species will continue to proliferate and cause damage to critical ecosystems and in turn, native salmon, crab and bivalve species unless a significant amount of funding is dedicated in British Columbian waters to manage and control this species.”
Nora O’Malley photos personnel surrounds a sinking vessel at Ucluelet East
Makah Tribe photo
AEuropean green crab is tagged for monitoring of the invasive species on the coast of Washington State.
Nuu-chah-nulth youth team up with Parks Canada
Pilot stewardship program includes visitor engagement days at Long Beach as well as cultural harvesting work
By Nora O’Malley Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Long Beach, BC –Awhiteboard noting the Nuu-chah-nulth word of the day, ‘siiksaanapšiityak’, meaning surfboard and pronounced seek-saw-nup-sheelthyak, reels visitors in towards a new knowledge point on Long Beach in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, in Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations traditional territory.
From there, Indigenous Coastal Guardians Ivan Wells Jr., Chance Fred, Mohkin Masso andAndrew Clappis Jr. add a new layer to the usual Parks Canada visitor safety experience by sharing tidbits of Nuu-chah-nulth culture.
The young men use a giant map of the Pacific Rim to show landmarks. They have photo cards depicting wild berries and local vegetation, plus a collection of shells – scallop, varnish clams, cockle clam, mussel and limpit – to introduce beachgoers to the traditional intertidal smorgasbord.
“Most visitors have a healthy curiosity about Nuu-chah-nulth culture and just having that space to talk about it is cool. There are a handful of people that just don’t know anything that want to know more,” said Wells Jr., 23, who is from Ehattesaht near Zeballos, one of 14 Nuuchah-nulth First Nations.
Wells Jr., Fred, Masso and Clappis Jr. are piloting the newly launched Indigenous Coastal Youth (ICY) Safety Program, an initiative run by the Nuu-chahnulth Youth Warrior Family Society, an Indigenous-led non-profit, and supported by Parks Canada. They were not hired by Parks to provide first responder services, explains program lead Sheena Charleson, but rather to give the term “coastal safety” a new meaning: to uphold cultural traditions and values that remind us to take care of ourselves, one another and our coastal communities.
“The ICY Safety Program is more than a program addressing coastal safety. It is a wholistic way of being rooted in mentorship and learning through time spent with elders,” said Charleson.
The full-time job includes Long Beach Unit Days, where the Coastal Guardians
are boots-on-the-beach interacting with visitors, and Harvesting Days where they’re working on the water or with the land, participating in resource monitoring or cultural harvest practices.
Since their contract started in the spring, they’ve helped build a clam garden, gone cedar pulling, conducted kelp surveys and supported Parks Canada with shellfish and bat monitoring.
“You go out and set-up microphones and record the sound. It gives you the idea of bat populations in certain areas.
It’s been super educational working with Parks,” said Wells Jr.
Alison Stacey is a Coastal Steward supervisor for Parks Canada. Originally from Ontario, Stacey says it’s been an “honour” to work alongside the Indig-
Pronounced ‘,’it means ‘It’s good medicine when you’re outside, connected
enous Coastal Guardians this summer.
“It’s been a great addition. The Coastal Stewards in the past have a lot of information on water safety, but one thing our program has always lacked is the Indigenous perspective and the knowledge of the land that we’re on,” said Stacey.
Nuu-chah-nulth Youth Warrior Family Society co-ordinator Dr. Ricardo Manmohan told the Ha-Shilth-Sa that the program came to fruition shortly after Parks Canada First Nations program manager Tammy Dorward put forward the idea to fund an initiative that involved Indigenous Coastal Stewards.
“We are working in partnership and reconciliation with Parks. The program shifts from visitor experience towards harvesting in October. That’s the magic
emphasized Manmohan.
He went on to add that the youth and the Nuu-chah-nulth matriarchs guide the Warrior Leadership Program.
