Volume 10 . Issue 6
July 2014
D TE N A ke
PL Sou’ I B T’
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www.salishseasentinel.ca Salish Sea Publishing Editorial Inquiries: Cara McKenna, Reporter cara@salishseasentinel.ca (250) 753-0190 Advertising inquires: ads@salishseasentinel.ca (250) 510-9853 Publisher: Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council Gary Reith, Chief Administrative Officer (604) 943-6712 1-888-382-7711 The Salish Sea Sentinel is published monthly, eleven times a year, by the Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council. NmTC was incorporated as a non-profit society in 1983 and is governed by a board of directors from each of our eleven member First Nations. Our nations are located around the Salish Sea. There are about 6,500 people who hold membership in our nations. The word Naut’sa mawt means working together as one. The NmTC mission is to support and strengthen the capabilities of our Coast Salish member communities by developing skilled leadership, strong governance, resiliency and self-sufficiency. NmTC is charged with providing advisory services in five delivery areas: • Economic Development • Financial Management • Community Planning • Technical Services and • Governance Cover photo: T’Sou-ke First Nation Chief Gordon Planes holds a wasabi plant. See the story on pages 8-9.
The first person you meet in an office is often a receptionist. These multi-skilled people from our communities keep offices running smoothly while answering telephones, taking messages and doing general troubleshooting. They honed their skills in a team-building workshop in Parksville recently. Pictured, from left, are: Desiree Harris of Snuneymuxw, Carol Harry of Malahat and Andrea Morris of Stz’uminus. The highly successful Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council seminar was co-facilitated by executive assistant Caitlin Parker and governance advisor Valerie Cross-Blackett.
CONTACTS AT NmTC NATIONS 1. HALALT (250) 246-4736 chief@halalt.org www.halalt.org 2. HOMALCO (250) 923-4979 richard@aboriginalaquaculture.com 3. KLAHOOSE Qathen Xwegus Management Corp (250) 935-6536 www.klahoose.com 4. MALAHAT (250) 743-3231 lawrencelewis@malahatnation.com www.malahatnation.com 5. SLIAMMON (604) 483-9646 clint.williams@sliammon.bc.ca www.sliammonfirstnation.com www.sliammontreaty.com 6. SNAW-NAW-AS (Nanoose) (250) 390-3661 administrator@nanoose.org nfnbandmanager@nanoose.org www.nanoose.org 7. SNUNEYMUXW (Nanaimo) (250) 740-2300 johnw@snuneymuxw.ca www.snuneymuxw.ca 8. STZ’UMINUS (Chemainus) (250) 245-7155 Ray.Gauthier@coastsalishdevcorp.com www.stzuminus.com 9. TSAWWASSEN (604) 948-5219 chartman@tfnedc.com www.tsawwassenfirstnation.com 10. TSLEIL-WAUTUTH (Burrard) (604) 929-3454 bbaptiste@twnation.ca www.twnation.com 11. T’SOU-KE (Sooke) (250) 642-3957 administrator@tsoukenation.com www.tsoukenation.com
SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 1
NEWS
SLIAMMON CELEBRATES END OF 20-YEAR TREATY PROCESS Sliammon First Nation’s treaty received Royal Assent in Canada’s Senate on June 19. That was the final step in a two-decade long process for the
Tla’amin Treaty. Now the nation is working toward a treaty ‘effective date,’ scheduled for April 2016. In the above photo, Chief Clint Williams,
left, is pictured with Minister Bernard Valcourt and B.C.’s Chief Treaty Commissioner Sophie Pierre when the treaty was introduced to Parliament in April.
THE WAR IS ON
(Photo: Duncan McCue/CBC News)
2 • SALISH SEA SENTINEL
Sliammon First Nation member Takaiya Blaney, 12, spoke and sang to hundreds at an anti-pipeline rally in downtown Vancouver on June 17, hours after the Enbridge Northern Gateway project received conditional approval from the federal government. Blaney told the crowd that things are going to intensify, while Grand Chief Stewart Phillip announced: “It’s official. The war is on.” Meanwhile, the Tsleil-Waututh Nation is continuing its legal challenge against the Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline and tanker project. National Energy Board hearings into the plan to triple the amount of bitumen shipped through Burrard Inlet are expected to start in August.
