Briefly Education
Volume 6, Issue 7 | July, 2016
The Three E’s Elders, Education & Economic Development are the keys to the future of YFN
Nuu-chah-nulth celebrates purchase of renowned St. Jean’s Cannery
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o Yuutu?it?ath First Nation people, and to our relations on the coast, the entire culture is centered upon the Elders. They are and have been, since ancient times, the gatekeepers of First Nations wisdom, knowledge and history. The Elders President Les hold crucial Doiron roles in supporting both formal and informal education in our community. They impart traditions, knowledge, culture, values and lessons using oral tradition and by role modeling traditional practices. It is the Elders that brought our people to First Nations self-governance. The Elders are leading our vibrant re-awakening culture. The Elders share their wisdom to help their people grow strong, proud, and open to developing the skills that enable them to partake in self-governance initiatives. By honouring and knowing the Elders, we learn who we were, and who we are, so we can become the people we wish to be. It is the Elders, first and foremost, who promote Education. Continued on page 4
From left: Huuayahts Chief Robert Dennis, St Jean’s owner Gerard St. Jean, NSDC President Larry Johnson, Kyuquot Chief Peter Hansen and YFN President Les Doiron
Yuutu?it?ath Government is now one of the partners in important seafood processing business By Chris Bush Nanaimo News Bulletin
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he cannery and smokehouse that Armand St. Jean started in 1960, selling oysters and soup to local bars and grocery stores, has been purchased by the Nuu-chah-nulth Seafood
Development Corporation, of which the Yuulu?il?ath First Nation is one of five nations that own the company. UFN President Les Doiron and a number of Ucluelet First Nation members attended the announcement in June at the cannery on Southside Drive in Nanaimo.
Nuu-chah-nulth Seafood Development Corporation represents five West Coast First Nations from the Nuu-ChahNulth Tribal Council. Gerard St. Jean, Armand’s son who has worked in the business since he was a boy, said it was time to make a change that could both move him toward retirement and allow the company to expand. “Time. Age. By the time I finish the next three years working with them I’ll be 70, so it’s time to wander on,” St. Jean said. The cannery is the last on the B.C. coast, but sells canned and smoked tuna, salmon, oysters and other products to Canada, the U.S., even Australia and has 130 employees. St. Jean has looked to expand the company for several years and brought in Steve Hughes, former general manager of Albion Fisheries Ltd. in Victoria, in 2014 to take over leadership as company president. St. Jean’s also purchased Vancouver-based Raincoast Trading Company in 2013 to access a larger customer base and distribution to grocery chains and heath food stores. The Nuu-chah-nulth deal was 18 months in the making, after about four years of negotiations. St. Jean said there were other bidders for the cannery, but the decision to go with Port Alberni-based buyers was better for his staff, the company and the community because St. Jean’s stays with a local owner. St. Jean’s is now run by a board of directors comprised of St. Jean, Hughes, and other First Nation and non-First Nation members. Continued on page 5
It was graduation time for Yuutu?it?ath First Nation students Page 3
Elders
Violet Mundy graduates from the University of Victoria Page 4
Economic Development
Yu u t u ? i t ? a t h signs agreement with Interfor Page 8
Inside: Interim Director’s report ....................2 Golf championship coming ..................3 Summer Festival ..... 6 Good News ..............7