Dootilh - January 2019

Dootilh laisdel (January) 2019

”BUILDING A POWERFUL, PROSPEROUS AND PROUD COMMUNITY, HEALTHY IN MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT.”

What’s been happening at sea /page 3

1

Resource event gives Haisla a forum Haisla Nation keeps its profile high, most recently when Chief Councillor Crystal Smith attended the BC Natural Resources Forum in Prince George from January 22 to 24.

The event provided opportunities to meet with government leaders (at right, Smith meeting with Canada’s Natural Resources Minister Amarjeet Sohi), and also a platform to share the message of support for LNG and its pipelines. Smith held a press conference together with other First Nations leaders along the Coastal GasLink pipeline route.

You can learn more about Haisla Nation’s perspective on natural gas on page 5, and read Chief Councillor Smith’s statement from the forum at haisla.ca.

#YestoLNG Mathias Robinson shared this dramatic image in a show of solidarity with HNC efforts to support the LNG industry. We’d love to spotlight more Haisla at work with LNG. Connect with Communications Coordinator Cameron Orr, at corr@haisla.ca.

2

This ship, currently in the Douglas Channel, deposits seabed material through the Disposal at Sea program.

What to know about Disposal at Sea (DAS) Disposal at Sea (DAS) is a dredging activity which will provide necessary depth for the larger ships associated with the LNG Canada project at their wharf, with the clean material being safely disposed at sea. The work will continue this season until February 15.

LNG Canada selected their disposal site out of five possible locations. Water turbidity (the amount of particulates in the water) is closely monitored and all activity is responsive to water quality changes and to marine life sightings around the work area.

Members are advised not to crab or fish in the Yes, LNG Canada has consulted extensively on this area of this work until it is complete. project with Haisla, and Haisla Nation Council staff are involved in the ongoing monitoring of the project.

Candice Wilson, Environmental Manager cawilson@haisla.ca Aside from the depth requirements for ships, this 1-888-842-4752, extension 121 activity will significantly clean up the seabed at the head of the Douglas Channel. Decades of industrial activity has left certain areas contaminated. This project will gather and properly dispose of any toxic or contaminated material from the seabed.

Any contaminated material from the seabed will either be used safely for industrial and construction purposes or, if required, shipped away to be disposed of in specialized landfills.

LEARN MORE Any impacts to sea life are being mitigated and only clean dredge material is deposited at sea. The work is also being conducted in very precise areas to ensure limited impacts to the environment.

Environment Canada is involved.

3

HAISLA NATION COUNCIL

Opportunities on the water are rewarding, and a great career choice for Haisla Amanda Woods basically has her dream job; good hours, rewarding work, and all right in her back yard.

Or ocean, as it were.

Woods is a captain and crew supervisor with Bridgemans, a company with a joint venture agreement with Haisla Nation which provides marine transport services around the Douglas Channel.

She is one of the 13 Haisla members currently on the job, for work which is supporting the LNG Canada project.

And she says there are many more positions available for Haisla who are looking for work.

Woods herself has fashioned a career for herself on the major projects in the Kitimat 4

area. She’s worked for other companies including Vertex and Ruskin Construction. She also worked for Haisla Fisheries for a time.

“You learn different things and meet new people,” she says of the work she’s in.

She says there’s a very low barrier to get the necessary training to get work like she has, meaning the opportunity is there for anybody.

Scheduling is also very flexible, she adds.

She said it’s work that has fit well in her life, and it’s almost become a family business in a sense; her oldest daughter works with her too.

Haisla members, you can learn more about opportunities through the Education & Employment department, by calling 1-877-8098098, or visiting 606 Mountainview Sq, Kitimat.

The Haisla approach to natural gas coal, was a product and an industry that met The Haisla Nation has been working with many of the Haisla requirements for an Natural Gas companies for many years to develop a project in the territory. This has been acceptable project. Replacing coal and other dirty fuels in Asia will significantly help the supported by a majority of the membership planet. through community meetings, elections and votes. Despite the majority The LNG Canada plant site is voting in favor it is located within Haisla Territory understandable that not and the pipeline that will bring everyone agrees on why or how gas to that plant covers 20 these projects will be done.

