First Nations

The East Toe is a outcropping of rock in the Fraser River at the Big Bar Landslide site, northwest of Kamloops that has to be removed to restore fish passage. (Fisheries and Oceans Canada)

Long-awaited blasting advances efforts to clear Big Bar blockage

Pressure has been on senior governments working with First Nations to remove rock at slide site

The East Toe is a outcropping of rock in the Fraser River at the Big Bar Landslide site, northwest of Kamloops that has to be removed to restore fish passage. (Fisheries and Oceans Canada)
Chief Gordon Planes (third from left) joins representatives of Petro Canada and Tim Horton’s and Band Council member Allan Planes for the official ribbon cutting at Sooke’s first Tim Horton’s. The development is now the subject of suits and counter suits related to the non-payment of sub-contractors on the project. (Tim Collins -Sooke News Mirror)

T’Sou-ke First Nation mired in legal woes over gas station development

Claims and counterclaims leave sub-contractors unpaid

Chief Gordon Planes (third from left) joins representatives of Petro Canada and Tim Horton’s and Band Council member Allan Planes for the official ribbon cutting at Sooke’s first Tim Horton’s. The development is now the subject of suits and counter suits related to the non-payment of sub-contractors on the project. (Tim Collins -Sooke News Mirror)
Official changeover of the 49th Parallel General Store to the Salish Sea Market, now owned by the Penelakut Tribe, takes place Monday morning. From left are: Josh James, Jim Chisholm and Joan Brown, representing the Penelakut; 49th’s Ron Neubauer, Wayne and Harmina Richmond, North Cowichan Mayor Al Siebring and 49th’s Peter Richmond. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Island First Nations Tribe assumes ownership of iconic 49th Parallel General Store in Chemainus

Operating what’s now known as the Salish Sea Market provides economic opportunities for Penelakut

Official changeover of the 49th Parallel General Store to the Salish Sea Market, now owned by the Penelakut Tribe, takes place Monday morning. From left are: Josh James, Jim Chisholm and Joan Brown, representing the Penelakut; 49th’s Ron Neubauer, Wayne and Harmina Richmond, North Cowichan Mayor Al Siebring and 49th’s Peter Richmond. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Tom Jarvis speaks with a driver at the start of Bamfield Main on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020. Heavy rain from an ‘atmospheric river’ that hit the west coast of British Columbia on the weekend caused several washouts on the 88-kilometre road. (MIKE YOUDS/ Special to the News)

Storm strands travellers, cuts off only road access to remote B.C. community

Bamfield still waiting for promised road upgrades after fatal bus crash last September

  • Feb 3, 2020
Tom Jarvis speaks with a driver at the start of Bamfield Main on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020. Heavy rain from an ‘atmospheric river’ that hit the west coast of British Columbia on the weekend caused several washouts on the 88-kilometre road. (MIKE YOUDS/ Special to the News)
Some of the participants gather around a window to look at the storm surrounding the Vancouver Island Mountain Centre during their Indigenous Winter Wellness Retreat. Photo supplied.

Wilderness retreat turns wild for nine families on Mount Washington

The goal was to encourage families to get outside and reconnect with their culture.

Some of the participants gather around a window to look at the storm surrounding the Vancouver Island Mountain Centre during their Indigenous Winter Wellness Retreat. Photo supplied.
On Jan. 8, 2019 Hundreds of people came to the B.C. legislature Tuesday to stand in solidarity with Unist’ot’en and Gitdumt’en First Nations during an international Day of Action. (Black Press Media File Photo)

UVic students walk out in solidarity with Wet’suwet’en First Nation

One year ago the RCMP descended on a camp that had been blocking access to a pipeline site

On Jan. 8, 2019 Hundreds of people came to the B.C. legislature Tuesday to stand in solidarity with Unist’ot’en and Gitdumt’en First Nations during an international Day of Action. (Black Press Media File Photo)
Artist Jamin Zuroski holds up one of his creations for his Indigenous Illuminations project. (File Contributed/ Jamin Zuroski)

Indigenous artist challenges people to re-assess environments with new project

The ‘Indigenous Illuminations’ transforms the ordinary into something new

Artist Jamin Zuroski holds up one of his creations for his Indigenous Illuminations project. (File Contributed/ Jamin Zuroski)
Mark Trueman found a photo of his orca totem 11 years after it was stolen (File contributed/UsedVictora.ca)

Victoria man spots online photo of his totem pole 11 years after it was stolen

Mark Trueman restored the pole himself before it was stolen off of his property in Duncan

Mark Trueman found a photo of his orca totem 11 years after it was stolen (File contributed/UsedVictora.ca)
The Salish Sea Lantern festival brings music and light to the Sidney waterfront every year. A salmon lantern was snapped by a reader last summer, in 2018 on Sidney Pier. (Photo by Bob Orchard).