NEWS
SLIAMMON CARVER TO JOURNEY WITH TOTEM Winner of international choir competition will receive totem and a visit from artist Craig Galligos Sliammon carver Craig Galligos spent nearly a year crafting a special totem pole that will be awarded at an international choir competition in Powell River this month. The winning country will not only receive the red cedar totem, but Galligos will go along with it to present and put up the carving. The five-day International Choral Kathaumixw festival started July 1. Galligos, who also works in the forestry industry, joked that he wished he was a judge so he could help pick where he and the totem would end up — which could be anywhere from Kenya to Russia to the USA. “Really, it’s just neat to get the opportunity to do something like this,” he said. Galligos said the event’s organizers and the City of Powell River “are trying to incorporate Sliammon more into Kathaumixw again. This is part of that.” A Sliammon girl, 12-year-old Cheyenne Dominic, was also picked to sing in the open ceremonies. Kathaumixw itself is a Tla’amin word, meaning “many nations coming together.” Galligos explained that his design for the six-and-one-half-foot pole was meant to represent both First Nations and Canadian imagery. A bronze-eyed beaver gnawing on a piece of wood is carved into the bottom of the pole, while the top is an eagle. The totem has bronze, red, yellow, blue and black accents. This is not Galligos’s first time carving for the City of Powell River. Another of his totems sits near the BC Ferries terminal on the city’s waterfront. Craig Galligos with his totem pole at his home in the Sliammon First Nation.
SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 3
NEWS
SNAW-NAW-AS HEALTH CENTRE BRINGS COMMUNITY TOGETHER The First Nation’s long-awaited new health building has created a hub for community wellness, but Chief David Bob says there’s still a long way to go
4 • SALISH SEA SENTINEL
NEWS
By Cara McKenna
The Snaw-naw-as First Nation held an official grand opening for its $2 million health centre in mid-June. The federally funded, 4,000-squarefoot centre has been offering services to the community for about a year, but Chief David Bob says this is only the beginning. Chief Bob — who has been advocating for community healthcare for over a decade — said he hopes to eventually see a doctor, dentist and nurse practitioner working out of the building to support low-income members who can’t afford to pay the difference in their health insurance for things like dental work and glasses. “With this new building, we have more people responding to the centre, more people utilizing our staff,” he said. “But we’re still far from a perfect setting and that’s what we’re working on.” Services currently offered include community health nurses, drug and
alcohol abuse programs, part-time mental health services and occupational therapy. Snaw-naw-as also recently broke ground for a traditional healing garden beside the new health centre. It will contain medicinal plants for use by the community. During its opening in June, the Snawnaw-as Health Centre was blessed and new Food security funds The Snaw-naw-as First Nation received a $4,950 grant recently to increase indigenous food knowledge, access and security. The Healthy Communities Capacity Building Grant, awarded by the province, is meant to promote traditional foods in the community and encourage healthy eating. Traditional foods for the First Nation include salmon, shellfish, berries, medicinal teas and more.
additions were revealed including several Coast Salish paintings by community members and a large eagle carving done by Brian Bob. Community health worker Donna Edwards told a crowd of dozens that she is grateful because, before the centre was opened, the nation’s health services were scattered all around the reserve. “All the staff was separated. I was sharing an office with a fisheries officer and our community health nurse was in the daycare centre,” she said. “Now, it’s easier and we’re able to provide more support for one another. At first it seemed almost surreal to have my own office.” Yousuf Ali, who worked with Health Canada while Chief Bob was negotiating for the health building, added that the nation has reason to celebrate. “These things don’t just come about just because a chief or community comes to Health Canada,” he said. “There’s a lot of work involved.” Ali said the government has put about 150 health buildings in aboriginal communities in the last decade. SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 5
NEWS
SNUNEYMUXW CELEBRATES NEW GYM ON ABORIGINAL DAY The
Snuneymuxw
Nation
had
a
First
ground-
breaking ceremony for its long-awaited
community
building — which will include a
gymnasium,
general
store and kitchen — before its
Aboriginal
ebration
Day
cel-
20.
The
June
community has been in need of such a space on its
small
main
reserve
for many years, as the on-reserve Qwam Qwum Stuwixwulh School doesn’t have a gymnasium.
Clockwise from top left: • Snuneymuxw Chief John Wesley, right, and Councillor William Yoachim prepare to break ground for the community’s gymnasium. The building could be completed as soon as next year. • Niki Wedholm, who teaches Grade 4 and 5 at Qwam Qwum Stuwixwulh School, stands on the groundbreaking site with her students, the soon-to-be beneficiaries of the new building. • Elder Gary Manson, who blessed the ground prior to the dig, dons a hard hat at the gymnasium site. • Trudy Johnny brought her tiny new puppy, Prince, out for the first time for Aboriginal Day. • Denise White cooks bannock by donation for the Aboriginal Day crowd. • “Jewelry By Missy” • Bev Robinson takes down a pair of earrings from her display for a customer. • Snuneymuxw Councillor Emmy Manson shows off a building plan.