The Nation needs an nations in total. All 20 nations have signed agreements Resource development has economy to survive approving the pipeline. The been the main source of because federal Wet’suwet’en Nation has economy, with forestry, and fishing happening in the government funding agreed to the project but a select few have opposed the territory. Those industries have doesn’t provide for the project with a blockade. This severely declined over the last division within their nation is few decades leaving many needs of the up to them to resolve, and we without work. The modernization community. hope they are able to do this in of the smelter was good for the a peaceful, respectful manner. construction but now there are less operational jobs and that will only decline What we do not support are any outside as more automation happens. The Nation groups or activists using these events to their needs an economy to survive because federal benefit to sow discontent through government funding doesn’t provide for the embellishment and one-sided debate. needs of the community, much less for the The issues surrounding this debate are Nation. complicated and these groups are standing for The Nation has been approached by many First Nations rights only when it aligns with different industries over the years that have their own interests, while simultaneously not been environmentally acceptable, and/or vilifying our own Nation for how we exercise that have not respected the Haisla Nation way our Rights. of life. Haisla Nation fought several years to We will not stand for any bullying of our stop the Northern Gateway Pipeline that would people or our community’s leadership for the carry heavy crude oil though the territory, and work that is done for the benefit of all Haisla sued Eurocan for the damage they caused. members.

Haisla has denied a proposed coal project that Haisla members are always welcome to was not an acceptable product and refined oil phone our office (1-888-842-4752) or visit us in projects that seemed environmentally and person (500 Gitksan Avenue), or of course financially not viable. Only after careful review attend any number of opportunities was natural gas acceptable to the Nation. throughout the year, to speak to the elected Natural gas, which will be cooled to a liquid Council to further understand the work we do.

(Liquefied Natural Gas – LNG), and shipped to Asia that will replace dirty fuel there, such as

“

5

Recycling and Bear Aware top of mind for new coordinator Kim Vroon has a new vital task to enhance Kitamaat Village; get more waste into recycling, and out of the mouths of wildlife.

Vroon has been tapped as Haisla Nation Council’s Recycling and Bear Aware Coordinator.

Her mission, build a waste management plan for Kitamaat Village.

“I am super excited for this job,” said Vroon, in her office at the Haisla Resource Centre.

Recycling, waste, and bears go hand-in-

6

hand. Bears of course are attracted to human waste as a potentially easy source of food. That attraction to our garbage puts bears at-odds with community safety.

Vroon is on board for a one-year term, and will start pushing recycling initiatives within Haisla Nation Council offices themselves and throughout the community.

At just the very beginning of her year, Vroon is excited for the potential to make the community healthier and safer.

An introduction to Kitamaat Village recycling An important part of this initiative will be about community engagement and communication. We want to make this transition as easy and straightforward as possible for our community. In doing so, we will be developing a website as well as a Facebook Page where people can access information regarding the project and any updates. If at any point community members have questions or concerns regarding the program they can contact the community's new Recycling Coordinator, Kim Vroon, based out of the Resources office.

Over the next while, residents of Kitamaat Village should notice gradual changes to our current community waste management system in the form of a recycling pilot project.

The project aims to reduce and the amount of recyclable material discarded into our landfill through the gradual implementation of a stepby-step recycling program in our community.

Phase one of the project will begin at our Haisla Community School, followed by community office buildings, and eventually expanded out to cover a residential recycling initiative.

We are currently coordinating the idea of curbside collection for recyclable materials and plan to investigate the feasibility of establishing a recycling depot as well as plan information sessions and community events.

Get help with your career Please contact Paula Smith with a current resume and let her know the type of work you're looking for. psmith@haisla.ca or 778-649-2025 ext. 6005

Please contact Kimberley McKenzie at kmckenzie@haisla.ca or 78-649-2025 ext. 6003 and she'd be happy to help you!

7

8

Connecting with youth in schools Haisla Nation Council’s Youth and Family Services have spent three years in Kitimat-area schools providing support to students in need. Through their drop-in program, youth workers , Ehryn and Cassidi Bolton, and Youth and Family Services Coordinator Dolores Pollard work with students to build respectful relationships and to act as a support system.

The team also brings in elders to offer an extra connection, and Ehryn’s Serenity Wilson (at left) is everyone’s favourite when she visits.

FOR SERENITY Serenity Wilson in an adorable red outfit receives a special gift from the Coast Mountains School District in December, recognizing the positive influence she has on students in schools.

9

10

Beware of construction activities which may affect access for safety concerns I would like to update the community on activities happening in and around our Territory, as it relates to the Coastal Gas Link Project (CGL).

A community member contacted our office on 17 Jan 2019 to report that he was denied access to a Forestry Service Road (FSR), which affected his ability to exercise his right to hunt.

