Volume 13 . Issue 4
May 2017
BUDDING ARTISTS
STZ'UMINUS KIDS' ART ON DISPLAY PAGES 7 - 9
SAM BOB
EDUCATING FROM THE STAGE PAGES 12 - 13
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NAUT’SA MAWT TRIBAL COUNCIL NATIONS
Naut’sa mawt - Working together as one EDITORIAL TEAM Cara McKenna – Editor editor@salishseasentinel.ca Tricia Thomas – Writer/Photographer Todd Peacey – Photographer DESIGN & LAYOUT Kelly Landry & Carmel Ecker ADVERTISING & DISTRIBUTION Manoj Sood ads@salishseasentinel.ca 604-943-6712 or 1-888-382-7711 PUBLISHER Gary Reith, CAO Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council 330-6165 Highway 17A Delta, B.C., V4K 5B8 604-943-6712 or 1-888-382-7711
The Salish Sea map was created in 2009 by Stefan Freelan at Western Washington University
PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT #42922026 Undeliverable mail may be returned to: 330-6165 Highway 17A Delta, B.C., V4K 5B8 circulation@salishseasentinel.ca
1. HALALT (250) 246-4736 chief@halalt.org www.halalt.org
7. SNUNEYMUXW (Nanaimo) (250) 740-2300 johngwesley@shaw.ca www.snuneymuxw.ca
2. HOMALCO (250) 923-4979 m.enevoldsen@homalco.com
8. STZ’UMINUS (Ladysmith) (250) 245-7155 Ray.Gauthier@coastsalishdevcorp.com www.stzuminus.com
The Salish Sea Sentinel is published monthly, ten times a year, by the Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council, representing 6,500 people in 11 member nations.
3. KLAHOOSE Qathen Xwegus Management Corp (250) 935-6536 www.klahoose.com
© Salish Sea Sentinel is all rights reserved. Contents and photographs may not be reprinted without written permission. The statements, opinions and points of view expressed in articles published in this magazine are those of the authors. The publisher accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, transparencies or other materials.
4. MALAHAT (250) 743-3231 caroline.harry@malahatnation.com www.malahatnation.com
COVER PHOTO: Destiny, a Grade 1 student at Stz'uminus Primary School, checks out her art being shown at the Waterfront Gallery in Ladysmith. – Photo by Tricia Thomas
6. SNAW-NAW-AS (Nanoose) (250) 390-3661 chris.bob@nanoose.org www.nanoose.org
5. TLA’AMIN (604) 483-9646 clint.williams@sliammon.bc.ca www.sliammonfirstnation.com
9. TSAWWASSEN (604) 943-2122 info@tsawwassenfirstnation.com www.tsawwassenfirstnation.com 10. TSLEIL-WAUTUTH (604) 929-3454 cao@twnation.ca www.twnation.ca 11. T’SOU-KE (Sooke) (250) 642-3957 administrator@tsoukenation.com www.tsoukenation.com Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council 8017 Chemainus Road Chemainus, B.C., V0R 1K5 (250) 324-1800 • www.nautsamawt.org
SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 1
THE TABLE TELLS A TALE When Darren Blaney received an order for a boardroom table from International Forest Products, he wanted to make sure the piece of furniture was something special. The Homalco artist wanted to tell the story of the origins of the famous winds that have blown out of Bute Inlet for centuries. It was one of those winds that destroyed the village of Mushkin on the east coast of Sonora Island over a century ago and caused the Xwemahlkwu people to move to Church House, the traditional home of the Homalco.
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RAVEN AND THE WIND-MAKER As told by the late Noel George Harry
Our people have always lived here and the wind has always blown. Once, there was a very strong wind blowing. Raven and the other people were getting tired of this strong wind, as they were unable to travel. They decided to hold a meeting, so Raven invited Heron, Seagull, Crow and Grebe. They wanted to know which way the wind was coming from. Thinking it was from the north, they headed off on that course. Seagull, who was top-heavy, had a hard time travelling. Finally, they all had to stop because of the wind. This made Raven very angry. He was so angry that he wanted to kill whoever was making this wind.
Finally they managed to carry on and they reached the northern country where Wind-Maker lived with his wife and young boy. Raven and the others knew this was where the wind was coming from. The people didn’t wear clothes in those days, thus they noticed that WindMaker’s ribs were starting to ripple – he was going to make the wind blow. “It is strange that you don’t kill him,” Heron said to the others. Then he ran straight at Wind-Maker, ramming through his stomach with his sharp beak. Wind-Maker died. Heron ran after the woman and killed her too. “We will keep the boy as a slave,” Raven told Heron. “We won’t kill him.”
