Tag Archives: Klahoose First Nation

Indigenous Nations, Indigenous Nations History

Folk U: Chief Kevin Peacey on Politics, Projects & the Past (Part 1)

Leave a comment

Interview by Manda Aufochs Gillespie; written version by Roy L Hales  

On Friday, May 29, 2026, Chief Kevin Peacey of the Klahoose First Nation came to the Cortes Radio station, where he was interviewed by Manda Aufochs Gillespie. This is a highly edited and abridged transcript of that program.

In part one: Kevin talks about the Klahoose population, housing, the new cultural centre, the chief and council, canoe journeys and community activities.

Manda: “Cortes Community Radio sits on the ancestral and territorial lands of the Klahoose, Tla’amin, and perhaps the Homalco peoples. I’d like to thank this land, these people who have walked this land through time, and all those who continue to love and work to honour this place we call home. Today, we are very lucky to have our neighbour and leader of the Klahoose First Nation join us in the studio. Chief Kevin Peacey, thank you so much for being here.”

Kevin: “Thank you for having me.”

Continue reading Folk U: Chief Kevin Peacey on Politics, Projects & the Past (Part 1) →
Indigenous Nations

Folk U: Chief Kevin Peacey on Politics, Projects & the Past (Part 2)

Leave a comment


Interview by Manda Aufochs Gillespie; written version by Roy L Hales

This is the second half of a highly abridged text version of Manda Aufochs Gillespie’s interview with Chief Kevin Peacey of the Klahoose First Nation.

In Part 2 Kevin talks about QXMC businesses, the new restaurant in Gorge Harbour, the Squirrel Cove project, Treaty Negotiations, Land & Rights, Klahoose History, his own life and Future Challenges   

Manda: “I want to talk a little bit about your development arm, Qathen Xwegus Management Corporation (QXMC). What is its relationship to Klahoose?”

Kevin: “The corporation is Klahoose. We just keep it hands-off so that we’re not bugging them with, ‘We need this, we need that.’ We let the corporation do what they need to do.”

Continue reading Folk U: Chief Kevin Peacey on Politics, Projects & the Past (Part 2) →
Arts

Inspirations: An interview with Ruby Singh

Leave a comment

Juno-nominated musician Ruby Singh recently returned to Cortes Island, both as a facilitator for the CASE Youth Leadership Conference at Hollyhock and to give a concert at Manson’s Hall. In this morning’s interview, he talks about his many forms of artistic expression, inspirations, and relationship with Cortes Island. 

Ruby Singh:  “I find inspiration in a lot of different ways. I feel like we are all just small tendrils of creation, so the act of creation and the act of creativity are among the most natural ways of being. Other artists really inspire me. I am deeply inspired by ancestry and futurity at the same time, so finding ourselves where we are in this timeline of inheritance from our ancestors, and what we are thinking about leaving here when we leave. Long timelines really inspire me, and deep time is a very inspirational thing. I get a lot of inspiration from my community, from the people around me, and from this more-than-human world that surrounds us.” 

Continue reading Inspirations: An interview with Ruby Singh →
Industry

Gleanings from the May 7 Community Meeting: Island United’s proposed Quarry Expansion

Around 100 people packed into Mansons Hall on May 7, 2026, for a community meeting on the proposed expansion of the Island United Quarry on Cortes Island. While most appeared to be opposed to the project in its current form, some added that Cortes Island needed a smaller quarry more in line with the island’s needs

Neither Howard Nielsen, who owns Island United, nor his wife were present. Regional Director Mark Vonesch explained, “ It’s their 15th wedding anniversary and they’re on a trip.” 

Mike Moore, who MC’d the event,  added, “First of all this is a meeting that is for information. We’ll have a question and answer period at the end of a few little presentations. It’s not a protest by any means. No profanity (audience chuckled); no derogatory comments. We’re here to look at the Island United Quarry expansion in Whaletown.”

Continue reading Gleanings from the May 7 Community Meeting: Island United’s proposed Quarry Expansion →
Rivers & Oceans

Some BC First Nations want to replace the salmon farming ban with their own system — and preserve jobs

Editor’s Note: Four of the 17 First Nations supposedly belonging to the Coalition of First Nations for Finfish Stewardship asked that their names be removed when this organization was first announced. They were the Mamalilikulla, Namgis and Kwikwasutinuxw Haxwa’mis First Nations (collectively referred to as the “Broughton First Nations”) and the Klahoose First Nation. This was apparently not done.

By Sonal Gupta, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Some BC First Nations want Ottawa to cancel its ban on open-net salmon farms and hand them the reins of a reformed system that could better protect both wild salmon and jobs in their communities.

Continue reading Some BC First Nations want to replace the salmon farming ban with their own system — and preserve jobs →