6 • SALISH SEA SENTINEL
NEWS
SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 7
NEWS
WASABI MAKES T’SOU-KE EVEN GREENER By Cara McKenna T’Sou-ke
Chief
Gordon
Planes steps into one of three
large
on-reserve
greenhouses,
carpeted
with about 5,000 bright green wasabi plants. The
plants
sprayed fog
are
with
of
cool,
being
a
thick
nutrient-
infused mist, meant to simulate the climate of Japanese mountains. “Pretty he
nice,
asks
isn’t
affably.
it?” “It’s
atmospheric.”
T’Sou-ke First Nation Special Projects Manager Andrew Moore, left, and Chief Gordon Planes visit one of the community’s wasabi greenhouses as the plants are misted with nutrients.
8 • SALISH SEA SENTINEL
NEWS
Moore shows off one of the soon-to-be finished greenhouses. Inset: Community members put the final wasabi plants in the ground on June 17.
The wasabi, or Japanese horseradish, plants are only about ankle-high but will grow to about three feet. The three greenhouses represent a $300,000 investment for the T’Sou-ke First Nation. They are expected to bring in significant profit and have already created about 20 jobs for community members. The last of 15,000 plants were put in this month, and in about a year the wasabi will be ready for distribution. Wasabi is best known as the bright green condiment that comes alongside sushi, although the version commonly served in local restaurants is often imitation due to a wasabi shortage in Japan. T’Sou-ke special projects manager Andrew Moore said the primary profit is expected to come from the health industry. “The main market is in its medicinal qualities,” he said. “In a sense its sort
of really consistent with First Nations healing plants and it’s really unique in B.C. It fits in very well with the whole concept of having plants to heal.” Current research shows wasabi plants have anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-platelet and anticancer effects, but the scarcity of the plant means its not used commonly, which is why T’Sou-ke predicts high demand. Chief Planes added that there is demand for wasabi as food, as well. “It’s really strong, stronger than the stuff you’d get in your local restaurants, and the quality is really good,” he said. “I think that’s why this product is more made for the high-end restaurants.” He said Vancouver Island is the perfect place to grow the spicy plant because of its temperate climate. There are other wasabi growers in B.C., but T’Sou-ke is the first First
Nation to grow it in Canada as far as he knows. “It’s low maintenance,” he added. “It grows in gravel so it just sits.” As wasabi plants grow, they are kept temperate with shaded canopies and insulated greenhouse walls. There are also heaters for when it gets cold. Moore said that the wasabi greenhouses fit into a bigger food security and sustainability plan. “Maybe some of the profit we make from the wasabi will go into building another greenhouse or two for community gardens,” he said. “It’s all about sustainability, and coming from a direction that the only people who have ever lived sustainably in North America are the First Nations. And probably still are. If we could just bring back some of those traditions and values, then we’d be alright.” SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 9
NEWS
APPEAL FOR SOIL DUMPSITE EXTENDED The environmental appeal process around a contaminated soil dumpsite in Shawnigan Lake – which has been widely opposed but supported by Chief Michael Harry Malahat First Nation leadership – has been extended until the end of July. The evidentiary part of the legal proceedings before the BC Environmental Appeal Board wrapped up on June 6, but because of extra witness testimony and evidence is now expected to fully conclude on July 25. Hearings were initially expected to finish in April. Malahat Chief Michael Harry has publicly supported the idea, and wrote a letter to the appeal board last year urging them to expedite the appeal process because he is comfortable with the amount of consultation and scientific assessment that has taken place. But Shawnigan Residents Association president Calvin Cook said many residents are still concerned that there are risks that haven’t been accounted for given that the site is in the headwaters of the Shawnigan Lake watershed. “We’re finding all these shortcomings and yet the permit was still approved,” he said. “I live here, I swim in the lake, I drink the water out of the lake.” South Island Aggregates Ltd. was granted a permit by the Ministry of Environment to go forward with the project – which would allow the company to truck in 100,000 tons of contaminated soil per year for 50 years – in 2013. 10 • SALISH SEA SENTINEL
Work on a run-of-river project in the Toba Valley. Inset: Chief James Delorme.
