First Nations

Work is underway to bring water access back to the Ucluelet First Nation community of Hitacu after a barge broke a primary water line. (District of Ucluelet photo)

More bad news for Ucluelet First Nation as it enters second week without water

Barge-damaged water line from Ucluelet to Hitacu deemed beyond repair

Work is underway to bring water access back to the Ucluelet First Nation community of Hitacu after a barge broke a primary water line. (District of Ucluelet photo)
Takla First Nation shared the announcement of the loss of Carmelita Abraham late Friday, Jan. 14. (Facebook photo)

Investigation into missing Indigenous woman leads to homicide charge against B.C. man

Carmelita Abraham, 33, had been missing since late December

Takla First Nation shared the announcement of the loss of Carmelita Abraham late Friday, Jan. 14. (Facebook photo)
The B.C. government announced last week an official name change for Saysutshun Park, formerly Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park. (News Bulletin file photo)

Newcastle to Saysutshun: island park off Nanaimo renamed

Provincial park officially makes switch to recognize Snuneymuxw First Nation heritage

The B.C. government announced last week an official name change for Saysutshun Park, formerly Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park. (News Bulletin file photo)
Two tugboats and a supply vessel will be part of East Sooke’s Western Canada Marine Response base. The tugs will escort oil tankers through the Strait of Juan de Fuca. (Contributed - Trans Mountain)

West Shore-based tugs to escort oil tankers through Strait of Juan de Fuca

Vessels will operate out of Sc’ianew First Nation’s Cheanuh Marina at East Sooke

Two tugboats and a supply vessel will be part of East Sooke’s Western Canada Marine Response base. The tugs will escort oil tankers through the Strait of Juan de Fuca. (Contributed - Trans Mountain)
The Sarita Estuary sits at the heart of the Huu-ay-aht First Nations’ ḥahuułi (traditional territory) and has been a source of food, transportation and cultural value to the nations for generations. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Island First Nation mostly agrees to B.C. plan for old growth logging deferral

Huu-ay-aht will defer 96 per cent of plan, 33 percent of its territory made up of old growth forests

The Sarita Estuary sits at the heart of the Huu-ay-aht First Nations’ ḥahuułi (traditional territory) and has been a source of food, transportation and cultural value to the nations for generations. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
The Saanich Adult Education Centre operating out of the LAU, WELNEW Tribal School on West Saanich Road offers a variety of upgrading and post-secondary preparation programs for Indigenous learners age 15 and over. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Saanich Adult Education Centre to receive $400,000 boost for Indigenous learning

First Nations-led centre on West Saanich Road among 10 institutes given funding help

The Saanich Adult Education Centre operating out of the LAU, WELNEW Tribal School on West Saanich Road offers a variety of upgrading and post-secondary preparation programs for Indigenous learners age 15 and over. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Crews at Cascadia Seaweed pull in a harvest. The Sidney-based company recently received a license from Tsawout First Nation to establish a farm off James Island. (Photo supplied by Cascadia Seaweed)

Sidney’s Cascadia Seaweed partners with Tsawout First Nation on James Island farm

Operation aims to help restore surrounding ecology, boost Tsawout economic stability

Crews at Cascadia Seaweed pull in a harvest. The Sidney-based company recently received a license from Tsawout First Nation to establish a farm off James Island. (Photo supplied by Cascadia Seaweed)
Williams Lake Mayor Walt Cobb reads a written statement at council Nov. 2. (Angie Mindus photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Williams Lake mayor ‘seriously sorry’ for sharing offensive post about residential schools

Mayor Walt Cobb apologizes for offending, but says WLFN open letter was a ‘personal attack”

Williams Lake Mayor Walt Cobb reads a written statement at council Nov. 2. (Angie Mindus photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
Pacheedaht First Nation drummers at the blessing of the canoe ceremony. (Bailey Moreton - Sooke News Mirror)

UVic, First Nations collaborate on special projects

‘Is it a part of reconciliation? I think it’s exactly what this project is:’ Pacheedaht chief

Pacheedaht First Nation drummers at the blessing of the canoe ceremony. (Bailey Moreton - Sooke News Mirror)
The water off Port Renfrew could be threatened without a federally-funded search and rescue and environmental response service in Port Renfrew, says the Pacheedaht First Nation. (File - Sooke News Mirror)

Pacheedaht First Nation wants feds to expedite plans for marine rescue centre

Chief Coun. Jeff Jones says talks stalled on $22-million project for Port Renfrew

The water off Port Renfrew could be threatened without a federally-funded search and rescue and environmental response service in Port Renfrew, says the Pacheedaht First Nation. (File - Sooke News Mirror)
Huu-ay-aht First Nations Chief Councillor Robert Dennis Sr. addresses a small group of supporters as he announced work on the $31-million resurfacing of Bamfield Main Road will begin in earnest. (PHOTO COURTESY HUU-AY-AHT FIRST NATIONS)

$31M Bamfield Road project breaks new ground for Island First Nation, B.C.

