By Julie Chadwick, IndigiNews,, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Surrounded by sun-dappled trees and the gentle rushing sound of Skutz Falls, a historic agreement to return 312 hectares of land to Lyackson First Nation and Cowichan Tribes was signed last week as part of an Incremental Treaty Agreement.
Continue reading After generations of displacement, ‘Vancouver Island’ lands returned to Lyackson, Cowichan First NationsBy Kayla MacInnis, IndigiNews, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
In February of 2023, Melanie Mark stood before the “B.C.” legislature, visibly shaken, as she read out her resignation speech.
“This place felt like a torture chamber,” she said, holding an eagle feather and wearing her grandfather’s beaded moosehide fringe jacket.
A descendant of the Nisg̱a’a and Gitxsan people on her mom’s side and Cree, Ojibway, French, and Scottish on her father’s side, Mark was the first First Nations woman to serve on the cabinet of “British Columbia” from February 2016 until April 2023.
Continue reading Joan Phillip, the second First Nations woman in the ‘B.C.’ cabinet, is patient but unrelentingEditor’s Note: When British Columbia seized control of the traditional territories of the Homalco, Klahoose, Tla’amin, We Wai Kai, Wei Wai Kum and most of the other First Nations in the province, they were pushed onto tiny parcels whose title was held by the Crown (reserves). According to the Pulling Together: Foundations Guide (2018):
A report prepared for the BC Assembly of First Nations in 2023 states 35% of BC’s Indigenous population currently live on reserves.
By Alexandra Mehl, Ha-Shilth-Sa, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Victoria, BC – In early April the provincial government introduced legislative amendments to the B.C. Land Title and Property Law Act, that, if passed, will remove barriers for First Nation bands to acquire, hold and register land.
“Many people in Canada do not know that First Nations could not own land in the province of British Columbia,” said Hugh Braker of the First Nations Summit. “Many people don’t know that in British Columbia, other provinces and in the federal system there are still laws that discriminate against Indigenous people that are founded in racism.”
This year marks 150 years since the establishment of the B.C. Land Act which “explicitly forbid First Nation individuals from having interests in land,” said Murray Rankin, minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation.
Continue reading Legislative amendments would allow First Nations to own landEditor’s note – Editor’s note – 197 ‘unhoused’ Campbell River residents were reported in the 2023 Point-in Time count. Data from the 2021 census suggests another 3,450 ‘housed’ residents are paying more for rent or mortgages than they can afford.
There is less data from rural areas, but annecdotal evidence suggests the number of people living in unstable conditions on Cortes and Quadra Island’s is higher than the 77 and 41 reported through the 2022 ‘Collecting Stories of Where You Live’ survey. They couch surfed, lived in vehicles, sheds etc, or outside. (11 Cortes residents and 12 people in Area C reported they were ‘unsheltered.’) Emma Wallace, who oversaw the project, suggested the actual number of Cortes residents living in ‘unsheltered’ or ‘at risk’ conditions might be 10% higher than what was reported. This gap between is believed to be even greater on Quadra Island, where there were fewer respondents to the survey. As someone recently pointed out, you need access to a computer to fill in an online survey. .
By Madeline Dunnett, The Discourse, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Comox Valley residents have the opportunity to participate in a range of free education workshops this spring, thanks to the Strengthening Communities’ Services Program administered by the Union of BC Municipalities.
The workshops run from April 10 through June 25 and are open to the public. They cover topics including mental health first aid, trauma-informed frontline response education and gender diversity education in the workplace.
Continue reading Free workshops support a collaborative response to homelessness in the Comox ValleyEditor’s Note: 13 of the 92 respondents to the SRD study CORTES ISLAND ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION CONDITIONS REPORT (2022) stated bicycles were their principal mode of transportation. During 2021, there were a number of reports of cars passing cyclists without due care on Cortes Island. The idea of building bike lanes on Cortes periodically comes up. During the 2018 election, George Sirk suggested, “They could use Ministry of Transportation right of ways and fund the program with revenues from the Gas Tax. There are inexpensive routes between Manson’s Landing and Smelt Bay, in Whaletown between Robertson Road and the ferry, and between Squirrel Cove and Tork Road.”
In a recent interview Quadra Island’s Director, Robyn Mawhinney, told Cortes Currents, ” … There’s a lot more commuting that’s been happening by bike and electric bike, and it would be really nice to support those alternate methods of transportation with safer lanes on the sides of roads.”
There is an extensive network of bike paths and dedicated bike lanes in Campbell River. One of the city’s goals is to increase the number of trips taken by bike to 5% by 2036. So far, 438 people have signed up for the city’s Spring GoByBike Week: June 3rd to 9th, 2024.
By Jordan Copp, Coast Reporter, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
A Sunshine Coast active transportation group is applauding BC legislation that imposes new safe driving distance rules for drivers passing vulnerable road users.
Several updates to the Motor Vehicle Act aimed at enhancing safety for cyclists and pedestrians were announced on April 4.
The predominant change is that the distance drivers must maintain when passing cyclists and other vulnerable road users has increased to 1.5 metres from one metre on highways with a posted speed limit above 50 km/h.
Continue reading Transportation Choices Sunshine Coast applauds BC legislation for safer driving rules
