Dootilh August 2018
Haisla Nation on social media:
”BUILDING A POWERFUL, PROSPEROUS AND PROUD COMMUNITY, HEALTHY IN MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT.”
Haisla Youth return from their Haisla Culture Camp adventure with great stories and a new connection to nuyem. 1
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SPLASH! The Haisla Community School hosted a summer reading program, but that doesn't mean it was all nose-in-books. A quick splash break on a hot afternoon earlier this summer keeps the kids refreshed.
Fire ban remains in effect in Village Due to the hot dry weather and issues with our water system: You can keep up with other fire bans in B.C. Until further notice please do not burn within By by going online to this address: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wil the community. dfire-status/fire-bans-and-restrictions It is a difficult decision to make because of our traditions, please help us to prevent wildfire in or Kitamaat Village residents are asked to around our community. conserve their water as much as they can to Please help keep our community safe. Our ensure adequate water pressure is available in prayers are with the effected families of all the events such as emergencies. wildfires that are happening in BC today. Thank you for your understanding we will issue Notice of the fire ban lifting will be posted to another notice to community when this is lifted. Haisla Nation Council social media, and to www.haisla.ca. 2
Transition home to guarantee space for Haisla Women and children in Kitimat fleeing violence will have more options for housing, thanks to a new transition house being funded by the Government of British Columbia as part of a partnership with Tamitik Status of Women Association, the Haisla Nation and the District of Kitimat. Deputy Chief Councillor Brenda Duncan credits the hard work of Tamitik Status of Women for making this funding possible from the province. “For many years the Tamitik Status of Women have worked very closely with the Haisla Nation and listening, understanding, cooperating,helping us and working with us to address common issues,” said Duncan, saying the announcement and the relationships are reconciliation in action. “We know that there is a critical need for more transition housing for women and their children in Kitimat and in communities throughout British Columbia,” said Selina Robinson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “It has been far too long since government made the necessary investments in these homes. With this new housing, women and children fleeing abuse in this region will get the safe and welcoming environment they need.” The new mixed-use building will include up
to 12 beds of transition housing and up to 10 beds of second-stage housing for women and children. The project will also include up to 20 new affordable rental homes, including 10 accessible units for women and families in need. The project will be funded through the Province’s Building BC: Women’s Transition Housing Fund, a $734-million investment to support the construction of 1,500 spaces in transition and second-stage housing for women and children fleeing violence. “I’m proud to be part of a government committed to providing housing for our communities’ most vulnerable,” said Jennifer Rice, MLA for North Coast. “This new housing will give women and children escaping violence the comfort and safety they need to start rebuilding their lives.” Tamitik Status of Women Association will be the operator. The association will work with the Haisla Nation to make sure one of the transition beds is dedicated to high-risk Haisla members who require ongoing, wraparound supports. Construction is expected to start in spring 2019. /BC Government news release with additions by Haisla Nation Council
Donation to support Tahltan’s wildfire efforts With wildfires causing devastation in Telegraph Creek and surrounding areas, Haisla Nation Council donated $10,000 to the Tahltan Central Government. HNC also sponsored a dinner for evacuees at the Kitsumkalum Community Hall, catered by Posh Eaters. All of Haisla Nation Council offers its thoughts and prayers to everyone impacted by 3
these wildfires and commends Tahltan Central Government for its tireless work in supporting their members who have been forced to evacuate. For further information on how you can support evacuees through donations, you can visit the Tahltan Central Government website at tahltan.org.
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Culture camp For a combined 20 days in July, the Haisla culture from the food to song and dance - was at the forefront for more than 20 Haisla youth. The Haisla Culture Camp just completed its second successful year, which had its participants disconnected from usual distractions like televisions and cell phones, and having them focus on the nature around them at the camp built at Weewanie. The activities included a lot of swimming, canoeing, drumming, and singing. Some nights, as they fought off going to sleep, the girls and boys would ‘compete’ for who could sing the loudest, shouting Haisla songs to one another from each of their tents. When not proving who had the most refined vocals, the youth - the first camp had 13 participate, and 16 for the second run later in the month - would learn many traditional things, including how to prepare food. They smoked halibut, salmon and oolichan. Generally, they would also pitch in, and even the kids who may have had the most resistance at the beginning would very shortly learn to contribute to the whole camp. Coming to the camp may have been hard but leaving it would be harder still. Leaders could see the kids’ development over their 10 day camp, and could see them building relationships and putting into practice the Haisla nuyem.
