Dootilh c’uxwenx’id (December) 2018
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”BUILDING A POWERFUL, PROSPEROUS AND PROUD COMMUNITY, HEALTHY IN MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT.”
Working together for reconciliation Through facilitator Janelle Kasperski (second from right), a workshop hosted by HNC at Kitimat’s Riverlodge saw participants take on the KAIROS Blanket 2
Exercise, an exercise which creates a shared understanding of Indigenous history with European contact and settlement. The workshop took place on December 17.
Judges wowed by Active Measures dishes The Active Measures program, which is a 16-week program which fosters development of important life skills towards achieving fulltime employment, held one of their program highlights on November 29. The Iron Chef competition creates teams from the Active Measures students, divided into a White and Black team, to see which can top the other with points. Dishes included halibut burgers, swan-
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shaped desserts, and tasty salmon chip dips. A panel of three-judges ranked their choices. Active Measures is a program designed for self-exploration, identifying strengths, and gaining skills through various training programs. Those programs include fitness, Food Safe certification, training in computer software, and the program concludes after a two-week job placement for the students.
Haisla Nation Council's Culture and Language program partners with First Nations Education Foundation Haisla Nation Council is proud to mark a Memorandum of Understanding signed between HNC's Culture and Language program, and the First Nations Education Foundation. (FNEF) The FNEF is a not-for-profit foundation engaged in promoting, funding, and implementing revitalization projects for at-risk Indigenous languages. Through this new agreement, HNC's Culture and Language program will develop a number of initiatives which include curating Haisla knowledge in to one common platform, recording elders, recording place names in Haisla Traditional Territory, and smart textbook and
platform design which will include text, audio, and animation. The Haisla Nation is just the second Indigenous community to enter into an agreement of this type with FNEF. FNEF, through their own partnership with Six Factor - a western Canadian Google Cloud partner - will also be developing a one-of-a-king language learning app which will include the Haisla language as well. HNC's Culture and Language program is looking forward to this exciting new partnership and the results it will bring to revitalizing the Haisla language.
Making agreements for Haisla benefit To Haisla members, I would like to take this opportunity to assure you that Haisla Nation Council is working towards reaching an agreement on LNG with the provincial government. You may have seen news articles which reported that Haisla are among the nations without a provincial agreement yet, and we want you to know our negotiations are working to ensure we protect Haisla Aboriginal Rights
Holiday hours at HNC HNC offices close for a winter break from December 22 to January 6, returning to work January 7. Here’s what’s still open: December 22 and 23: 4pm to 11 pm December 24 to 26: Closed December 27 to 30th: 4pm to 11pm
and Title, and that any eventual agreement will include strategic land acquisitions within Haisla Territory. It is also worth knowing that even though the agreement is still in negotiation, there is no monetary loss to the Nation. Thank you very much for this opportunity to provide this update.
December 31 to January 2: Closed January 3 to 6th: 4pm to 11pm December 24: 8am to 4pm December 25 and 26th: Closed December 31: 8am to 4 pm January 1: Closed Regular hours, but closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day.
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HAISLA GRIEF & CRISIS SUPPORTS First Nations Health Authority approved counsellors
Nakwelagila Wellness Counselling
Community Social Worker & c’imo’ca Family Services contact Jennifer Lagace
Expressive Arts Therapist Miriam Windsor
Louise Ormerod 250-615-7908
Deborah McCooey 250-615-6548
Katherine Smith 250-631-6194
Joelle McKiernan 250-635-6707
Outreach Worker (Vancouver-based) James Harry
The Haisla Health Centre also provides programming such as: - Home and Community health services - At-home supports - Patient Travel - Youth and elder programs Call the Haisla Health Centre 250-639-9361, extension 301
Ted Altar 250-635-3888
Northwest Counselling 250-638-8311 Northwest Inter-Nation Family & Community Services Society (NIFCS) 1-888-310-3311 KUU-US Crisis Line Adults/Elders: 250-723-4050 Child/Youth: 250-723-2040 Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868
HAISLA NATION COUNCIL Haisla Health Centre 5
Big thanks from nee n’wagilas elders yowtz, guuk'loot. We, nee n'wagilas elders and staff give each and every one of you warm hugs, and kisses. We, nee n'wagilas elders are so grateful to HNC and staff for all you do for our guuk'loot. For all the travelling you do, hours of meetings for us, and most of all, all the time away from your family, all done on our behalf. We are so ever grateful. Thank you, thank you, thank you. We, nee n'wagilas elders thank Sue Smith and her helpers for all these years of dedication to organize all the events for our guuk'loot far and wide. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
We, nee n'wagilas elders thank Public Works, Haisla Fire Department, Health Centre, Haisla Gas Bar, Haisla Post Office, Education & Employment, ci'mo’ca School, Haisla school, gya' wa 'tlaab healing centre, and NIFCS, for all your hard work for our community. Thank you, thank you, thank you. We, nee n'wagilas elders wish our guuk'loot "Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year". wa.
