By Philip McLachlan, The Discourse, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Robyn Rice sits down in the rainforest and takes off her moccasins. From out of her bag comes a pair of climbing shoes, and she begins to lace up. It’s a warm morning on Mount Ts’uwxilum (Tzouhalem), a dense forested area in Quw’utsun homelands. A slight breeze is blowing, birds chirp high up in the forest canopy, and squirrels jump from tree to tree. She’s new to climbing outdoors, and she’s doing so with a group that’s helping introduce Indigenous youth on “Vancouver Island” to the sport.