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A L S I A H LTH A E H
t u o b a k l Lets ta AKA, lets get to know
Supplemental Medical Assistance! Who handles my benefits? When it comes to your health benefits, Haisla Nation Council and the Health Centre pays approximately nothing.
How do I access the Supplemental Medical Assistance program?
Contact the Haisla Health Centre to receive the application form. Call either 250-632-3600, or e-mail the Community Health Representative at chr@haisla.ca. Fill out the form, and make sure you have all of your documentation - receipts, letters, especially documentation that So, am I eligible for‌ FNHA coverage has either denied you or Let us stop you right there! If you want to know if only paid a portion of costs - and bring you have medical coverage for something, your first that all back to the Health office (you can stop is the FNHA toll-free phone number, 1-800-317even fax it to 250-632-3686!) for 7878. They know your medical coverage. Employees processing. at Haisla Health actually cannot access that information. Yes! Your health benefits are actually paid for by the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA). They pay for your benefits to the Medical Services Plan (MSP) for the province, and handle your eligibilities for coverage.
How long does it take?
How does Haisla Health help? Haisla Health offers the Supplemental Medical Assistance program! The program will fill the gap between what your health coverage, well, covers, and what you have to spend out of your own pocket. This also includes medicine and dental costs. This program makes sure there are no barriers between Haisla members and their medical services.
Processing applications can take up to two weeks - the time may depend on if you remembered all your paperwork!
HAISLA NATION COUNCIL Haisla Health
Who can you call? Haisla Health Centre E-mail works too: FNHA: 1-800-317-7878 250-632-3600 CHR@haisla.ca and Fax: 250-632-3686 6
How to access
SUPPLEMENTAL MEDICAL ASSISTANCE STEP ONE
Start by working with FNHA or your private insurance for coverage.
STEP TWO
Pick up a Supplemental Medical Assistance form from the Haisla Health Centre!
STEP THREE
STEP FOUR
Bring it to the Get all of your paperwork Health Centre, or together. Any receipts, and e-mail documentation regarding (chr@haisla.ca) or your coverage of the service, fax (250-632 equipment or medicine. 3686)
Allow up to two weeks for processing! 7
FUN c’imo’ca Head Start Child Care centre has run a series of activities over the summer to keep kids entertained and active. Among their programs included the Fun in the Sun series, with themes including “Under Construction.” (At left.) Other events such as barbecues, drumming, and reading programs, have kept young children active all summer.
See the sea by our sea shore! A project to build a boardwalk on the water’s edge near Haisla Marina is underway and should be done by the summer’s end. The new feature will give even better access to views at the seaside in Kitamaat Village, creating an attractive community feature. Shown here is a platform built so work can be done.
JOBS CLUB WEDNESDAYS
Job Placement Coordinator Will Gye leads a Jobs Club every Wednesday for Haisla members. Work with him to learn about current job openings, and to make those crucial connections which can land you work.
HNC Administration building 10:30 am to noon
Education & Employment office (606 Mountainview Sq.) 1 to 3 pm
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Chief Councillor is taking care of business Chief Councillor Crystal Smith is adding a new role to her portfolio, one that was once shared by her predecessor Ellis Ross. She is now a director with the Indigenous Business and Investment Council. “I’m looking forward to this experience,” said Smith. “The organization is focused on building First Nations economic strength, which is a cause that myself and the Council fully believe in as well.”
Smith isn’t unfamiliar with the organization. When she was Ellis Ross’s Executive Assistant she would travel with him to IBIC meetings and learn about what they do. According to the IBIC website, the organization’s mandate is to “help improve Indigenous participation in the economy and promote economic certainty in the province by encouraging economic growth in Indigenous communities.”
Love Corp The Love Corps Mission Society spent another wonderful two-weeks in Kitamaat Village, running a Vacation Bible School, as well as hosting some fun activities, including sushi-making workshops, and wrapping-up their visit with a community dinner at the Haisla Recreation Centre.