BEST FISHES! The Haisla Fisheries and Harbour crew offer you their ‘best fishes’ for 2019! 6
No cost boat disposal program Early in 2019 the Canadian Coast Guard expects legislation to pass in Parliament, under Bill C-64, which will empower them to direct owners to dispose of "vessels of concern" throughout Canada. Boat owners that are negligent or refuse to obey these orders may face fines or even jail time. Fortunately, there is still a period of amnesty where owners can have vessels destroyed at no cost, under the Ocean Protection Plan's Vessel vessel disposed of, please contact Haisla Fisheries at 250-639-9361 (ext. 207), before it's Disposal Program. If you are the owner of an too late! unwanted vessel and would like to have your
BOARDWALK WARNING! Use at your own risk. While the Haisla Harbour Authority continues to work toward breakwater access (completion date is set for fall 2019) please use caution around the incomplete boardwalk sections and refrain from climbing on supporting structures. Those using this boardwalk do so at their own risk.
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What’s new from Education & Employment Kierra Stevens is the new Administrative Assistant for the Education & Employment department. She can be reached at 778-649-2025 ext. 6001 or kstevens@haisla.ca. Paula Smith is now the Work Placement Coordinator and no longer a Job Coach. She can still be reached at 778-649-2025 ext. 6005 or psmith@haisla.ca. Kimberley McKenzie is the new Administrative Liaison. She can be reached at 778-649-2025 ext. 6003 or kmckenzie@haisla.ca. As of January 2019, William Gye is no longer with HNC as a Work Placement Coordinator. There will be no more Jobs Club on Wednesdays. In 2018, Will placed members in 83 jobs. We'd like to thank Will for all the work he has done for the Haisla Nation. Project-Based Learning Upgrading Are you interested in working towards your Adult Dogwood? KVI will be hosting 4 upgrading courses starting January 14, 2019 that will run for 10 weeks. Workplace Math 11, English 12, Entrepreneurship 12, and Media Arts 12. Contact KVI to register at 250-639-9199 and Tara Paul to discuss funding at 778-649-2025 ext. 6004.
If so, you'll need to take Airbrakes first. The Education & Employment department will be hosting an Airbrakes Endorsement course on January 15-17, 2019. There are 16 spots available in the course. Haisla members can contact Tara Paul to register by January 8, 2019.
The Haisla Education & Employment department would like to congratulate the 8 Haisla members who completed year 1 of the program at KVI! (See photo above.) We would also like to extend our congratulations to the six members who chose to move on to year two. Best of luck in the new year.
The Haisla Driving School would like to introduce their newest Driving Instructor, Antonio Tavares. He can be reached at Antonio@drivehaisla.ca. Haisla Driving School is also looking at offering a Class 4 course in late January/early February. If you are interested please contact Angie Campbell at acampbell@haisla.ca or 250-639Are you interested in taking Class 1-4 driver's 7139. training? 8
WORK PLACEMENT
CAPACITY coordinator assistant Your adventure in job finding begins with the Capacity Assistant. From here, you can update your resume, book appointments with the Job Coaches or Work Placement Coordinator, and will assist with employment referrals. Crystal A. Smith 1-877-809-8098 Ext. 6002 dgray@haisla.ca
The Work Placement Coordinator will arrange short term (1 to 2 days) training opportunities, handle wage subsidies, job referrals, employment supports, and serve as an advocate for you as an employee.
Paula Smith 1-877-809-8098 Ext. 6005 psmith@haisla.ca Drop-in availability is Wednesdays and Fridays, 1 to 4 pm
Administrative
LIAISON
The Administrative Liaison will assist Haisla members with job on-boarding, advocate for employees and employers, and support the Work Placement Coordinator administratively.
1-877-809-8098 kmckenzie@haisla.ca
Working Warriors is a job and employment database for all Indigenous persons. Bring in your resume, get connected to the system, and find your next career.