“We have an opportunity to showcase Parks in a different light and maybe, hopefully, we can create something that can be showcased across other parts of Canada to other parks that are on nation land,” Manmohan said.
As the summer crowds thin, the Coastal Guardians are checking the tide charts and looking ahead to a busy fall schedule of harvesting, hunting and freediving.
“The bigger mission for us is to equip us, these young men, with real livable experience and real-life knowledge about living here in this coastal environment and these ecosystems,” said Wells Jr.
Illustration by Koyah Morgan-Banke
Nora O’Malley photo
Chance Fred, Mohkin Masso,Andrew Clappis Jr. and Ivan Wells Jr. are piloting the newly launched Indigenous Coastal Youth (ICY) Safety Program, an initiative run by the Nuu-chah-nulth Youth Warrior Family Society in partnership Parks Canada. of this,”
Forestry conference seeks new and creative ideas
While B.C.’s total harvest is declining, First Nations are looking to increase their role in the changing industry
By Eric Plummer Ha-Shilth-Sa Editor
PortAlberni, BC - Ideas will be critical for First Nations and forestry companies to make the best use of what’s left to cut, says those behind an upcoming conference being held in PortAlberni this September.
Robert Dennis Sr., a former chief councillor of the Huu-ay-aht First Nations, is on the planning committee of the Indigenous Forestry Conference, which is scheduled for Sept. 10 and 11 at the Best Western Barclay Hotel in Port Alberni. He’s found that forest stewardship has become a larger consideration among those in the industry, “meeting the present needs without compromising the needs of future generations.”
“The days of huge volumes of timber being removed from our territories, I think that’s a thing of the past,” said Dennis. “I do know there’s a shift here in looking at the potential opportunities in second growth and removing our reliance on old growth.”
The conference plans to bring together 175 delegates from companies and Indigenous communities across British Columbia, including the hosting Tseshaht First Nation. The conference lead Trevor Cootes hopes that the event will enable those present to collaboratively find economic opportunities in forestry.
“Hopefully we have some tangible outcomes that come out of it - that we could have everybody working together, moving forward to close the economic gap for First Nations in being able to participate in forestry and the economy,” he said. Cootes was born and raised in Port Alberni, a community that has been subject to the industry’s monumental shift over the past few generations. Most of the sawmills that once lined the small city’s waterfront have closed, including Western Forest Products’Somass Division, a facility specializing in old-growth cedar that shut down in early 2017 and is now being demolished. That left over 70 employees out of work, and in the fall of 2022 WFP stopped running theAlberni Pacific Division mill at the south end of the city, affecting another 100 jobs.
But opportunities have arisen in recent years as well. Last year Huu-ay-aht announced becoming the majority owner of TimberTiles, a manufacturing outfit in PortAlberni that used second-growth hemlock to produce wood tiles for interior spaces. TimberTiles is set to be represented at the conference, as is Kalesnikoff, a forestry company with over 80 years of family-run experience in the West Kootenay region.
Like many from his generation, Dennis worked as a logger when he was younger. But the participation of First Nations people in the West Coast forestry industry declined over the years, as governments
were pushed to reconsider how much of the forest could be harvested.
“The desire for the province to conserve areas, that had a lot to do with that,” he said. “That resulted in layoffs.”
In recent years this trend has continued – particularly in respect to the amount of old growth being cut. Since 2021, B.C.’s overall harvest has declined from 45 million cubic metres to 32.4 million last year.And from 2015-22 old growth harvesting dropped 52 per cent, falling from 66,526 hectares of forest to 33,000, according to the Ministry of Forests. Meanwhile the amount of area protected has grown. Since November 2021 almost 2.5 million hectares has been deferred from harvest or declared permanently protected, adding to the 3.8 million hectares that the province states were already conserved. Most recently a large proportion of Clayoquot Sound was added to
this when 76,000 hectares of conservancies, covering almost 60 per cent of the existing tree farm licence, were declared protected in June.