Family extends invite for a graveside service son, brother, cousin, friend, co-worker....he To those of you who wish to join us there will always had a kind word for everyone whose path he crossed. Taking time to share a good be a grave side service at the Terrace laugh. Cemetery for Dale Harms Sept 13, 2018. We will be leaving at 0830 AM from 16 Swallow St. As you can understand it was a devastating Kitimat. year for our family. We still can’t fathom it. Our hearts are still very heavy. The Fish Clan also welcomes you later that day to the “Wiping Of the Tears Feast” at 5:00 Wiping our tears doesn’t mean our tears will pm at the Haisla Recreation Centre. stop. We will always miss them and their caring loving ways. It has been 15 months since our mother Christine Harms passed. She was a We're allowing them to find their everlasting beautifully caring, loving sister, Aunty, friend rest and peace as we strive to find a new way and Nan. of walking through this world without them. Soon it will be a year for our brother Dale We are ever grateful to you all for your kind who was loved and adored by everyone who care this past year. knew him. He was a great husband, father, 9
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*with musical guest Arthur Renwick!
HAISLA RECREATION CENTRE
(
DINNER (
Haisla families welcome to enjoy a nice, hot meal and visit with friends!
August 22 | 4:30 pm PLUS
Some updates on the latest HNC projects
Bring your own bowls & utensils!
DOOR PRIZES!
HAISLA NATION COUNCIL 12
The familiar new face at Haisla Driving School Yowtz Xaisla and respected community members. My name is Angie Campbell, I have just been hired as Administrator for the Haisla Driving School. I have an Associates Degree which includes Social Work, Business Administration and a few Nisga'a Language courses. Most recent jobs include, Life Skills Worker (7mths) and Patient Travel Clerk (3 yrs) for Haisla Nation Council, also a member of HNVFD for a year and a half. My husband of 20 years and I (30 yrs together) have been blessed with three
children and three grandchildren. We relocated back to Kitamaat 7 years ago after completing many years of education/training in Terrace BC. I am enthusiastic about joining this new team and extremely excited about upcoming ventures. Please feel free to call, email or stop by the Haisla Driving School office for additional information on drivers training. Wa
250-639-7139 or info@drivehaisla.ca
UPCOMING DATES: August 20- 22: A three-day course for persons aged 40+, to get their Learners Licence.
Sept 10 - 12, 2018: Three-day learners course Sept 19, 2018: Defensive Driving Course Sept 29, 2018: Mandatory Safe Driving Course WINTER DRIVING COURSE coming in October 2018
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AUGUST 20 and 21
DON’T MISS THIS AMAZING EVENT! Haisla Recreation Centre Sue Smith, 250-639-9361 14
Going M.I.L.E.S Conference Motivate. Inspire. Lead. Empower. Succeed www.goingmiles.org
August 20 DAY 1:
All ages welcome
2-DAY CONFERENCE OUTLINE AGENDA:
1:00pm to 2:15pm
Introductions / Warm-ups / Traditional Handshake Going M.I.L.E.S Workshop # 1 (Youth Empowerment 1)
2:15pm to 2:30pm
Health Break
2:30pm to 3:30pm
Going M.I.L.E.S Workshop # 2 (Cyber Bullying) Dinner Break
EVENING ENTERTAINMENT (Open to surrounding communities) 7:00pm to 7:30pm
DAKOTA HOUSE & SCOTT WARD Mentalist Act
7:30pm to 8:30pm
SCOTT WARD Comedy Hypnosis Show
8:30pm to 10:00pm
Going M.I.L.E.S Video Dance Party
August 21 DAY 2:
AGENDA:
10:00am to 11:00am
Going M.I.L.E.S Workshop # 3 (Drugs & Alcohol)
11:00am to 12:00pm
Going M.I.L.E.S Workshop # 4 (Suicide Prevention)
12:00pm to 1:00pm
Community Lunch
1:00pm to 2:15pm
Going M.I.L.E.S Workshop # 5 (Youth Empowerment 2)
2:15pm to 3:00pm
Workshop Wrap-up / Closing Comments Question & Answer session
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Cultural department thriving as staff take new roads to engage the old ways Community Cultural Coordinator Teresa Windsor knows time is pressing to put Haislakala on the upswing as far as fluency in the Haisla community. By her count, when she first began her job there were 101 fluent speakers of the Haisla language. Today that’s already down to 87. “Time is pressing,” she says. That’s just one of the challenges the HNC Cultural Program is rising to address, and the dedicated group is proving a tireless bunch. Teresa was the first to join HNC’s Cultural Program, which operates under the umbrella, and the actual roof, of the Haisla Education & Employment department. Taking advantage of the space provided in the building, which is at 606 Mountainview Square, they are pushing forward on a number of initiatives. A year-on, the cultural department now includes Ab Morrison-Hayward as Archives Assistant, Minnie Rosso as curriculum development, and Vera Wilson as the Culture and Language Advisor. Minnie and Vera share a large former classroom in the Education office, and frequently bounce ideas and Haisla words back and forth as they focus on their projects. Every Tuesday they even host language games for the rest of the staff in the building, a popular break from the office work. Minnie is developing a Haisla curriculum that meshes the learning outcomes for grade school students from the Ministry of Education and gives them a Haisla slant. That means incorporating Haisla into things such as science classes. Vera’s main role is to take word lists from Minnie’s curriculum development, and painstakingly translates the words, with a 18