They started travelling back home, but on the way the little boy’s ribs began to ripple as he lay in the canoe. The wind began to blow and they had to head for shore. So Raven started to pound on the boy’s stomach. The rippling of his ribs subsided and immediately the wind died down too. Now Raven knew for sure where the wind was coming from. Yet Raven did not kill the boy. He took him home, although they had to stop several times along the way to pound the boy’s stomach. Today there are many winds because Raven took Wind-Maker’s boy home with him. SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 3
SPRING CLEANING AT HOMALCO Students from Seycove Secondary School in North Vancouver visited Homalco during the first weekend in April. The youth learned about Homalco culture and community, and worked together to clean up the community. The hard-working group power-washed buildings, picked up garbage, planted fruit trees and did landscaping work. Photos by Todd Peacey
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ELECTION TIME IN 4 NMTC NATIONS By Tricia Thomas Klahoose First Nation has a new chief, while three other communities have re-elected their leaders after recent elections in Naut'sa mawt communities. Kevin Peacey, a previous council member at Klahoose, was voted in as the nation's new chief on April 12. In an emailed statement to the Sentinel, Peacey thanked outgoing chief James Delorme for six years of leadership. “The members have spoken and change is coming, in a very positive direction,” Peacey said. “I’m proud to serve my community, now in the capacity as chief. I’m very happy to work hard together with the new council for the benefit of our nation. We also look forward to working in a good way with all the neighboring First Nations in this region.” Councillors are incumbent Billy Barnes, Helen Hanson and Michelle Robinson. At Tsleil-Waututh Nation, an all-woman chief and council were chosen in a close election decided on March 30. Incumbent Chief Maureen Thomas and councillors Michelle George, Jen Thomas, Liana Martin, Charlene Aleck and Deanna George were sworn in on April 10. Through their Sacred Trust Initiative, TWN is standing strong in their ongoing legal battles to protect the waterways from the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion. Stz’uminus First Nation elections on April 6th saw Chief John Elliott reinstated into the role he has held since 2009. All but two of the incumbent councillors were reelected, with the new council made up of Cecelia Harris, Roxanne Harris, Anne Jack, Andrea Sampson, Terry Sampson, Harvey Seymour, Herb Seymour, Peter Seymour and Shawna Seymour. Stz’uminus leaders have made visible changes to infrastructure and business growth through the nation’s Coast Salish Development Corporation, including a recent agreement with the Town of Ladysmith for an extension of the municipal water and sewer services to Stz'uminus. Meanwhile, a good voter turnout at Halalt First Nation on April 12 saw the incumbent Chief James (Bert) Thomas and Councillors Dan Norris and Patricia Thomas re-elected. It was the seventh term for Chief Thomas and second consecutive term for the council. The leaders can now work toward completing some ongoing goals including a wastewater/ sewer project, a gym expansion project, and the development of a separate housing authority. SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 5
SNUNEYMUXW CALLS FOR NEW HARBOUR GOVERNANCE Snuneymuxw's chief and council have voted unanimously to replace the Nanaimo Port Authority and find a new way to run the city's harbour and marine areas. The First Nation is the latest to join a growing call to seek out new management of the harbour that also includes the City of Nanaimo and Nanaimo Marina Association. The Nanaimo Port Authority currently governs several significant sites for Snuneymuxw, including the city's main harbour and Newcastle Channel. However Chief John Wesley said the nation has been largely left out of any decision-making around, or benefits from, the water lots despite their rights to those areas. “The waters of Nanaimo harbour are sacred to the Snuneymuxw First Nation and at the core of historic Snuneymuxw Fisheries that are protected by our Treaty of 1854 with the Crown,” he said in a statement.
