The city of Campbell River is supporting a Liǧʷiłdax̌ʷ [pronounced Lee-gweeth-dowkh] Nations request to change the official names of Discovery Passage to “Liǧʷiłdax̌ʷ Passage”, Quinsam River to “Kʷənsəm,” and Tyee Spit to “ʔuxstalis [pronounced Oox-sta-lease].”
It has been three months since the BC Geographical Names Office informed the city of the proposed changes.
Continue reading Campbell River supports adoption of Liǧʷiłdax̌ʷ Names
In September of this year, Currents reported on a proposal from Liǧʷiłdax̌ʷ [pronounced Lee-gweeth-dowkh] Nations (We Wai Kai, Wei Wai Kum and Kwiakah) for the formal renaming of various locations in the greater Campbell River/rapids area. The new names would be drawn from First Nations language and tradition.
Three of these place-names are local to the city of Campbell River. The well-loved park now known as Tyee Spit would be renamed to ʔuxstalis [pronounced Oox-sta-lease], the spelling of the Quinsam River would be updated to “Kʷənsəm River”, and Discovery Passage would be renamed to “Liǧʷiłdax̌ʷ Passage”.
Continue reading Campbell River Place Names Proposal: Update
Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
First Nations working to restore wild salmon and vital fish habitat on northeastern Vancouver Island will receive $3.4 million for a trio of stewardship projects in the Campbell River region.
The restoration of salt marshes in the Campbell River estuary, a new fish trap based on traditional practices, and a hatchery are being jointly funded by the B.C. and federal governments.
The estuary and fish trap projects, which also involve Greenways Land Trust and A-Tlegay Fisheries Society as partners, reflect the Wei Wai Kum Nation’s goal to revitalize salmon populations, said Chief Coun. Chris Roberts.
Continue reading Tradition meets modern: Restoring wild salmon habitat
Editor’s note: The licenses for 79 fish farms will come up for renewal by the end of June, 2022. If the Department of Fisheries fails to reissue them, there will only be seven farms left in the province. These are all in the Broughton Archipelago and their licenses come up for renewal in 2023.
On March 21, a group of what was supposedly 17 First Nations supporting the fish farming industry put out a press release. Cortes Currents is not on the First Nations for Finfish Stewardship email list, and at that point had not heard of the group. We subsequently asked Dallas Smith, spokesperson for this coalition, for an interview. When he did not reply, Cortes Currents published a write-up largely based on that original press release. Within hours of posting a link through social media, someone directed Cortes Currents to independent biologist Alexandra Morton’s Facebook page where there was evidence that this group of 17 was at best 12 and more likely 11 First Nations. Since then, the list has grown smaller.
Continue reading The First Nations calling for a renewal of fish farm licensesCampbell River Mirror, Local Journalism Reporter
B.C. Premier John Horgan’s criticism of the federal government’s handling the Discovery Islands fish farm consultation is ironic, says Chris Roberts, chief of the Wei Wai Kum First Nation.
Continue reading Horgan’s criticism of federal decision ironic, says Chief Chris Roberts
