First Nations

The Canadian Francophone Games, here in New Brunswick in 2017, would have brought together French-speaking students from across the country in a variety of competitions to Greater Victoria in 2022. What would have been the most western host city has a small but flourishing Francophone community and a growing number of residents, whose mother tongue is a non-official language. (Photo courtesy of Canadian Francophone Games)

Non-official languages flourishing in Greater Victoria

Speakers of French and non-official languages on the rise in Greater Victoria

The Canadian Francophone Games, here in New Brunswick in 2017, would have brought together French-speaking students from across the country in a variety of competitions to Greater Victoria in 2022. What would have been the most western host city has a small but flourishing Francophone community and a growing number of residents, whose mother tongue is a non-official language. (Photo courtesy of Canadian Francophone Games)
Mułaa surf team members throw shakas in front of their new surf shed at Esowista at the north end of Long Beach. (Nora O’Malley photo)

Introducing Mułaa, Canada’s Indigenous surf team

“My kids didn’t know they loved surfing because they didn’t have the equipment and now they do”

Mułaa surf team members throw shakas in front of their new surf shed at Esowista at the north end of Long Beach. (Nora O’Malley photo)
Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre has changed focus and is now known as Island Urban Indigenous Wellness Society. Pictured are director Alexis Petersen, left, and president Claire Clark. (Karl Yu/News Bulletin)

Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre rebrands, hopes to regain trust of area First Nations

New Island Urban Indigenous Wellness Society wants to distance itself from past leadership

Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre has changed focus and is now known as Island Urban Indigenous Wellness Society. Pictured are director Alexis Petersen, left, and president Claire Clark. (Karl Yu/News Bulletin)
Jeneva Touchie points to a new bilingual Nuu-chah-nulth / English street sign across from the high school. The District of Ucluelet hosted a small gathering on July 29 to unveil the new bilingual sign, which will be one of many installed around town over the next few months. (Nora O’Malley photo)

Ucluelet unveils new bilingual Nuu-chah-nulth / English street signs

“Our bilingu̓al street sign project is a small way we can honour the Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ people”

Jeneva Touchie points to a new bilingual Nuu-chah-nulth / English street sign across from the high school. The District of Ucluelet hosted a small gathering on July 29 to unveil the new bilingual sign, which will be one of many installed around town over the next few months. (Nora O’Malley photo)
Marchers proceed from the bottom of Oak Street. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Hundreds gather for Penelakut March For The Children

Occasion honours residential school survivors and those who never made it home

Marchers proceed from the bottom of Oak Street. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Christine Thomas addresses the crowd, with the old playground in the background. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Playground, fitness facility groundbreaking for Halalt community

All ages being accommodated in the design

Christine Thomas addresses the crowd, with the old playground in the background. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, president of the UBCIC, left, June North, widow of the man who died by suicide and Williams Lake First Nation Chief Willie Sellars all spoke during a press conference held Tuesday, July 19. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

‘In shock and mourning’: Indigenous leaders demand inquiry into fatal RCMP incident

Incident of man threatening self harm in Williams Lake ended tragically July 10

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, president of the UBCIC, left, June North, widow of the man who died by suicide and Williams Lake First Nation Chief Willie Sellars all spoke during a press conference held Tuesday, July 19. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
The University of Victoria’s First Peoples House, located in the heart of the campus. In 2023 UVic will be offering a master’s in business administration program for Indigenous Reconciliation for the first time. (Courtesy of UVic Photo Services)

UVic to offer groundbreaking MBA program in Indigenous Reconciliation

Program’s first enrolment of business students set to begin in spring 2023

The University of Victoria’s First Peoples House, located in the heart of the campus. In 2023 UVic will be offering a master’s in business administration program for Indigenous Reconciliation for the first time. (Courtesy of UVic Photo Services)
Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation master carver Joe Martin orchestrates the raising of a new totem pole for Opitsaht on July 1, 2022. (Nora O’Malley photo)

Truth-speaking Vancouver Island totem pole unveiled on Canada Day

July 1 ceremony on the shores of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations village of Opitsaht near Tofino

Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation master carver Joe Martin orchestrates the raising of a new totem pole for Opitsaht on July 1, 2022. (Nora O’Malley photo)
Various First Nations groups including the Tsilhqot’in National Government are coming to the defense of AFN National Chief Roseanne Archibald who was suspended on June 17. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Tŝilhqot’in voices support for AFN National Chief RoseAnne Archibald amid complaint probe

TNG said it stands with Archibald’s call for a forensic audit, fundamental reform at AFN

Various First Nations groups including the Tsilhqot’in National Government are coming to the defense of AFN National Chief Roseanne Archibald who was suspended on June 17. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
Fish fragments unearthed from the villages of Ts’ishaa and Huu7ii in Barkley Sound, B.C. (Dylan Hillis/University of Victoria)