“Forestry has changed substantially,” commented Cootes. “Climate change has really shown itself in the last few years in how that had changed our view in how we manage our lands. It’s naturally evolving and coming to a place where First Nations want to participate more.”
In recent years the Huu-ay-aht have stepped in to claim a larger stake in forestry within its territory, making the industry account for most of the annual revenue generated by the First Nation’s group of businesses. HFN Forestry LP now manages four tenures, private lands, a woodlot licence, a community forest agreement, treaty settlement lands and a log sorting yard.Also notable is Cawak ʔqin Forestry, a partnership between a
Huu-ay-aht company and Western Forests Products, that manages TFL 44, a vast section of Crown land south of PortAlberni and Great Central Lake.
Also set to be at the conference are representatives from the Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/ Che:k’tles7et’h’First Nations.After finding that its forestry tenure was too small to be profitable in 2021, the First Nation’s forestry company approached others in its territory to share tenures. This resulted in Tiičma Forestry’s acquisition of a licence for Crown land from Interfor, quadrupling the First Nation’s annual allowable cut to 140,000 cubic metres annually. Cootes has seen an overall shift in B.C. amid things like Victoria’s passing of the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous PeoplesAct.
“It’s created opportunity now for First Nations to seize an opportunity and look at things in a different way,” he said.
Melissa Renwick photo
The Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k’tles7et’h’First Nations have grown their stake in forestry in recent years with the acquisition of more tenures. Pictured is forest near Kyuquot.
Robert Dennis Sr.
President’s Message
Hello everyone. Another month has passed. I recognize many families are grieving the loss of a loved one and my prayers go out to you to get through such difficult times. We have lost many valuable Nuu-chah-nulth.
Usma has secured some building space in Campbell River so we can provide more services to the northern region as well as those members living away from home in Campbell River. We are working with MCFD to be able to take over files that concern our Nuu-chah-nulth.
Our Executive Director Florence Wylie, our director of Usma and myself travelled to Campbell River to exercise protocol and let the two local First Nations know what we would be doing, asking for their approval. They were very pleased that we did that and we also talked about sharing our ways, best practices and working together. It was a worthwhile effort in keeping with our protocols. When we do an official opening of the building we will invite the communities to welcome and witness what we are starting.
I attended the elders conference in Vancouver to support our elders and the elders society that puts on the conference every year. It is good to have a Nuu-chah-nulth presence there. It was a great gathering of elders from around the province. The highlight is the parade of elders to kick off the event. Every Nation comes in with their signs, outfits, drumming and singing. It takes almost an hour for the parade as there are so many nations there. It is good opportunity to meet people, enjoy entertainment and talk about serious issues. Another highlight for me was the Elvis impersonator who sang many favourite songs and thrilled the crowd with his antics. The elders were well fed and looked after during this time and many personal services are offered as well.
First Nations HealthAuthority released a report inAugust titled First Nations Population Health and WellnessAgenda. Key findings from the report include:
● Connection to land has an important role in First Nations culture, ceremony, language and identity, which are key to the wellness of First Nations Peoples;
● There has been no meaningful change to the proportion of registered First Nations physicians in B.C. since the baseline report. Only 0.39 per cent of registered physicians in B.C. self-identified as First Nations in 2023, compared to 0.32 per cent in 2019;
● For the first time, the FNHAand the Office of the Provincial Health Officer are reporting on the proportion of First Nations nurses and midwives in B.C. In 2023, only 1.5 per cent of nurses and 1.7 per cent of midwives registered with the BC College of Nurses and Midwives selfidentified as First Nations;
● Education (the proportion of students who complete high school within eight years of starting Grade 8) has improved by 4.3% among Indigenous students;
●Among First Nations in B.C., infant mortality is down 0.7 per 1,000 live births (from5.3 per 1,000 live births in 2013-17 to 4.6 per 1,000 in 2015-2019);
● Life expectancy at birth for Status First Nations Peoples in B.C. decreased from the baseline of 73.3 years in 2017 to 67.2 years in 2021;
● The mortality rate among Status First Nations Peoples in B.C. increased from the baseline of 117.3 per 10,000 population in 2017 to 156.0 per 10,000 in 2021; and
● First Nations Peoples in B.C. have been disproportionately impacted by the
public health emergencies of the toxic drug crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. It is shocking that the mortality rate of First Nations peoples increased and life expectancy decreased.
