First Nations

Nechako River in Vanderhoof, B.C. (Aman Parhar/Omineca Express)

First Nations to appeal B.C. Supreme Court ruling on damages to Nechako River

First Nations to appeal B.C. Supreme Court ruling on Nechako River and fisheries to hold Rio Tinto Alcan mining company accountable for damages

Nechako River in Vanderhoof, B.C. (Aman Parhar/Omineca Express)
First Nations’ Emergency Services Society members Dean Colthorp, left, and Reo Jerome pose beside the truck donated to the society Feb. 1 by Esquimalt Fire Rescue. Fire Chief Steve Serbic stands on the engine. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

Esquimalt fire donates engine to help train First Nation departments across B.C.

Truck to be used to build firefighters’ skills, enable better community protection in emergencies

First Nations’ Emergency Services Society members Dean Colthorp, left, and Reo Jerome pose beside the truck donated to the society Feb. 1 by Esquimalt Fire Rescue. Fire Chief Steve Serbic stands on the engine. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada closes recreational salmon fishing in the Skeena River watershed, including the Bulkley River. (Contributed Photo)

Northwest B.C. First Nations outraged by Alaskan interception of salmon

Gitxsan, Gitanyow, and Wet’suwet’en call on government to protect constitutional fishing rights

Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada closes recreational salmon fishing in the Skeena River watershed, including the Bulkley River. (Contributed Photo)
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

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)
The agreement announced between Na̲nwaḵolas Council and Western Forest Products Inc. on Jan. 19, 2022 will defer harvest of approximately 2,500 hectares and ancient, rare and other priority old growth for two years. Ronan O’Doherty/ Campbell River Mirror

Na̲nwaḵolas Council and Western Forest Products agree to two year old growth deferral

Council president said group hopes to fine tune what is suited for long term protection

The agreement announced between Na̲nwaḵolas Council and Western Forest Products Inc. on Jan. 19, 2022 will defer harvest of approximately 2,500 hectares and ancient, rare and other priority old growth for two years. Ronan O’Doherty/ Campbell River Mirror
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)
Klahoose Wilderness Resort is located in Homfray Channel. Photo courtesy Klahoose Wilderness Resort Klahoose Wilderness Resort is located in Homfray Channel. Photo courtesy Klahoose Wilderness Resort

Klahoose First Nation resort to be run on 100 per cent clean energy

Power to be drawn from nearby creek

Klahoose Wilderness Resort is located in Homfray Channel. Photo courtesy Klahoose Wilderness Resort Klahoose Wilderness Resort is located in Homfray Channel. Photo courtesy Klahoose Wilderness Resort
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)
Scott Bennett brings another load of sandbags into Tussie Road Monday on his tractor. (Photo by Don Bodger)

All hands on deck for Westholme flood preparations

Military, many organizations offer support with sandbagging, preventative measures

Scott Bennett brings another load of sandbags into Tussie Road Monday on his tractor. (Photo by Don Bodger)
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)
Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Elementary School will be closed until Monday, Nov. 8 due to most of the students being unvaccinated. (www.gwanaknations.ca photo)

North Island First Nation extends shutdown due to increase in COVID-19 exposures

‘Please avoid gatherings of any kind and spend time only with your immediate household’

Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Elementary School will be closed until Monday, Nov. 8 due to most of the students being unvaccinated. (www.gwanaknations.ca photo)
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)
Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Elementary School will be closed until Monday, Nov. 8 due to most of the students being unvaccinated. (www.gwanaknations.ca photo)

North Island First Nation announces 48-hour shutdown due to COVID-19

Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw First Nation exposure-related services halt begins tonight

Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Elementary School will be closed until Monday, Nov. 8 due to most of the students being unvaccinated. (www.gwanaknations.ca photo)
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)
Officials from Huu-ay-aht First Nations, Mosaic Forest Management, Tseshaht First Nation join Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns and Alberni-Pacific Rim MLA Josie Osborne for the official groundbreaking for the Bamfield Main Road resurfacing project, Oct. 18, 2021 at Blenheim Pit. (PHOTO COURTESY HUU-AY-AHT FIRST NATIONS)

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

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

  • Oct 25, 2021
Officials from Huu-ay-aht First Nations, Mosaic Forest Management, Tseshaht First Nation join Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns and Alberni-Pacific Rim MLA Josie Osborne for the official groundbreaking for the Bamfield Main Road resurfacing project, Oct. 18, 2021 at Blenheim Pit. (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)