We are committed to working in partnership... to ensure we have a sustainable, economically viable harbour. “Since 1854, these waters and fisheries have been systematically displaced by settlers in ways that are inconsistent with our rights and that has not provided compensation for those losses.” Odai Sirri of the Greater Nanaimo Waterfront Association began the campaign for new harbour management because he is unhappy with increasing lease rates at Newcastle Channel marinas that he said have shot up since 2012. Sirri said his group is excited to be working with Snuneymuxw. “We are committed to working in partnership... to ensure we have a sustainable, economically viable harbour that respects Douglas Treaty Rights and creates economic benefits for industry and the community-at-large,” he said. Transport Canada recently issued a statement to Nanaimo News Now that said the Transport Minister is solely responsible for issuing authority to manage a port in Canada. 6 • SALISH SEA SENTINEL
SMALL ARTISTS, BIG EXHIBIT LADYSMITH ART GALLERY SHOWCASES WORK OF STZ'UMINUS CHILDREN Most painters struggle for years to get their work shown in a gallery, but some of the youngest artists at Stz'uminus have already had their own art show. The Ladysmith Waterfront Gallery showed the work of children from Kindergarten to Grade 3 at Stz'uminus Primary School during a special exhibition that ran from March 31 to April 12. The students created their masterpieces as part of Grade 1 teacher Shanna Mastrangelo's art club. During an opening gala on April 1, Stz'uminus principal Charlotte Elliott thanked Mastrangelo for encouraging students to participate in the special exhibit. Photos by Tricia Thomas during a class visit to the gallery.
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Kindergarten student Abigail stands next to her artwork.
Mason (6) with his mother, Samantha.
Kindergarten class with Wulhxus (frog) artwork behind them.
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Kindergarten student Adrienne stands next to her art she created with watercolour and crayon.
Carley and Shauna's Grade 1 class with their ocean theme artwork behind them.
Above: Yuxwule' symmetry by Grade 3 students. Below: Art by Kindergarten and Grade 2 students
Grade 1 teacher Shanna Mastrangelo with Malysia (6) and Kiya (6) in front of art theme "what we see in our local environment".
SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 9
Activists rally against the Kinder Morgan tank farm expansion near its site in Burnaby on March 24.
'IT'S A SCANDAL:' ACTIVISTS HIGHLIGHT KINDER MORGAN TANK FARM RISKS By Cara McKenna Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain pipeline expansion has drawn attention for its potential impacts around the environment, climate change and Indigenous rights. But Andrew Larigakis of the climate action group 350Vancouver says one important risk has gone under the radar: the company's plan to expand its oil tank storage yard. “(We want) to draw attention to the life, safety and health risks associated with the Kinder Morgan tank farm expansion,” he said. “This issue of life safety has been ignored, for the most part.” Larigakis was involved in a rally in Burnaby on March 24 beside the tank farm, which sits at the entrance to Simon Fraser University's main campus and above a residential neighbourhood. 10 • SALISH SEA SENTINEL
Kinder Morgan plans to double the site's capacity to a total of 26 oil tanks – something residents, experts and city officials say could have devastating risks. “So there's over 20,000 people here, and in the event of a fire, which the fire department says would easily escalate because of the proximity of the tanks, they're very close together,” Larigakis said. “People would be trapped on the mountain. There's no way they would all be able to evacuate.” The issue has recently been gaining momentum, with the rally and an event called TankTalks featuring Charlene Aleck of Tsleil-Waututh and SFU's chief safety officer Mark LaLonde among others in early April. Burnaby's fire department released a risk assessment two years ago that said, if a fire were to happen, it would be
faster and more intense, causing a massive urban evacuation. It also pointed out the increased emission risks of toxic gases, including hydrogen sulfide, to people's health, and the risk to responders in an event of a fire. Kinder Morgan representatives have said that that the Burnaby tank facility has been operating safely for 60 years. Its risk assessment of the Trans Mountain expansion said the Major Industrial Accidents Council of Canada considers the new tanks to be an acceptable risk. But Laragakis said Kinder Morgan's plan is lacking substance. “It's really quite shocking that our government has approved this project in light of the independent reports, objection from the fire department, no real fire plan, no real scrutiny of seismic issues,” he said. “It's a scandal, really.”
Quamichan Creek Culvert Replacement “The Fish Return”
The site of the Kinder Morgan tank farm in Burnaby, which is set to be expanded with the Trans Mountain pipeline.
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SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 11
ACTING UP
Sam Bob uses the art of acting to educate the public and shift stereotypes – but sometimes he's just having fun.