Chief Jerry Jack has been re-appointed to the B.C.Assembly of First Nations board and provides good direction to the regional chief while sitting on several national committees like policing. Thanks to Jerry for all the work he does on our behalf.
My son Cole Sayers received a King Charles III Coronation Medal this week for his work in clean energy and economic development. Great to see our young people achieving in ways that are noticed. Our NTCAGM will be held in Mowachaht/Muchalaht territory on October 2nd. It will be live broadcast for those who cannot travel there to join us. Looking forward to staying at Mowachaht/Muchalaht’s newly renovated hotel and seeing the beautiful totem they have raised.
There were a couple fires in Hupacasath reserve and close to the Tseshaht reserve and the NTC offices. Thankfully the fires were put out before they reached community buildings and other homes, but it was tense times for members awaiting news on the status of the fires. I hope every First Nation has their emergency plan in place and are building capacity to deal with emergencies whether it is fires, flooding or the increasing velocity of winds. Personal family preparedness is also Important with a survival kit that can carry you through several days if water, power or phone service is not available.
It was good to see Hesquiaht celebrate their run-of-the-river project inAugust, displacing diesel. Aplaque is in the powerhouse dedicated to the late Richard Lucas who worked hard to get funds for the project. I worked with him to find the funds and I always told the regional director general of Indigenous Services Canada that it was a real shame the funds didn’t come through in his lifetime as it was Richard’s vision for the community. Now they have both run of the river and solar and rely very little on diesel.
The B.C. provincial election campaigns will start on September 15th. It would be good to look at all the issues and who will work the hardest for First Nations people. Many changes are needed to ensure that reconciliation actually happens and UNDRIP is fully implemented. The NDP have lost a lot of their popularity and what once was a sure thing for them is now uncertain. Make sure you talk to all those who are running.Ask candidates their intentions on justice, health, education, MMIWG, recognizing our rights, settling our title to lands and resources as well as recognizing and implementing our right of self determination.
-Cloy-e-iis, Judith Sayers
Open Invitation - Indian name giving Sept 28
Thunderbird Hall, Campbell River
Starts at 10am, lunch be served at 12pm and supper at 6:30pm. Please come Share a meal with my family & friends. Hosted by Barb Wells(Amos) and family Nuu-chah-nulth Baby Group
Every Monday
CYS - 4841 Redford Street, Port Alberni
10am-12pm. We offer Prenatal and infant development information, special guests, snacks provide and $20.00 food voucher per family. 250-724-3939. Enter from 4th avenue side, building with orange stripe.
Girls Group
Correction
&Community Beyond
Every Tuesday
Usma culture space, PortAlberni
5:00pm-7:00pm Girls ages 13-18. Need a safe space? Want to express yourself? Looking to learn to bake and cook? Do you enjoy doing crafts? Come join us for fun activities with food and refreshments every Tuesday!
Eating in Balance
Wednesdays
PortAlberni Friendship CenterGroup works together starting with planting seeds up until preserving the food. Participants will receive a $10.00 grocery coupon that can be used at Quality Foods and Buy Low Foods. Open to all families with children 0-6. To register please contactAmber at 250-723-8281 ext. 233 or aflaro@pafriendshipcenter.com or on FBAmber PAFC
The cutline under the front-page photo in the Aug. 22 edition of Ha-Shilth-Sa incorrectly identified the Elders Gathering king. His name is actually Frank Wallace, not Frank Lawrence. We apologize for the error.