NEW GREEN AGREEMENT PROMOTES CLEAN ENERGY First Nations interested in independent power projects now have a clearer role Six First Nations hope to expand long-term agreements several years clean energy development opporago with run-of-river power projects tunities in aboriginal communities in Bute and Toba Inlets and for power through a new agreement. line transmission corridors. The Sliammon, Klahoose, Sechelt, Klahoose Chief James Delorme Lil’Wat, Sts’ailes and Squamish First said the agreement is an exciting Nations signed a first step for First memorandum of First Nations having a Nations around understanding on the province. greater role in the process June 11 to support “First Nations green energy proj- of approval of green energy having a greater ects that enable role in the process projects has been the natural resource of approval of mandate of the working protection. green energy All six have projects has been group. been involved in the mandate of the environmentallyworking group,” friendly energy projects for the last he said. “Now we will have better few years and are now formalizing representation and a clearer role for their working relationship. nations interested in independent Klahoose and Sliammon, along power projects.” with Homalco (all three are Naut’sa The MOU was re-signed with Clean mawt Tribal Council nations), signed Energy B.C. on June 24th.
NEWS
Newcastle Island is just a short ferry ride away from downtown Nanaimo.
SNUNEYMUXW MAKES SPECIAL TOURIST SPOT
Water technician David Norris gave a tour to daycare children when Halalt First Nation unveiled its new water pumping station and resoirver on June 18.
WELLS IN THE NEWS AGAIN AT HALALT New facility will supply water to homes in both the Halalt and Penelakut communities In the same week that Halalt First Nation opened its $2.7 million water works system, its neighbour the District of North Cowichan announced that it wanted year-around pumping from the Chemainus River aquifer. The new water treatment facility, reservoir and other infrastructure will supply water to 41 homes in the Halalt community as well as 21 homes on the nearby Penelakut First Nation’s Tsussie reserve. The water will come from the same aquifer that North Cowichan supplies residents of the town of Chemainus with water. Preliminary talks between Halalt and the municipality have already begun about the plan to pump water throughout the year. Pumping is currently allowed only during winter months. That pumping started after a ten-year battle that went all
the way to the BC Court of Appeals. Halalt objected to the plan over fears of lowering river levels and impacts on habitat.
Contractors, AANDC officials and Halalt workers at the 500,000 litre reservoir.
The Snuneymuxw First Nation is working to make a small island off the shores of Nanaimo a world class tourism destination. Newcastle Island, traditionally known as Saysutshun, is a significant area in the Snuneymuxw’s traditional territory and has a rich aboriginal history over thousands of years, including being used as a spiritual training place for runners, canoeists and warriors. Snuneymuxw Chief John Wesley said leadership hopes to make Newcastle attractive to locals as well as people from around the world. “Snuneymuxw is very grateful for the opportunity to make Newcastle Island a world class destination for tourism,” he said. Nanaimo Mayor John Ruttan said that funding from a new two per cent hotel room tax in the city will support a planned cultural centre on the island, which is currently mostly undeveloped. “The revenue collected…will include the creation of several new multiday festivals while also supporting the Snuneymuxw First Nation with their plans to enhance the cultural and educational experience of Newcastle Island,” he said in a media release. Nanaimo’s hotel room tax is expected to bring in up to $400,000 per year and approximately 45 per cent will go to implementing Snuneymuxw’s plan. The Nanaimo Hospitality Association and Tourism Nanaimo are also involved in the tourism enhancement project. SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 11
NEWS
A girls’ crew from Stz’uminus practiced their strokes before the Buckskin race at Cowichan Bay in mid-June.
SALISH SEA CALENDAR July 5-6
July 17
July 19-20
Tsleil-Waututh water festival canoe races, Whey-a-Wichen/Cates Park, North Vancouver.
The Industry Council for Aboriginal Business (ICAB) holds its Aboriginal Business Recognition Awards event at the Roundhouse Community Centre in Yaletown, Vancouver. More information at www.icab.ca.
Canoe races at Kulleet Bay, Stz’uminus First Nation near Ladysmith.
July 11-13 Canoe races at Tsawout First Nation, near Sidney.
July 13-19 Qatuwas (People gathering together) Festival at Heiltsuk First Nation in Bella Bella. Over 100 canoes and 1,000 pullers as well as 5,000 visitors expected. www. tribaljourneys.ca
12 • SALISH SEA SENTINEL
July 17 The first job fair, hosted by the North Vancouver Island Aboriginal Training Society, will be held at Strathcona Gardens, 225 South Dogwood Street in Campbell River from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Open to jobseekers and industries. Jobseekers should arrive with resumes, ready to work. More information at www.nviats.com
July 26-27 Canoe races at Tsartlip First Nation, Brentwood Bay.
September 22-25 Collaboration: Realizing Opportunities is the theme of the 21st annual national conference of CANDO, the organization dedicated to Aboriginal economic development. It will be held at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre in Nanaimo and is co-hosted by Snuneymuxw First Nation and Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council. www. edo.ca/conference/2014
NEWS
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