Huu-ay-aht First Nations the first Indigenous community to lead major infrastructure project

  • Oct 26, 2021
Huu-ay-aht First Nations Chief Councillor Robert Dennis Sr. addresses a small group of supporters as he announced work on the $31-million resurfacing of Bamfield Main Road will begin in earnest. (PHOTO COURTESY HUU-AY-AHT FIRST NATIONS)
Chief Roger Jimmie was a strong advocate for Indigenous forestry rights. In a 1990 Observer article he was demanding Kluskus be allowed to log their own land. (Quesnel Observer File Photo - 1990)

‘Fearless’ northern B.C. chief remembered after death

Roger Jimmie passed away last week

Chief Roger Jimmie was a strong advocate for Indigenous forestry rights. In a 1990 Observer article he was demanding Kluskus be allowed to log their own land. (Quesnel Observer File Photo - 1990)
Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation master carver Joe David gifted this totem pole to the District of Tofino in 2018 to recognize the community’s presence within the First Nation’s traditional territory. (Westerly file photo)

Island First Nation collaborating with province on reconciliation efforts

Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation signs hisiikcumyin pathway agreement with provincial government

Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation master carver Joe David gifted this totem pole to the District of Tofino in 2018 to recognize the community’s presence within the First Nation’s traditional territory. (Westerly file photo)
A recommendation to acknowledge local First Nations before Langford council meetings will be considered. (Black Press Media file photo)

Langford council still not acknowledging First Nations lands before meetings

Coun. Lillian Szpak says change is timely following National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

A recommendation to acknowledge local First Nations before Langford council meetings will be considered. (Black Press Media file photo)
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Ucluelet First Nation declares COVID-19 state of emergency

Delta variant concerns shuts down non-essential travel to Hitac̓u

(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Cole Speck sits in his Campbell River studio among some incomplete works. Photo by Ronan O’Doherty/ Campbell River Mirror

Vancouver Island artist carves own path while honouring past

Beau Dick protege, Cole Speck, makes magnificent masks

Cole Speck sits in his Campbell River studio among some incomplete works. Photo by Ronan O’Doherty/ Campbell River Mirror
Hundreds gathered to honour the inaugrual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Thursday, Sept. 30. They walked nearly four kilometres to bring awareness and healing to residential school survivors and victims. (Adam Louis/Observer)

VIDEO: ‘We are all brothers and sisters’ Sts’ailes chief imparts words of healing, hope on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Hundreds of people walked with the Sts’ailes First Nation to remember residential school victims

Hundreds gathered to honour the inaugrual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Thursday, Sept. 30. They walked nearly four kilometres to bring awareness and healing to residential school survivors and victims. (Adam Louis/Observer)
Monique Pat, a member of the T’Sou-ke Nation, emcees the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation ceremony in Sooke on Sept. 30. Pat’s mother is a residential school survivor. (Kevin Laird - Sooke News Mirror)

PHOTOS: Large crowd gathers in Sooke on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

The day honours the children who died while being forced to attend residential schools and survivors

Monique Pat, a member of the T’Sou-ke Nation, emcees the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation ceremony in Sooke on Sept. 30. Pat’s mother is a residential school survivor. (Kevin Laird - Sooke News Mirror)
T’Sou-ke First Nation Chief Gordan Planes and Sooke Mayor Maja Tait raise the T’Sou-ke First Nation Flag at a ceremony at Municipal Hall on Wednesday (Sept. 29). (Contributed - District of Sooke)

First Nation flag takes permanent residency outside Sooke Municipal Hall

Ceremonial raising of T’Sou-ke First Nation flag held on Wednesday

T’Sou-ke First Nation Chief Gordan Planes and Sooke Mayor Maja Tait raise the T’Sou-ke First Nation Flag at a ceremony at Municipal Hall on Wednesday (Sept. 29). (Contributed - District of Sooke)
Ahousaht leadership announced on Sept. 27, 2021 that due to an uptick in COVID-19 cases the community is closed indefinitely to non-residents and all gatherings are put on hold. (Westerly file photo)

Ahousaht pauses gatherings and closes to non-residents over COVID-19

As of Sept. 27, there were 19 active cases within the remote Indigenous community

Ahousaht leadership announced on Sept. 27, 2021 that due to an uptick in COVID-19 cases the community is closed indefinitely to non-residents and all gatherings are put on hold. (Westerly file photo)
Pop-up banner image