Indigenous reconcilliation

Nanaimo Indian Hospital survivor Melven <ins>(Sx̄wen)</ins> Jones recounts the abuse he endured at six years old, as he sits outside his home in Victoria. (Arnold Lim/Black Press Media)

‘It has to be heard’: Greater Victoria survivor recounts torture he endured at Indian Hospital

Melven (Sx̄wen) Jones was forcibly held at the Nanaimo Indian Hospital for two years

Nanaimo Indian Hospital survivor Melven <ins>(Sx̄wen)</ins> Jones recounts the abuse he endured at six years old, as he sits outside his home in Victoria. (Arnold Lim/Black Press Media)
Teachers Gillian Le Rose and Rick Fabris hold a canoe that’s part of a unique reconciliation project at Westshore Colwood School. (Photo courtesy of Sooke School District)

Colwood school, Sooke School District promote healing, reconciliation education

Unique canoe project sees students paddle together

Teachers Gillian Le Rose and Rick Fabris hold a canoe that’s part of a unique reconciliation project at Westshore Colwood School. (Photo courtesy of Sooke School District)
Everyone is welcome for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation observance Sept. 30 at 10 a.m. at the Sno’uyutth welcome pole, in front of Oak Bay High at 2121 Cadboro Bay Rd. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Oak Bay groups unite to add action to reconciliation in the community

Sno’uyutth welcome pole inspires ReconciliACTION Oak Bay

Everyone is welcome for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation observance Sept. 30 at 10 a.m. at the Sno’uyutth welcome pole, in front of Oak Bay High at 2121 Cadboro Bay Rd. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Cowichan Tribes’ Chief William Seymour, also known as Squtxulenuhw, was one of the five chiefs of the Cowichan Nation to sign an agreement with the province to work cooperatively to advance reconciliation. (File photo)

5 Island First Nations sign deal with B.C. to work together, government to government

Pact with Cowichan, Halalt, Penelakut, Stz’uminus and Lyackson intended to advance reconciliation

  • Sep 15, 2021
Cowichan Tribes’ Chief William Seymour, also known as Squtxulenuhw, was one of the five chiefs of the Cowichan Nation to sign an agreement with the province to work cooperatively to advance reconciliation. (File photo)
PaiThomas ‘Barndawg’ Paul (from left), Addie Elliott, and Brian ‘YellowWolf’ Sampson of the Tsartlip First Nation are a group called Paint the Town Red, set to perform at an upcoming Indigenous music festival at Beckwith Park on Aug. 21. (Photo courtesy of Brian Sampson)

Greater Victoria Indigenous artists set to shine at Saturday event in Saanich

First annual IYAKT music festival to take place at Beckwith Park in Saanich

PaiThomas ‘Barndawg’ Paul (from left), Addie Elliott, and Brian ‘YellowWolf’ Sampson of the Tsartlip First Nation are a group called Paint the Town Red, set to perform at an upcoming Indigenous music festival at Beckwith Park on Aug. 21. (Photo courtesy of Brian Sampson)
The Municipality of North Cowichan is considering retiring its coast of arms. (File photo)

North Cowichan to consider retiring its coat of arms

Reconciliation with First Nations cited in recommendation

The Municipality of North Cowichan is considering retiring its coast of arms. (File photo)
An artist’s conception shows the possibility of what a vibrant waterfront community could look like at the Somass Sawmill property. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Port Alberni council envisions multiple uses, public access to waterfront with Somass purchase

City won’t take possession of sawmill property until Feb. 14, 2022

An artist’s conception shows the possibility of what a vibrant waterfront community could look like at the Somass Sawmill property. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Sarah Robinson’s spirit lives on in the newly formed Sarah Robinson Foundation. (Submitted photo)

Sarah Robinson Foundation carries on the work of departed Indigenous women’s advocate

A fundraiser in Vancouver on Aug. 7, Sarah’s 36th birthday, helps the charity take flight

Sarah Robinson’s spirit lives on in the newly formed Sarah Robinson Foundation. (Submitted photo)
People sing and drum at a memorial outside the former Kamloops Indian Residential School to honour the 215 children whose remains have been discovered buried near the facility, in Kamloops, B.C., on Monday, May 31, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. to mark Sept. 30 as day of commemoration for residential school victims, survivors

Sept. 30 has been made a federal holiday

People sing and drum at a memorial outside the former Kamloops Indian Residential School to honour the 215 children whose remains have been discovered buried near the facility, in Kamloops, B.C., on Monday, May 31, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The federal government has provided the Pauquachin First Nation with more than $41 million in compensation for the historical wrong of Canada brokering a deal that caused the Indigenous community to become inaccessible by land. Pictured is the minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, Carolyn Bennett. (Black Press Media File Photo)

Saanich Peninsula’s Pauquachin First Nation receives $41 million from feds for road closure deal

Payment compensates for deal Canada struck with developer that closed only land access to community