By Cara McKenna Vancouver-based actor Sam Bob has done a lot in the name of good entertainment. During his career spanning more than two decades, there have been a lot of high points: he's acted alongside Anthony Hopkins in the movie Go With Me, been nominated for film and theatre awards and travelled from coast to coast. But Bob almost seems more excited to talk about the less glamorous aspects of his job, like the time he played a character that was thrown off a bridge during an icy Alberta winter for the TV series North of 60. He had to lie in some rocks next to a river for about an hour and, because it was so cold, he couldn't breathe while the cameras were rolling because of condensation. “It was so funny,” he said over coffee in late March, laughing heartily as he described that day. “I had to listen to the dialogue and sometimes it seemed like they were just talking and talking, and my lungs were exploding.” But Bob is used to facing whatever might come on any given day, and prides 12 • SALISH SEA SENTINEL
I've played inmates, and hoodlums, and homeless men, and I've always tried, when I do a script, to look at turning the negative into a positive. himself on seeing the best in any role while prompting his audience to think and learn. During his career as an actor, he estimates he's appeared in 53 TV and film strips, about 24 mainstage theatre productions, and eight radio plays. “I've played inmates, and hoodlums, and homeless men, and I've always tried, when I do a script, to look at turning the negative into a positive,” he said. “That's something I kind of instinctively know. I think from residential school and whatnot. Survivor skills.” Sam was born in Snaw-naw-as First Nation on Vancouver Island (his traditional name is Tulkweemult), but taken from his family and put into residential school at Kuper Island as a young boy.
It wasn't until Grade 3 that Bob was able to leave – and was immediately put on a plane to move to Los Angeles, where he went to school until Grade 10. Then he moved to Vancouver, where he lives today. “To go from the residential school to a plane to Los Angeles, it was crazy,” he said. “I think that's a script in itself.” It took some time for Bob to deal with the trauma he faced as a child, but now that he's gone through healing—and has four children and two grandchildren of his own—he's aiming to help others to understand through his craft. Earlier in 2017, he acted in a Theatre For Living production called šx wʔam’ət (Home), that encouraged audiences to “participate” in reconciliation by creating dysfunctional situations, then having people in the crowd suggest solutions. “Everything is wrong in the play, but the audience gets to come in and do interventions, and take the place of someone they can help,” he said. For his role, Bob had to draw a lot on his own pain, but said he can now
Sam Bob jokes around while having coffee at a cafe in East Vancouver.
recognize the difference between his own trauma and a character's trauma, for the most part. “I wanted to show that's out there but we can overcome it,” he said. “Every night I had to revisit historical traumas in my life, but because I'd done enough work on myself I realized it was the character; it wasn't me. But I know what that character is going through, so I push it right to the nth degree to make sure it's an honest portrayal. I don't hold back.” He began pursuing acting as a career when he was in his late 20s because he always felt like it was in his blood. When he began studying at the now-defunct Spirit Song Native Acting School in Vancouver, it was for an eight-week summer program. He had no idea what he was doing. But the next summer he was teaching that same program. Now, a couple decades later, he's working on a semiautobiographical feature film, that's currently in production, along with other acting gigs that pop up. From his success, it comes as no surprise that he learned to tell a good yarn from the best storytellers: other Indigenous people. He recalls sitting in the longhouse as a young child and as a teen, listening in awe to traditional oral storytellers. He sees them as actors, too, because of the training they go through. “I really love them and admire them so much. I think I carried some of the spirit of them inside of me,” he said. “Because they're so loud,” he added, grinning. “That's something I like. I like to be heard.”