WORKING WARRIORS
Deanna Gray 1-877-809-8098 Ext. 6018, wwadmin@haisla.ca
JOB COACHES Job Coaches will connect you with certificate programs, long-term training opportunities, employmentrelated training, and access to driving lessons. Geri Budden 1-877-809-8098 Ext. 6006 gbudden@haisla.ca Drop-in availability Wednesdays Tara Paul 1-877-809-8098 Ext. 6004 tara@haisla.ca Drop-in availability Fridays
POST SECONDARY
coordinator Supports Haisla members in their academic programs, including certificates, diplomas and degrees.
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Shannon Hall 1-877-809-8098 Ext. 6016 shall@haisla.ca Drop-ins available
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HAISLA NATION COUNCIL
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N I E M O C L E W
Soup dinner at the Rec Centre
Dinner is at 5 pm, December 31
If you can, come dressed in black or white
Please bring utensils and bowls HAISLA NATION COUNCIL 11
Coming soon! POLAR BEAR SWIM
For the sixth year running now, the Polar Bear Swim in Kitamaat Village is set for January 1 at noon. Trevor and Vicki Amos began the tradition when the Swims stopped happening at Hospital Beach. As usual there will be hot dogs, hot chocolate, a fire, and Search and Rescue will be on hand to provide any support. (and generally observe the lunacy)
MUSEUM Haisla Nation Council was pleased to mark the occasion of a signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Kitimat Museum & Archives. The MOU effectively sets out that Haisla now have full access to the Museum's Haisla image collection. At left is the Museum's Executive Director Louise Avery, and Museum Board Chair Robin Rowland, while at right is our Community Cultural Coordinator Teresa Windsor, with Chief Councillor Crystal Smith. 12
LICENSE OPPORTUNITIES
HAISLA FISHERIES COMMISSION The Haisla Fisheries Commission manages communal and commercial fishing licenses for
,
,
and
on behalf of Haisla Nation Council.
If you are interested in fishing these licenses or participating in training opportunities available through these licenses in 2019, please contact the HFC office. 250-639-9361 extension 207
HAISLA NATION COUNCIL
Deadline is December 21, 2018 13
HEALTH The new Health Centre as designed above. At right, representatives of HNC, McElhanney, dk Architecture, and Ledcor at the site to mark the beginning of construction.
A new Health Centre is on the way Haisla Nation Council is pleased to see construction begin on a brand new Haisla Health Centre in Kitamaat Village. Our new Health Centre will be located on Owekeno Street, directly next to our c'imo'ca Head Start Childcare centre, and across the street from our nee n'wagilas Elders Centre. Expanding on the care already provided in the Haisla community, the new Health Centre will enhance services including the additions of a telehealth room, a place for visiting physiotherapists and dentists, and a community kitchen. 14
"It is crucially important that our Health department has the space and resources it needs to adequately care for our community," said Chief Councillor Crystal Smith. "Especially with the economic activity happening in the region, the population in Kitamaat Village itself will certainly grow, and we need to be ready to meet our members' needs." The new Health Centre is funded by Haisla Nation Council, First Nations Health Authority, and Indigenous Services Canada. The building will be completed in the winter of 2019.
Housing options to grow in the Village Housing is easily one of the single biggest topics for Haisla members that we’re seeing as we go through the Comprehensive Community Plan, so we wanted to let members know what has been happening for housing lately. One of the largest projects for Kitamaat Village is an affordable apartment complex, which will see 23 units built. Yellowridge recently won the contract to construct the facility, and the BC Government through BC Housing just this past week committed a substantial amount of funding towards this project. The apartment unit will, once completed, be managed by the M’akola Housing Society. The apartments will be a mix of 1, 2, and 3
bedroom units. Given the construction timeline, the apartments will be available sometime in 2020. Another major project is the construction of duplexes. The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has funded this project, and was awarded to Technicon, for three duplexes, a mix of 2, 3 and 4 bedroom homes. Haisla Nation Council’s Community Development department will manage these homes, and once completed, either late spring or early summer 2019, they will begin accepting applications for tenants. In total this means 29 new living spaces in progress in Kitamaat Village which will be open over the course of the next 2 years.
There are yudu’xw language packs online Spend your holidays brushing up on your Haisla. There are three (yudu’xw) language packages you can access on the Haislakala Language Group’s website.
Simply visit the website at haislakala.wordpress.com/haisla-language packages and you’ll find the files which will get your started on your Haislakala practicing.