Ancient Vancouver Island fish bones may hold lessons for adapting to climate change

5,000-year-old bones show how Indigenous people worked with warming oceans

  • Jun 22, 2022
Fish fragments unearthed from the villages of Ts’ishaa and Huu7ii in Barkley Sound, B.C. (Dylan Hillis/University of Victoria)
Fish fragments unearthed from the villages of Ts’ishaa and Huu7ii in Barkley Sound, B.C. (Dylan Hillis/University of Victoria)

Ancient Vancouver Island fish bones may hold lessons for adapting to climate change

5,000-year-old bones show how Indigenous people worked with warming oceans

  • Jun 22, 2022
Fish fragments unearthed from the villages of Ts’ishaa and Huu7ii in Barkley Sound, B.C. (Dylan Hillis/University of Victoria)
Rather than asking staff to research options for a voluntary reconciliation fund similar to that of Victoria, Saanich council voted to defer discussions to the district’s next meeting with the WSANEC Leadership Council. (Black Press Media file photo)

Saanich to consult First Nations before establishing public reconciliation fund

Coun. Ned Taylor looks to get ball rolling on idea similar to City of Victoria program

Rather than asking staff to research options for a voluntary reconciliation fund similar to that of Victoria, Saanich council voted to defer discussions to the district’s next meeting with the WSANEC Leadership Council. (Black Press Media file photo)
First People’s Cultural Council CEO Tracey Herbert, right, responds to a provincial funding announcement for Indigenous language, art, culture and heritage revitalization at the legislature June 14. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)

B.C. commits $35M to continue revitalization of Indigenous languages, arts, culture

First Peoples’ Cultural Council learning initiatives to be funded

First People’s Cultural Council CEO Tracey Herbert, right, responds to a provincial funding announcement for Indigenous language, art, culture and heritage revitalization at the legislature June 14. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)
Sidney Cliff McNeil-Smith said the original art of WSANEC artist Sarah Jim displayed on Sidney’s seasonal banners celebrates the ocean and serves as a beautiful reminder that the Sidney community lies within the traditional territory of the WSANEC people “whose presence and connection to these lands and waters continues today and has since time immemorial.” (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Original Sidney art by WSANEC artist recognizes legacy, presence of Saltwater People

Mayor Cliff McNeil-Smith says Sidney committed to strengthening relations with local First Nations

Sidney Cliff McNeil-Smith said the original art of WSANEC artist Sarah Jim displayed on Sidney’s seasonal banners celebrates the ocean and serves as a beautiful reminder that the Sidney community lies within the traditional territory of the WSANEC people “whose presence and connection to these lands and waters continues today and has since time immemorial.” (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Tla-o-qui-aht women Martha Martin and Carol Manson lead a memorial walk off Tofino’s First Street Dock on May 29. Martin’s daughter Chantel Moore was shot and killed by police on June 4, 2020. Manson’s son Julian Jones was shot and killed by police on Feb. 27, 2021. (Andrew Bailey photo)

Chantel Moore’s mom leads memorial walk from Tofino towards B.C. Legislature

Indigenous mothers who have lost their children in police shootings or custody raising awareness

Tla-o-qui-aht women Martha Martin and Carol Manson lead a memorial walk off Tofino’s First Street Dock on May 29. Martin’s daughter Chantel Moore was shot and killed by police on June 4, 2020. Manson’s son Julian Jones was shot and killed by police on Feb. 27, 2021. (Andrew Bailey photo)
Local First Nations will be invited to play a big part in North Cowichan’s 250th anniversary celebrations next year. (File photo)

Vancouver Island’s second-oldest municipality will turn 150 with a First Nations focus

North Cowichan plans to make concerted push away from previous colonial-themed anniversaries

Local First Nations will be invited to play a big part in North Cowichan’s 250th anniversary celebrations next year. (File photo)
Treaty negotiations for the K’ómoks First Nation began in 1994. File photo

K’ómoks First Nation treaty could be ratified in four years

Treaty would need to be ratified by K’ómoks membership, B.C. and Canada before being signed off

Treaty negotiations for the K’ómoks First Nation began in 1994. File photo
Cabin on a 47-acre property on Read Island that recently returned to the ownership of the Homalco First Nation. Photo contributed

Ownership of Read Island property returns to Homalco First Nation

Land owners work with First Nation to transfer 47-acre parcel

  • May 16, 2022
Cabin on a 47-acre property on Read Island that recently returned to the ownership of the Homalco First Nation. Photo contributed
Dr. Barney Williams. Submitted photo/ Coast Mental Health

Renowned B.C. First Nations therapist recognized for resilience

Dr. Barney Williams receives 2022 Courage To Come Back Award in the Addictions category

Dr. Barney Williams. Submitted photo/ Coast Mental Health