goal to keep the words standard and easy to understand. “I enjoy what I do,” she said, adding that she also develops activities such as colouring books for children to learn Haisla words. Meanwhile Ab is taking on the crucial role of modernizing existing Haisla materials, such as language lessons, and making them accessible for today’s generation. That means taking old language recordings, cleaning them up on the computer, and making them available on digital platforms. He got involved in this style of work in 2005 working for HNC, and has since added many
Cultural program, continued hours of experience to editing, removing odd gaps and noises to make recordings cleaner. He says constantly surrounding himself with these recordings is making him understand Haisla words far better than before. The language packs he’s assembling, available usually at the front desk of the Education and the Administration buildings, will give Haisla members their chance to embrace the language from home. Teresa meanwhile, is coordinating a number of programs, including running the Haislakala Learners’ Groups, which are expanding from
just Haisla words to other themes. It’s like a book club, but all about Haisla culture. Those will be resuming in the coming weeks. She says she’s happy to see a lot of community-generated initiatives to keep Haisla culture alive as well. Other major projects are underway through the office too and thanks to summer students they have special learning materials which will be completed shortly. Haisla have more than 9,000 years of history. At one year, there is lots of work for the department to do.
Say yowts to the new archives room The HNC archives room was once crammed in a small office in the administration building. Earlier this year though, Cultural Coordinator Teresa Windsor and Archive Assistant Ab Morrison-Hayward, carefully packed up their books and binders, and have made a new home in a corner office at the Haisla Education & Employment office. Windsor says there is much more room now to host the information, and to eventually make it a room that’s open and accessible to Haisla members at all times. As well, summer students have plenty of space to pursue their projects. This year they’ve 19
enjoyed having Braeden Brazeau and Megan Metz working through the summer. Morrison-Hayward also wants Haisla members to know he has Haisla language packs are available. Stop by the administration or Education & Employment front desks to request a copy. Are you already fluent in Haisla? Or are you an elder? The Cultural program would love to record you speaking about your personal history, and speaking haislakala, as a way to preserve the language and the collective Haisla history. Reach the Cultural department by calling 1877-809-8098.
Summer update from Haisla United Church James Grant sold prints to CN and was asked to choose a non-profit society so CN can send a donation. James chose the Haisla United Church. Thank you James Grant! And thank you CN for your generous donation towards our community Church. **Friendly Reminder for rentals as of September 1, 2018: - $125.00 rental and $75.00 cleaning/damage deposit. - We would like to thank those individuals who cleaned the Church after their function. Please remember we are a non-profit society and do not have a maintenance person. All your help is greatly appreciated. Please contact: ● Minnie Rosso @ 632-2555 or 279-0935 ● Bobbie Grant @ 632-4973 ● Anne Grant LADIES NIGHT WILL BEGIN AGAIN IN
SEPTEMBER! Come and join us for a cup of tea and to just relax. Bring a project/craft you are working on. ** During our first evening, we will be planning for upcoming events. Some ideas we have are: learning how to make bannock, baking powder bread, sewing classes, crocheting, practising Haisla language, etc. ** Thursday, September 6, 2018 @ 6:30 pm Everyone welcome! Danny Martin will begin Church services every other week. Please check Facebook for dates and times. Once again, thank you to all who contribute to keeping the Haisla United Church going. All rental payments go directly towards the bills for the Church. These monthly bills include Hydro which ranges from $200 to $300 and Gas which is $400 to $500 depending on the weather and repairs for furnace.