Keep roadways clear for emergencies Over the holidays, and really whenever there is snow on the ground, make sure you move off your boats, trailers, old vehicles, basketball hoops and anything else to make access easier for emergency vehicles Having to work around obstacles slows down emergency crews, and often proves a challenge to emergency crews, and those in snow removal.
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Ecoplan’s Andrea Haber discussing the Comprehensive Community Plan at the nee n’wagilas Elders Centre in Kitamaat Village.
Great input gathered through ongoing CCP We've been working on updating our old wherever members live. 2009 Community Plan for the past few months. We also confirmed a new Vision to guide our The new plan will create a guiding Vision for community plan and started identifying new where our community wants to go and identify project ideas to undertake in Haisla Village. the steps to get there. We also started to identify some ideas for different projects we could undertake in places like Vancouver and Terrace where a lot of our In November we held our second round of members live. To see a full report on what we engagement events. We had open houses in Kitamaat Village, Terrace, and Vancouver We heard, check out the project website (http://haisla.ca/community-plan/). also had workshops with Haisla Nation staff, Elders, youth, and Grade 5, 6, 7 students from our school. Three common themes we heard We'll be putting together a draft plan and over and over included: coming back to members to get feedback on it ● Housing: Housing remains as a top in the New Year. Watch for more information priority for all Haisla members, and details on this in January. regardless of where they live. ● Communications: Communications Keep your eyes open for upcoming between Haisla Nation Council and newsletters and visit our project website for all members, and at the Haisla Nation staff the latest information. You can also contact level could be improved. Trish Grant, Executive Assistant - Chief ● Elders, youth, culture: The three Executive Officer, trishgrant@haisla.ca, interconnected areas remain a priority 250.639.9361 Ext. 104 16
READING THE CROWD Award winning author Eden Robinson gave a reading from her latest book, Trickster Drift, at a book launch and signing at the Kitimat Public Library on December 8. A following Q&A session had Eden speaking to her writing process, the Monkey Beach film, and her next projects.
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Award winning athlete Holden The 2018 Premier's Awards for Indigenous Youth Excellence in Sport were presented November 15 to six outstanding Indigenous youth athletes from British Columbia's Vancouver Coastal Region. The Awards were presented by Spencer Chandra Herbert, MLA, Vancouver-West End during at a formal celebration held at the Musqueam First Nation Community Centre in Vancouver, BC. Vancouver Coastal is the fourth of the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council's (I·SPARC) six regions to honour Indigenous athletes through this unique province-wide awards program. I·SPARC, in collaboration with the Province of British Columbia, launched the regional nomination process in August 2018, receiving nominations from across the province for Indigenous athletes under 25 years of age who are competing in performance sport and committed to living healthy, active lifestyles. A total of 47 recipients were chosen within I·SPARC's six regions - Northeast, Northwest, Interior, Fraser, Vancouver Coastal, and Vancouver Island. The 2018 Premier's Awards for Indigenous Youth Excellence in Sport Vancouver Coastal Regional Recipients ● Rain Thomas, age 14, Basketball, Soccer, Track & Field, Tseshaht First Nation ● Kieran McKay, age 19, Lacrosse, Michel Band
● Jenaya Grant, age 15, Rugby, Musqueam First Nation ● ● Isabelle Fortin, age 11, Hockey, Ditidaht First Nation ● Samson Whitebear-George, age 17, Football, Rugby, Squamish & Tsleil-Waututh Nations
HAISLA YOUTH IN SPORTS BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE HAISLA YOUTH FUND haislayouthfund.com 19
Christmas Spirit Day The Haisla Community School got in to the Christmas spirit with students and staff all sporting festive and bright clothing to mark the season, on December 13.
Have a boat parked at MK? As you may be aware, there are a number of derelict vessels that have been on the MK Bay Marina grounds for many years. This coming year many changes will be made to the parking lot, including the area on which these boats are located. In order to do all the upgrades to the property, we will need to have
all of those vessels removed by no later than January 1, 2019. Failure to have them removed by this deadline will result in the marina having to dispose of them. For any inquiries, please contact MK Bay Marina at 250-632-6401.
MERRY
CHRISTMAS from
HAISLA
PJ DAY
On Christmas Eve, you can greet your friends by saying,
Aiks nee qwa lee las
Education & Employment staff synchronized their outfits to come to work in their pajamas on November 30, and welcomed what could be their youngest client yet, who was only six days old.
In any language, may your season be full of joy, love and compassion. HAISLA NATION COUNCIL 20