Our staff travelled to two locations along Highway 37 in order to determine what was going on: North Hirsch FSR and Upper Kitimat FSR (also known as Chist Creek FSR).

It became obvious on the outset that there was active industrial activity in the area, as there were construction signs and vehicles at the entrance of the FSRs we examined (see picture of sign located at North Hirsch Main FSR, above).

11

We would like Haisla community members and other resource users to know that there are areas in and around Haisla territory where CGL activities are taking place. This may cause either delays or turn-around requests for those people trying to access active work sites.

We recommend that if you utilize Forest Service Roads in our area to have a proper radio in your vehicle and to follow all "calling procedures" and "safety procedures" in place by the Prime Contractor for CGL. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me.

BE OUT STANDING IN YOUR FIELD Free training for Indigenous Adult Students in Resource Assessment

Certificate in Cultural & Natural Resources Assessment Interested in learning the skills you need to work as a field technician?

Want to contribute to proper resource management in your region?

Eager to take part in environmental assessments and restoration projects?

The Certificate in Cultural & Natural Resources Assessment will provide: ▪ Five weeks of Foundational Skills Training to develop your communication,numeracy and science skills ▪ Six weeks of practical, hands-on Field Training to build your skills to work in thefield ¡V learn about landforms & terrain, soils, vegetation & cultural inventories ▪ Three University-level Courses in Mapping & Geographic Information Systems,Cultural Resources Assessment, and Data Management

12

and Technical Reporting.

This program helps you become job-ready, and is enhanced by cultural activities, jobreadiness training, support from Elders, and field work with experienced industry professionals.

Interested? Contact Kierra Stevens at kstevens@haisla.ca or 778-649-2025 ext 6001 if you meet the qualifications and are interested When: March-Sept 2019 Who: Indigenous participants with a minimum of grade 10, or with permission of the instructor Students will finish the program with 15 university credits

Spotlight on Haisla: Mary Rostad Victoria HAISLA GAH-UCA-LOOT: the Rostad Family: Mary, Matthew and Carter.

Mary was adopted at birth by the Holliday family and raised in Vancouver --her HAISLA ancestry was never disclosed to her but at age 45, she decided to research her adoption history.

Mary eventually connected with her HAISLA family and has become very proud of her HAISLA roots. To make up for lost time, she's eager to learn as much as she can of HAISLA family, life and culture. Mary received her HAISLA name OX-DWA-LAQS in 2009.

Being a life-long animal and nature lover, OX-DWA-LAQS has turned her 30 acres of Sacred Douglas Treaty Land into a Sanctuary for All Beings stewardship. Her deep belief in the interconnectedness of all life has inspired her to share her farm: "Blossoming at the Farm Society", is the non-profit arm of the farm, offering child and youth therapeutic services, behavior intervention, a learning community, guided farm experiences and forest school. A priority for OX-DWA-LAQS is to serve Indigenous youth. Relationships are currently being built with the Esquimalt and Tsartlip First Nations.

After studying the HAISLA NUYEM where it says: "Family is first', and "Share what you have", OX-DWA-LAQS realized that after much hard work she is now in a position to offer

something back to the HAISLA community.

She would like to invite HAISLA GAH-U-CALOOT (people) to drop in and visit when they're in the Victoria area. OXDWA-LAQS dreams of hosting summer camps for HAISLA youth --- she says that when she was little she dreamed for years of having a horse in her backyard (she now has 9) so one important message to the Haisla youth is to "never give up on your dreams!�

Amongst her accomplishments is a teaching degree from the University of British Columbia and while her farm is her main passion, OX-DWA-LAQS also loves to sail, dance and spend time with her two sons Matthew (age: 27) and Carter (24).

In the olden days the HAISLA paddled their canoes all the way to Victoria, trading GLA-TEE (oolichan oil) --- OX-DWA-LAQS wonders if they ever visited the Goldstream estuary where she lives?

OX-DWA-LAQS thanks the Creator for her life and for guiding her to meet the HAISLA GAH-U-CA-LOOT. Although deeply saddened at never having met her birth A-BOO-UCH (mother) Patricia Robinson, OX-DWA-LAQS could not be more grateful for the warmest welcome to her HAISLA home by her MAN-ES-OOT (brother) Brent Robinson, the extended Robinson Family, the GEE-GA-JOCH (Beaver Clan) and the rest of the HAISLA GAH-U-CA-LOOT. 13

14

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

15

16