Tag Archives: Haida Nation

Energy, Indigenous Nations

Heiltsuk Nation’s clean energy conversion efforts ahead of curve in B.C.

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A remote coastal First Nation has weaned a third of its homes off fossil fuels, making climate gains communities in the rest of B.C. can only aspire to.

To further its clean energy transition, Heiltsuk Nation has lined up another $5 million in funding to provide an additional 250 homes in Bella Bella with energy-efficient heat pumps over the next year. Once they are in, 90 per cent of the community’s households will have dramatically reduced their carbon footprint. 

Continue reading Heiltsuk Nation’s clean energy conversion efforts ahead of curve in B.C. →
Rivers & Oceans

Herring cut not enough, says west coast First Nation

qathet Living, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

For decades, the Salish Sea’s herring nearly disappeared, starving local salmon, whales and other species. The run miraculously came back in 2014. 

Since then, Ottawa has allowed commercial boats to harvest 20 per cent of the herring run – in spite of lobbying by First Nations and environmental groups. 

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Energy, Indigenous Nations, Justice

‘We are not here to get killed’: Wet’suwet’en solidarity actions met with armed police response

By Matt Simmons, The Narwhal, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

From a bridge above train tracks in New Hazelton, B.C., supporters of the Gitxsan Nation watched on Nov. 18, as Gitxsan children and teens tossed marshmallows at a fleet of heavily-armed RCMP units descending upon the tiny town in the northwest part of the province.

“They had tactical units, sniper teams and riot suppression gear and we had children with marshmallows,” Kolin Sutherland-Wilson, a Gitxsan member of Wilp (house group) Git’luuhl’um’hetxwit, told The Narwhal in an interview. 

Continue reading ‘We are not here to get killed’: Wet’suwet’en solidarity actions met with armed police response →
Communications

Bringing fast reliable internet to Cortes and Quadra this fall

The Province of British Columbia will be bringing fast reliable internet to remote communities  like Cortes Island, Quadra Island and Zeballos by the fall of 2021.

Continue reading Bringing fast reliable internet to Cortes and Quadra this fall →
Indigenous Nations, Tourism

Indigenous tourism sector banks on domestic tourists

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Many Indigenous tourism providers in B.C. are still in limbo waiting for more information from provincial health authorities before making any concrete decisions about whether they’ll open or operate this summer. But others are forging ahead and cautiously optimistic as they bank on domestic tourists to tide them over until borders shuttered by COVID-19 open again.

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