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SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 13
RONNIE GEORGE LAUGHING BEAR… SMILING MAN
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REMEMBERING CARVER RONNIE GEORGE By Mark Kiemele Ronnie was one of my favourite people and one of my favourite carvers. While he lived at Kulleet Bay, he used to stop by my office at Stz’uminus First Nation to talk and sell his carvings. Lucky for me, my office was the first one among many, so I got to buy a lot of his carvings, especially his most famous – Laughing Bear. Ronnie’s Laughing Bear makes me smile every time I look at it. It made me laugh too, the first time he told me the story behind it. “White man and Indians are fighting over the salmon. Who’s got the fish… who’s got the fish?” Ronnie would turn Laughing Bear around. The front showed the bear’s paw covering his smile. The back showed where the bear had hidden salmon and why he was smiling. Ronnie didn’t use fancy carving tools. He just used a simple jack-knife to carve red or yellow cedar. And he didn’t use fancy oils or paints to decorate his carvings. Brown shoe polish would usually do the job just fine. Augie Sylvester and Ronnie were best friends as young men on Penelakut Island. Augie likes to tell stories about how he and Ronnie would spend weeks travelling and fishing in their boat, often travelling far from their home. When food or gas supplies were low, they would head to the nearest port. Augie would sketch a design on a piece of wood and Ronnie would carve it. Then they would sell the carving before heading out again into the Salish Sea. When Ronnie was in Nanaimo hospital a few years ago, shortly before his death, he was looking weak and worn out from illness. A friend brought him a small piece of juniper. He stroked the smooth surface with his fingers and began to smile. He brought it up to his nose and smelled it. Then, he really smiled, like laughing bear. SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 15
MMIW INQUIRY MUST CONTACT FAMILIES, SAYS COALITION Canada's inquiry on missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls has so far not reached out to nearly enough to family members and survivors, advocates say. A group of frontline workers, family members and activists say the inquiry has only so far identified about 100 potential witnesses, even though many more have been affected. The coalition on MMIWG held a news conference in Vancouver on April 3 to outline their concerns about the treatment of families. Fay Blaney, a women's advocate from Homalco First Nation, said family members are distraught, and
commissioners must put more work into contacting those affected by the country's epidemic of MMIW. “We'd really like to see the commissioners and their staff put a little bit more effort into outreach to family members, to survivors,” she said. “We need much more clarity and ongoing communication.” Blaney said the coalition has sent a letter to the federal government urging them to contact everyone in their database, asking them directly to participate in the inquiry. Frontline worker Lorelai Williams, whose aunt went missing and cousin was murdered, said there's a toll free phone
Indigenous women's advocate and Homalco member Fay Blaney addresses the media in Vancouver on April 3.
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We'd really like to see the commissioners and their staff put a little bit more effort into outreach to family members, to survivors.
number for MMIW relatives to call, but distraught family members need direct engagement and support from commissioners. “I don't understand why they're not reaching out, they need to reach out somehow,” she said. “This is a stressful topic.”
Indigenous women's advocate and MMIW family member Lorelei Williams talks to media about her concerns around Canada's inquiry.
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KLAHOOSE GETS HIGH-TECH WITH DRONES On April 1, Klahoose hosted an event for youth and others to learn about drone technology at Campbell River's Wei Wai Kim Thunderbird Hall. Experts helped to teach community members about drones, which are increasingly being used as an “eye in the sky” to monitor Indigenous lands. The Revenant actor Duane Howard attended the day of events, telling the group: “We can still live traditional ways... but we need to open the doors to the new advanced things that are coming.” Photos by Todd Peacey
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A group of youth who have gone through the foster care system share their experiences with a crowd at NmTC's Promising Practices conference on March 29. From left to right: Athena Leblanc-Naziel, Timothy Bolton and Lucy Pete.
YOUTH SPEAK AT 'PROMISING PRACTICES' EVENT Improving Indigenous child welfare was on the agenda during two-day conference in Vancouver Indigenous youth who have been in government care shared their experiences with workers in the system during a twoday conference organized by Naut'sa mawt Tribal Council in late March. The 'Promising Practices' event in Vancouver was attended by frontline service providers and representatives from First Nations and the province who discussed possibilities to improve outcomes for Indigenous kids in the system. Currently, services to Indigenous children are underfunded compared to those for non-Indigenous kids, and they're 15 times more likely to be in foster care – a number that's increased over the years. 20 • SALISH SEA SENTINEL
On the second day of the conference hosted by Naut'sa mawt Tribal Council, a panel of three youth from the B.C. Ministry of Child and Family Development's advisory council spoke about what has helped them while in the system. They also made some suggestions about what can improve. Athena LeBlanc-Naziel said the most rewarding experience for her after being put into foster care was finding a connection with her home Wet'suwet'en territories through culture camps. “It heals me,” she said. “When I feel down or when I know I'm not in the best place, for whatever reason, I know if I go onto my territory, it'll
connect with me and it'll spiritually heal me in a way that's kind of indescribable.” She said one thing she would like to see is better cultural services for First Nations youth who end up in urban centres. “I know not being able to go home is sometimes an issue,” she said. “Last summer we had one girl come to a culture camp and it was a culture shock to her. She was just learning who she was as a Wet'suwet'en person, because she was from the Vancouver area.” Meanwhile, Timothy Bolton recalled a social worker who helped him find the confidence to apply as valedictorian of his high school grad class in 2015. “She boosted my confidence,” he said.