Traditional salmon designs brighten Salish Sea Lantern Festival

Children from ȽÁU,WEL,ṈEW̱ tribal school built salmon hats for festival on Sidney waterfront

The Salish Sea Lantern festival brings music and light to the Sidney waterfront every year. A salmon lantern was snapped by a reader last summer, in 2018 on Sidney Pier. (Photo by Bob Orchard).
Tommy Little Spruce with his son Leland before their entrance. (Jean-Francois d’Albret and Cristina de Veer submission)

Yellow Wolf Powwow draws dancers from across Canada

Saanichton event a celebration of Indigenous culture

Tommy Little Spruce with his son Leland before their entrance. (Jean-Francois d’Albret and Cristina de Veer submission)
Coast Salish artist creates huge drums to soothe the earth

Coast Salish artist creates huge drums to soothe the earth

Earth drums will be on display at Cedar Hill Recreation Centre in August

Coast Salish artist creates huge drums to soothe the earth
Members of local First Nations attended a ceremony for the removal of the Kwakwaka’wakw house post replica totem pole from Thunderbird Park recently. Victoria will be hosting an international conference on languages. (Nicole Crescenzi/News Staff)

International conference to boost Indigenous languages comes to Victoria

Chiefs, politician, academics and Art Napoleon to attend

Members of local First Nations attended a ceremony for the removal of the Kwakwaka’wakw house post replica totem pole from Thunderbird Park recently. Victoria will be hosting an international conference on languages. (Nicole Crescenzi/News Staff)
The ȽÁU, WELṈEW̱ school’s Indigenous Day celebrations took place on the fields at the back of the school and included traditional singing and drumming groups. (Nick Murray/News Staff)

PHOTOS: ȽÁU, WELṈEW̱ tribal school celebrates Indigenous Day with Yellow Wolf Powwow

Traditional drumming, singing and dancing brings school together in celebration

The ȽÁU, WELṈEW̱ school’s Indigenous Day celebrations took place on the fields at the back of the school and included traditional singing and drumming groups. (Nick Murray/News Staff)
The City of Victoria unveiled its newest edition of the Commute Bus Shelter Exhibit, which showcases work of local artists. This piece, Quallhanumucan (Orca) was done by Andrea Fritz (Nicole Crescenzi/News Staff)

Downtown Victoria bus shelters feature local art

A diverse range of artists now have their work up along Yates Street

The City of Victoria unveiled its newest edition of the Commute Bus Shelter Exhibit, which showcases work of local artists. This piece, Quallhanumucan (Orca) was done by Andrea Fritz (Nicole Crescenzi/News Staff)
Workers carefully placed the totem down as it was removed from the place it stood for 65 years (Nicole Crescenzi/ News Staff)

PHOTOS: Totem pole comes down in Victoria’s Thunderbird Park

A Totem that’s been in place for 65 years is being repatriated at the end of its life

Workers carefully placed the totem down as it was removed from the place it stood for 65 years (Nicole Crescenzi/ News Staff)
The Kwakwaka’wakw house post replica (front) is one of two totem poles that are coming down at the Thunderbird Park, next to the Royal BC Museum (Nicole Crescenzi/News Staff)

Two totem poles to come down at Victoria’s Thunderbird Park

Poles built in the 1950s have reached the end of their lives and will be repatriated

The Kwakwaka’wakw house post replica (front) is one of two totem poles that are coming down at the Thunderbird Park, next to the Royal BC Museum (Nicole Crescenzi/News Staff)
James Taylor has been working with Carey Newman to perfect his carving abilities. Taylor has been an artist for 40 years, but struggled with alcholosim. Since coming to Newman’s carving site, Taylor has found more focus in his life. (Nicole Crescenzi/News Staff)

Linking culture and recovery: Greater Victoria totem project matches people with master carver

The Victoria Cool Aid Society and master carver Carey Newman help artists harness their skills

James Taylor has been working with Carey Newman to perfect his carving abilities. Taylor has been an artist for 40 years, but struggled with alcholosim. Since coming to Newman’s carving site, Taylor has found more focus in his life. (Nicole Crescenzi/News Staff)
Sixties Scoop survivors and supporters gather for a demonstration at a Toronto courthouse in 2016. du Temple’s book covers his experiences as a social worker in the 1960s. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Michelle Siu)

Troubling tales: Peninsula author writes Sixties Scoop memoir

Former social worker Wally du Temple recalls his role in northern B.C.

Sixties Scoop survivors and supporters gather for a demonstration at a Toronto courthouse in 2016. du Temple’s book covers his experiences as a social worker in the 1960s. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Michelle Siu)
A truck used as part of logging operations on Saturna Island. The three community members who helped suspend logging operations have been told the injunctions they were served with stand. (Photo courtesy of Perry LaFortune)

Injunctions served to protesting Tsawout members still stand

GoFundMe for their legal defence hits $18,000

A truck used as part of logging operations on Saturna Island. The three community members who helped suspend logging operations have been told the injunctions they were served with stand. (Photo courtesy of Perry LaFortune)
Block A on Saturna Island Indian Reserve No. 7 where three community members and some Saturna residents were protesting the logging of Tsawout land. (Courtesy of Perry LaFortune)

Logging halts as Tsawout leadership launches legal action against members of their community

Indigenous Services Canada to send inspectors amid fractious climate

Block A on Saturna Island Indian Reserve No. 7 where three community members and some Saturna residents were protesting the logging of Tsawout land. (Courtesy of Perry LaFortune)
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