The federal government has provided the Pauquachin First Nation with more than $41 million in compensation for the historical wrong of Canada brokering a deal that caused the Indigenous community to become inaccessible by land. Pictured is the minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, Carolyn Bennett. (Black Press Media File Photo)
Children from Penelakut led the march up Oak Street toward Waterwheel Park. (Cole Schisler photo)

More than 1,500 march in support of Penelakut First Nation after unmarked graves found

Large crowd supports families with children who never came home from residential schools

Children from Penelakut led the march up Oak Street toward Waterwheel Park. (Cole Schisler photo)
It’s a sea of humanity on Oak Street in Chemainus for the Penelakut Tribe’s Walk for the Children. (Photo by Don Bodger)

More than 1,500 march in support of Penelakut Tribe’s March for the Children

Large crowd supports families with children who never came home from residential schools

It’s a sea of humanity on Oak Street in Chemainus for the Penelakut Tribe’s Walk for the Children. (Photo by Don Bodger)
An Indigenous dancer performs in the Elbow River Camp at the Calgary Stampede in Calgary, Alta., Wednesday, July 14, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

‘Miss the drumbeat’: Return of powwow season welcomed by First Nations

‘Everybody just wanted to powwow (to) renew their spirits and lift themselves up’

An Indigenous dancer performs in the Elbow River Camp at the Calgary Stampede in Calgary, Alta., Wednesday, July 14, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Songhees Nation Chief Ron Sam read the South Island First Nations’ public letter, calling for solidarity and respect and an end to vandalism in the region. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)

Vancouver Island Indigenous leaders call for unity, end to violence, vandalism in Victoria area

A Malahat Nation totem was damaged in apparent retaliation of Capt. James Cook statue teardown

Songhees Nation Chief Ron Sam read the South Island First Nations’ public letter, calling for solidarity and respect and an end to vandalism in the region. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)
Little Free Libraries across the region will have Truth and Reconciliation Commission materials delivered by the Greater Victoria Placemaking Network. (Photo courtesy of Teale Phelps Bondaroff)

Greater Victoria group delivering reconciliation materials to Little Free Libraries

Educating the public about Indigenous issues important to moving forward, says organizer

Little Free Libraries across the region will have Truth and Reconciliation Commission materials delivered by the Greater Victoria Placemaking Network. (Photo courtesy of Teale Phelps Bondaroff)
Wenona Hall, associate professor of Indigenous Studies at the University of the Fraser Valley, with kids. (Devon Hall photography) Wenona Hall, associate professor of Indigenous Studies at UFV, with kids. (Devon Hall photography)

Canada Day as seen through an Indigenous lens

‘Canadians need to take the time to learn what it is that we are trying to reconcile’ - Wenona Hall

Wenona Hall, associate professor of Indigenous Studies at the University of the Fraser Valley, with kids. (Devon Hall photography) Wenona Hall, associate professor of Indigenous Studies at UFV, with kids. (Devon Hall photography)
CELEBRATING INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY Council members and witnesses from the Hupacasath First Nation, left, and Tseshaht First Nation, right, prepare to raise their respective flags in front of Port Alberni City Hall on Monday, June 21, 2021. The flags will permanently fly as part of the city’s reconciliation work. See more coverage from the flag raising ceremony on page A5. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Vancouver Island First Nations flags to fly permanently at city hall

Addition of flags are one Port Alberni response to reconciliation

CELEBRATING INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY Council members and witnesses from the Hupacasath First Nation, left, and Tseshaht First Nation, right, prepare to raise their respective flags in front of Port Alberni City Hall on Monday, June 21, 2021. The flags will permanently fly as part of the city’s reconciliation work. See more coverage from the flag raising ceremony on page A5. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Skeena MLA Ellis Ross. (Photo by Peter Versteege)

BC Liberal leadership candidate condemns ‘senseless violence’ of Okanagan church fires

Skeena MLA Ellis Ross says reconciliation isn’t about revenge for past tragedies

Skeena MLA Ellis Ross. (Photo by Peter Versteege)
The potential renaming of Trutch Street in Fairfield to Truth Street will wait until fall, after Victoria councillors voted to get more information on the effects of such a move. (Google Maps)

Victoria street renaming proposal to have moment of truth this fall

City council will await details on implications for Trutch residents, First Nations input

The potential renaming of Trutch Street in Fairfield to Truth Street will wait until fall, after Victoria councillors voted to get more information on the effects of such a move. (Google Maps)
Vancouver Island First Nations and others gather on the lawn of the legislature to honour the 215 children who never came home from a Kamloops residential school. The timing of the discovery will affect Victoria’s marking of July 1 as Canada Day this year. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

No Canada Day events in Victoria, out of respect for First Nations

Reconciliation-based hour-long TV presentation to air later this summer, rather than July 1

Vancouver Island First Nations and others gather on the lawn of the legislature to honour the 215 children who never came home from a Kamloops residential school. The timing of the discovery will affect Victoria’s marking of July 1 as Canada Day this year. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)