Cole Sayers awarded King Charles Coronation Medal
By Holly Stocking Ha-Shilth-Sa EditorialAssistant
Vancouver, BC - Kwatuuma Cole Sayers of the Hupačasath First Nation has received a King Charles III Coronation Medal for his work in clean energy and economic development.
At the second of two ceremonies held this summer presenting the awards, Kwatuuma received the medal onAug. 27 in Vancouver. Sayers’mother Judith Sayers also won the award at the first ceremony back in July, which was held in Victoria.
“I am deeply honored to receive the Coronation Medal. This recognition is a testament to the dedication and collaborative efforts of our communities in advancing clean energy and sustainable
development”, said Cole Sayers in a statement released by The Clean Energy Association of British Columbia. “As we continue to walk the path of reconciliation and stewardship, I believe in the power of partnerships to create a future where First Nations are not only participants but leaders in the energy transition.”
Atotal of 30,000 Canadians received the King Charles III Coronation Medal in ceremonies all over the country this July andAugust. The medals are given to those who “Have made a significant contribution to Canada or to a particular province, territory, region or community of Canada, or have made an outstanding achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada,” stated the federal government.
Submitted photo
Standing next to Premier David Eby and B.C. Lieutenant Governor JaneyAustin, Kwatuuma Cole Sayers received a King Charles III Coronation Medal for his work in clean energy and economic development.
Port Alberni Friendship Centre Volunteers Needed
Need work experience? The Port Alberni Friendship Centre is looking for interested applicants for various positions. Call 250-723-8281
View more job postings at www.hashilthsa.com or h ps://www.facebook.com/ groups/1025031948676842
Tseshaht Olympic medallist continues career at UBC
On the university’s squad this autumn Valenzuela joins three other silver-medal-winning teammates from Paris
By Sam Laskaris Ha-Shilth-Sa Contributor
Vancouver, BC - Shalaya Valenzuela’s athletic career already includes winning a medal at the world’s most prestigious multi-sport competition.
Valenzuela, a member of Tseshaht First Nation, was part of the Canadian women’s rugby sevens squad that captured the silver medal at the recently concluded Paris Olympics in France.
Valenzuela, who is 25, was actually an alternate on the Canadian club in Paris. But she participated in all team activities and was also presented with an Olympic medal.
Valenzuela’s focus has now turned to winning a national championship. That’s because she has decided to resume her schooling.
She’s studying at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver.And she’s suiting up for the UBC Thunderbirds women’s rugby team.
Valenzuela is now getting adjusted again to playing the traditional version of the sport, which features 15 players per side. Rugby sevens is just what it sounds like, seven players on the field per team.
“I definitely lean towards sevens because I have been concentrating on that,” Valenzuela said when asked which version of the sport she prefers. “But I’m really excited to get back into the 15s.”
Valenzuela last played on a traditional rugby team when she was in high school.
She had previously spent two years, from 2017-19, taking criminal justice classes at the University of the Fraser Valley inAbbotsford.
She also spent a semester playing for the University of Victoria women’s rugby sevens team before putting her studies on hold to concentrate furthering her athletic
Canada’s Olympic silver-medal-winning rugby
career with the national team program.
With the next Olympics four years away now – the 2028 Games will be staged in LosAngeles – Canadian team officials made the decision not to have its players centralize in one location for the time being.
National team members were encouraged to find other places to continue playing.
“I believe it will just be for this season and maybe next year,” Valenzuela said. Even though she enjoyed her criminal justice studies at the University of the Fraser Valley and was originally keen to finish off her degree there, the school does not offer a rugby program.
Thus, Valenzuela made the decision a couple of months ago to apply to UBC so she could play at a school with a reputable rugby club.
The UBC Thunderbirds are the fourtime defending Canada West league champions.
Valenzuela is obviously hoping to help the Thunderbirds win another league crown this fall. But more importantly,
she’s also hoping the club can capture a gold medal at the national USports women’s rugby tournament this fall. That event, which will be staged at the University of Prince Edward Island, will begin on Oct. 30 and continue until Nov. 3.