“I went for it, and believe it or not, I actually got the part so I was valedictorian of the class. It made me happy that I made my social worker proud of me. I didn't really have a motherly figure.” Throughout the conference, other experts and frontline workers made presentations and broke out into groups discuss ways to innovate and improve services to Indigenous children. The subject of Indigenous kids in care has been prevalent in B.C., with numerous expert reports slamming the provincial government for its failures in dealing with the issue. Most recently, a March 30 report by newly appointed B.C. Representative for Children and Youth Bernard Richard said delegated Aboriginal service agencies are being underfunded so badly that Indigenous children are being removed from their homes and placed into care simply because proper support is not being provided to their families. “Current funding levels by both the federal and provincial governments seriously undermine the capacity of delegated Aboriginal agencies to deliver essential services to vulnerable children and their families,” Richard said in a statement. “Instead of supporting prevention services, the funding model actually makes it more likely that Indigenous children will be removed from their families – a situation that I find appalling.” In late 2016, MCFD special advisor Ed John issued 85 recommendations to overhaul B.C.'s Indigenous child welfare system, something Premier Christy Clark has vowed to accept with time. “We are committed to working with our federal, provincial and First Nations partners to do what is necessary to give Indigenous families better supports and help create a brighter future for their kids,” she said in November. “It can’t happen overnight, but it must happen.”
Richard Jackson, a presenter at the Promising Practices conference, performs a heartfelt song about Canada's residential school system on March 29.
WORKING TOGETHER TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE An update from Christine Callihoo of Naut'sa mawt Tribal Council's climate change 'HUB': The Naut’sa mawt Climate Change Leadership Initiative (the ‘HUB’) is developing nicely. The federal government has allocated $24.70 million over five years to identify and address climate change-related impacts on infrastructure in First Nations. What's being called the “First Nation Adapt Program” has the potential to elevate the knowledge and the resilience of our communities through climate change adaptation and addressing risk and the community level.
Climate change presents both challenges and opportunities for First Nations across Canada... Climate change presents both challenges and opportunities for First Nations across Canada, and we must collectively adapt. The First Nation Adapt Program provides support for communities to address one or more of the following types of projects: • Vulnerability assessments of climate change impacts on community infrastructure or emergency management • Development and assessment of adaptation options • Cost benefit analysis of adaptation options The HUB is curently welcoming letters of interest from First Nations interested in collaborating with other communities to work on addressing climate change. The NmTC HUB team is able to work with interested nations to draft the necessary application(s). Please contact Christine via email at: christine. callihoo@shaw.ca. SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 21
Snuneymuxw Native Son Quanmi Robinson was named a first team all-star at the 2017 B.C. Junior All Native basketball championship. Below: Snuneymuxw Native Son Jordan Gladstone (wearing black) drives in for a hard two points against Vancity.
SNUNEYMUXW SONS PLAY BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP By Wawmeesh Hamilton A third B.C. Junior All Native basketball championship wasn’t to be for the Snuneymuxw Native Sons. Vancity beat the Sons 82-66 in the final game of the boys division. The Sons's Jordan Gladstone and Quanmi Robinson were named to the tournament’s first all-star team. Their teammate Donovan Mitchell was named best sixth player. Vancity’s Kobe McKnight was named tournament MVP of the boys’ division. The teams were evenly matched during the game’s first half. The Sons scored 18 points in the second quarter to pull within six points at 41-35. But Vancity tightened its defense and adjusted its offense and began pulling away in the third quarter, which ended 68-49. The Sons never came close again and the game ended 82-66. 22 • SALISH SEA SENTINEL
The Sons march to the boys division final was through the winner’s bracket with wins over Maaqtusiis, Vancity, Gitmadiik and Syilx. The Sons and Musqueum Warriors were the only Coast Salish teams to
compete in the tournament. The Ahousaht West Coast girls team, which plays out of Nanaimo, also competed in the tournament. In the girl’s division, the Greenville Timberwolves were named tournament champions after beating Vancity 85-51. Timberwolves guard Kristi Innes was named tournament MVP and her teammate Ashton Stevens was named best defensive player. This year’s tournament was held in Kelowna, and was hosted by Syilx Basketball, Okanagan Nation Alliance and Westbank First Nation. More than 60 teams competed – 22 girl’s teams and 19 boy’s teams. There were also 10 girl’s teams and nine boy’s teams that competed in the new U13 division. The 2018 B.C. Junior All Native will be held in Vancouver.