Still a chance to see the eye doctor to see the optometrist. To register, call the Haisla Health Centre at (250)-632-3600 or As many of you are aware, we were supposed to have an Optometry Clinic coming (250)-639-9361 ext.301 or ext. 302, or you can drop by and provide the following information to the Haisla Health Centre this month of June. Unfortunately, there has been a setback. to register: Name, Birthdate, phone number, Status Card Number, Personal Health Care The Optometrist is out of the country and will be coming back either August/September. We Number {CareCard) Sorry for the inconvenience this may have caused, and will be letting people know when we have a please pass the word for those that do not date set and we will call to set up have Facebook. appointments for those who registered. There is still time to register if you would like 20
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Looking forward to start of school year and school. To promote a shared understanding of bully truths and untruths, a Raising a Bully Free Family workshop is open to all parents, caregivers and front - line workers that work with children and youth. HCS staff will participate in another workshop, , implementing teaching strategies to build key elements in assisting in building their students' relationship skills and emotional skills. Curriculum Implementation Day on September 4, staff will co-plan with Haisla . language and culture team to ensure Haisla In preparation for the upcoming school year, ways of knowing is integrated into what they staff will be attending four days of training in are learning through place-based learning our core reading programs aimed at looking into our practice. Ensuring Haisla history, deeper into the program to increase student traditions, stories, ecology are embedded into success. Topics that will be covered include: our learning program will develop of a strong problem solving; why are some of my students Haisla self-identify that will provide the not moving, and examining our assessment resilience to compete and be successful in data to inform instruction. securing their future. In addition to focusing on a strong academic program, the school is focusing on a safe, caring and respectful learning environment. Haisla Community School will be presenting professional development This will guide all Haisla Community workshop on How to Create a Bully Free School's efforts in school improvement to School and Classroom - Using Social raise achievement in reading and math, and Education Skills. creating a caring and respectful learning Staff will be reviewing the latest research environment that meets the unique needs of about bullying, understanding bully truths and our learners, and ensuring Haisla language untruths, understanding brain development and culture are embedded into our learning and child behaviors and reviewing the 22 key program. ingredients to creating a bully free classroom
Haisla Community School staff and administration would like to welcome returning students and give a big Haisla Community School Welcome to all the new students to the 2018 - 2019 school year! We are planning another action-packed year of learning and fun. We are growing and classes are filling up. Those parents who have not returned their children’s school registration are encouraged to do so.
Learn about the Haisla Youth Sports Fund The Haisla Youth Fund provides grants to put www.haislayouthfund.com to apply, and to Haisla youth into sports programs and report the success for recipients. competitions. Also visit the website to find the full terms of Visit the fund’s website at reference for the Youth Sports Fund. 22
Deanna Gray
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SEPTEMBER 17 TO
JANUARY 31, 2019 IN KITIMAT
For more information and to Sponsored by, register contact: Liz Robinson at 250-639-5984, or Cecil Paul at 250-639-7128. 24
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REGISTRATION
OPEN
Representatives will be at City Centre Mall in Kitimat on August 20, 11 am to 4 pm
O C A L S I A H L O O H SC
Y T I N U MM
alling c y b l schoo il to the e h t h reac e -m a n a n c a a. u g c o n . i Y a d l n s i e a s al@h 11 or p 0 i c 5 n i 2 r 3 250-6 cipal at hcsp Prin Haisla Community School is a successful elementary school which merges traditional lessons with modern education plans. All our students, from Kindergarten to Grade 7, benefit from small class sizes, an enriching learning environment, and Haisla language and cultural classes. Connect with the school to learn more about opportunities you and your children can have in the upcoming school year.
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