“That will be a really big goal that we’re going to go for,” Valenzuela said.
Though she is a newcomer to the Thunderbirds’program, Valenzuela is rather familiar with three of her teammates.
That’s because the UBC club includes three other women that were also on the Canadian roster which captured the silver medal at the Paris Olympics.
Piper Logan and Florence Symonds previously played for UBC.And like Valenzuela, Charity Williams will be a rookie on the UBC team this season.
Valenzuela said Thunderbirds’head coach Dean Burten was ecstatic when he found out that he would have four Olympic medalists on his squad this season.
“Dean is really excited about it,” She said. “He was trying to keep it quiet until it was officially released.”
The news broke this past Thursday when the Thunderbirds had their first practice of the season.
Though it has been a few years since she was in school, Valenzuela doesn’t think it will be too difficult for her to get back into the swing of being a student/athlete.
“I don’t think so,” she said. “I just love learning.”
For now Valenzuela will work towards a bachelor of arts degree before deciding what she wants to specialize in.
Valenzuela and her UBC teammates will play their first regular season game of the year this Saturday, Sept. 7, on the road against the University of Victoria.
The Thunderbirds’home opener is scheduled for Sept. 15, versus the University of Lethbridge.
UBC will be hoping to win a fifth straight Canada West championship next month. The conference tournament will be held in Calgary from Oct. 17-20.
Valenzuela has also set her sights on representing Canada at the LosAngeles Olympics. She believes that squad will be capable of earning some hardware as well.
“It’s a very realistic goal,” she said. “We’re going to want to get back to that gold-medal game and win it this time.”
New Zealand defeated Canada 19-12 in this year’s Olympic gold-medal match, which was held on July 30.
Following the Paris Olympics, Valenzuela and Symonds and some other friends decided to stay in Europe and travel to a handful of other countries. They visited Spain, Croatia and Greece.
Valenzuela and her friends watched the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics while they were in Greece.
“It was nice celebrating there,” she said. “That’s where the Olympics all started.”
Movable Feast music tour rocks coastal communities
By Nora O’Malley Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Vancouver Island, BC – Movable Feast Indigenous music and culture tour kicked off onAug. 25 at the ‘Namgis Big House Field in ‘Yalis (Alert Bay) then on Wednesday,Aug. 28 the tour barged all their equipment to Flores Island for performances inAhousaht. Stop three and the last leg of the tour was onAug. 31 in Toquaht Nation’s village of Macoah.
The line-up of Indigenous musicians included Kiva MH, The Melawmen Collective, Leonard Sumner, Mama Mihirangi, Garret T. Willie, Saltwater Hank, Sechile Sedare, Willie Thrasher and Linda Saddleback, Hassatuk (Kalilah Rampanen), GeoAKAThe Voice, Sabina Dennis and local guests.
Founded by 2RiversRemix Society in partnership with virtualfeast.ca, these three stops on the Movable Feast Vancouver Island tour were all free, familyfriendly and open to everyone. The program started at 1 p.m. and wraped around 11 p.m.
“Everywhere we go, we showcase the stories of the people and the land there and how it came to be that way,” said singer, songwriter and Movable Feast founder Meeka Morgan.
“My mom was saying how important the connections between our communities are. We used to be connected by the water way more in terms of transportation and now, where we have been forced to be are places that are really hard to get
to. We want to bring those stories to light; the true conditions of our lives,” said Morgan, who is of Toquaht and Secwépemc descent.
The Saturday,Aug. 31 show in Macoah was a special celebration for Toquaht.
“They’ve done so much development out there that they’ve never been able to celebrate,” said Morgan before the show.
“They’re going to be celebrating their growth and bringing their people home. That’s what my mom has always been about, it’s always been her motto, ‘bringing their people home’.”