A MILESTONE FOR TLA'AMIN'S TREATY Tla'amin celebrated the one-year anniversary of its treaty, which came into effect one year ago, with a community event that included a feast, drummers and presentations from leaders. Last April 5, the community ceremonially burned copies of the Indian Act as it moved into a new era of self-governance. Photos by Todd Peacey
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Tsleil-Waututh elder Amy George and Musqueam activist Cecilia Point open a panel event featuring numerous Indigenous land defenders at Simon Fraser University in downtown Vancouver on March 24.
STANDING ROCK LEADER TO B.C.: 'NOW IS THE TIME TO CHANGE THE WORLD' Indigenous land defenders from across Turtle Island find common ground during Vancouver gathering When LaDonna Brave Bull Allard founded the first resistance camp against the Dakota Access pipeline last year, she never imagined it would grow into the massive movement that it did. She was only trying to protect her son's grave from being damaged by the pipeline. Now, Allard believes Standing Rock was something of prophecy: a training point to teach people from across the world of all cultures to stand up stronger. “This movement, whatever it is, is just beginning,” she said. “Our next step is to unify; everyone, everywhere. I think something greater than ourselves is happening here.” Allard spoke during a weekend of events in Vancouver from March 24-26, during which Indigenous land defenders— mostly women—from across Turtle 26 • SALISH SEA SENTINEL
Island gathered to discuss mobilization strategies. Though Allard had to speak over Skype from North Dakota, leaders from various nations from Northern B.C. to New Brunswick attended the events in person. On the opening night of events, hundreds of people gathered at Simon Fraser University, overflowing from the main lecture hall, to hear talks from the panel of land defenders. Tsleil-Waututh elder Amy George opened the events, speaking about the local fight against Kinder Morgan. “I'm so happy to see so many people here tonight,” she said. “There comes a time in your life when you want to stand for something. We're just not here to exist.” Kanahus Manuel of Secwepemc Women's Warrior Society spoke of how there isn't
really a government process to say 'no' to development projects on native land – only one to say 'yes,' which is dangerous for those trying to protect their territories. Others noted that it's always been Indigenous women on the front lines, while Cecilia Point of Musqueam held up her hands to land defenders everywhere. “It takes a lot of strength but it also gives you a lot of strength,” she said. “I think for land defenders it's a calling. You're called, you can't help it, you have to go and protect.” Allard said land defenders worldwide are facing a similar struggle. “There has never been anything like this, but we are now talking to each other, standing with each other,” she said. “Everything that we have inside us tells us that this is the time to change the world.”
Clockwise from left: • Freda Huson of the Unist'ot'en Camp and Audrey Siegl of Musqueam Indian Band sing the women's warrior song before the event. • Secwepemc activist Kanahus Manuel speaks as part of the panel. • A panel of Indigenous land defenders prepares to speak to a packed room.
SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 27
CAREER FAIR A BIG SUCCESS AT HALALT By Edith Moore, NmTC Communications Liason This article is a pleasure to write because I get to brag about how wonderful my job is and also about my daughter Mikaela Whitelaw and niece Brittany Tremblett. The H’ulh-etun Health Society works with Halalt Frist Nation, Lyackson First Nation, and Malahat Nation and together they hosted a career fair. It was a pleasure to MC this event. Explore, Inspire, and Embrace your Future was the headline on the invitation. Members came and did just that! There were vendors from all over the community chosen to represent opportunities ranging from universities and colleges to career management groups. Visitors were able explore by speaking
As we look at our youth for the future of our communities it brings me such pride to see my daughter paving the way with so many others.
with each vendor. This broke down barriers and sparked interest for new opportunities. How wonderful to have this opportunity come to your doorstep. My daughter Mikaela and niece Brittany Tremblett along with John Brebber all Halalt band members were invited to give an inspirational speech outlining how they have been able to arrive at the successes they are celebrating today. Mikaela graduates this year with a
Bachelor of Arts Major in Criminology, Brittany also graduates this year from VIU with a Bachelor of Arts Major in Physical Education. John Brebber is a self-made entrepreneur, gaining his success with starting his small business by cutting wood to now owning a semitruck. They all spoke about how they overcame challenges by keeping in mind what they wanted to accomplish. Working hard, keeping your eye on the prize and believing in yourself. This event met what it set out to do for our communities…. Explore, Inspire and Embrace the future, and I am so thankful for the experience. As we look at our youth for the future of our communities it brings me such pride to see my daughter paving the way with so many others.
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