Stage and musician manager Victoria Morgan says Movable Feast helps Indigenous youth “reclaim identity” and “build confidence”. Not only do the youth get a chance to listen to different genres of music, but they also get to learn about different jobs in digital media, lighting, camera and tech, Victoria tells the HaShilth-Sa.
“Mentoring and shadowing has been happening a lot with the youth on tour,” she said.
Movable Feast has a crew of about 39 people, including a livestream team. They also piloted a fossil-fuel-free initiative this year by using a fleet of electric vehicles and an LED wall for lighting.
“It’s getting used to a totally different lifestyle. It changes the way you travel. You have to take a lot of time. There are challenges, but when you get to witness the people up on the stages mixed in with the local people, each Movable Feast has the potential and ends up being very
dance at Toquaht‘s village of Macoah campground
unique, very personal to each community,” said Morgan.
Movable Feast/2RiversRemix stems from Lytton, B.C., a community that has a large Indigenous population with half the town on federal reserve lands.
“We saw the need for an all-Indigenous led and centred event where survivors feel safe and the inter-generations can witness one another’s artist expressions in a really high-quality production,” Morgan shared.
2RiversRemix Society was going strong for two years until the COVID-19 pandemic came along, and that’s when they started the livestreaming and prerecording.
“And then 2021 came and the fire took out the whole town,” Morgan continues.
“Our managing producer is still a climate refugee, same with many people from Lytton. We lost all our equipment, all our art exhibitions, everything. Even though we probably should have taken a break, we needed to be there for the community, so we pulled together an event called the Movable Feast where we brought together the community of Lytton in Chilliwack.”
For more information or to watch the shows on the livestream, visit: virtualfeast.ca.
Nora O’Malley photo
Revelers
during the summer 2024 Movable Feast tour onAug. 31.
submitted photo
Tseshaht member Shalaya Valenzuela, on right, is one of four members from
squad currently playing for UBC.
Tla-o-qui-aht kids greet school year with epic playday
Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council gifts kids with jackets, running shoes, hiking boots and backpacks for school
By Nora O’Malley Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Tla-o-qui-aht kids had a funtastic time onAug. 27 with a boulevard worth of bouncy castles popping up right in their own backyard at Ty-Histanis.
The Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation (TFN) Family Fun Day was co-hosted by the nations’community services and education departments to celebrate the start of a new school year. Education manager Iris Frank says there are about 135 TFN kids getting ready for the upcoming scholastic year.
Ty-Histanis resident Cecilia Jackson soaked up the good vibes with her two grandchildren, Caiden, 9, and Charlotte, 7, who start Grade 5 and Grade 2 at Wickaninnish Community School in Tofino the first week of September.
“I didn’t get to have this when I was growing up at all. To have this right in the community is a big thing for people who are unfortunate to get a ride somewhere to go have fun. This is big for them,” said Jackson.
Ty-Histanis is about a 15-minute school bus ride away from Tofino.
“We didn’t really go anywhere all summer. They’ve been looking forward to it,” Jackson continued.
The Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council (NTC) gifted new jackets, running shoes, hiking boots and backpacks to each child that was there.
“(My grandkids) got a brand new jacket. They’re so happy,” said Jackson.
NTC training and prevention co-ordinator GinaAmos had the joyful task of passing out the presents to all the kids. She said NTC gifted about 45 pairs of shoes, 45 jackets and about 30 backpacks.
“We’re just showing them we are proud of them and happy that’s it’s another new year and exciting year for them to go back to school.Any little gift we can
Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council gifted kids with new jackets,
prepare children for the upcoming school year. do to help families out… We are proud of everybody for going to school,” said Amos, adding that NTC hopes to be back next year and go to other communities as well.
There were three families that took a boat over from Opitsaht and Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ
Skylene Patrick also brought the children from the qʷayačiikʔiis Childcare Centre over from Hitacu for the epic day of play, which included a snow cone station, cotton candy and facepainting.
Nora O’Malley photos
The
running shoes, hiking boots and backpacks onAug. 27 to
