Tag Archives: Tla’amin First Nation

Health, Indigenous Nations

Indigenous People Bare the Brunt of the Toxic Drug Crisis

 The Tyee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The B.C. First Nations Health Authority opened its gathering to present a grim report on toxic drug toxic deaths in 2022 with a song, a prayer of hope and  unity for the families and friends affected by toxic drugs. 

The report found toxic  drugs have been taken a disproportionate toll on First Nations members,  who were almost five times as likely to die of drug poisoning in 2022  than non-Indigenous B.C. residents. Although representing only 3.3 per  cent of the province’s population, Indigenous people represented 16.4  per cent of toxic drug poisoning deaths in 2021.

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Indigenous Nations, Politics

Blaney asks the name of our riding be changed to ‘North Island – qathet’

It has been more than two months since the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission tabled their report for British Columbia in the House of Commons. Their mandate ‘was to propose new boundaries for federal electoral districts in the province to maximize voter parity while taking into consideration social and geographic factors, including respect for communities of interest or identity.’ Yet the commission has not yet responded to First Nations suggestions that they drop the name ‘Powell’ from North Island – Powell River.”

In response to a request from the Tla’amin First Nation, Rachel Blaney is asking the Electoral Boundary Commission to change the name of our riding to ‘North Island qathet.’ 

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Arts

What makes this region sing?

Originally published on qathet Living

The International Choral Kathaumixw is a project of the Powell River Academy of Music, founded on the model of artistic excellence promoting cultural diversity, acclaiming members of Tla’amin Nation while welcoming and embracing cultures from around the world. 

The festival takes place July 4 to 8 this year and is filled with concerts, common song singing, choral & vocal solo performances, conductor’s seminars and social events. It is a place to learn from each other and from world-renowned choral personalities. 

Kathaumixw is a Coast Salish word gifted to the festival by the Elders of Tla’amin Nation – whose Traditional Territory we share. Since the first festival (1984), the International Choral Kathaumixw has taken place biennially, except for a break during COVID.

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Indigenous Nations, Women

sɛƛakəs Harmony Johnson: Lead with your values

Originally published on qathet Living

Tla’amin Nation’s Harmony Johnson has dedicated her professional life to making change. Because so much has to change. 

The consultant, who lives between Tsleil-Waututh Territory and Tishosum, has been behind some of the biggest moments in reconciliation in qathet, BC and across Canada. They include working on the Tla’amin treaty; recording elders speaking ayajuthem; leading policy work with the First Nations Summit and First Nations Leadership Council; shaping and launching the First Nations Health Authority; writing Written as I Remember It with her grandmother, Elsie Paul; and authoring “They Sigh or Give You the Look: Discrimination and Status Card Usage” on behalf of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs – in response to the handcuffing assault by police of Maxwell Johnson and his 12-year-old granddaughter in a Vancouver bank. 

And so much more. 

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Indigenous Nations, Politics

Why Tla’amin will not be in the SRD’s territorial acknowledgement (yet) 

The Strathcona Regional District recognizes ten First Nations as communities within their boundaries, but the Tla’amin are not one of them. This topic arose during last month’s First Nation’s Committee Meeting and again when the committee met on February 22.  Most of the Tla’amin lands are within qathet Regional District, but they have a shared history with the Klahoose in southern Cortes Island and were given a large parcel of Mansons Landing by treaty. However Klahoose is one of the nations recognized by the SRD and Cortes Island is within their traditional boundaries. Azalea Milwood, the First Nations Liaison, explained, “I don’t believe, at this point, we should add the Tla’amin Nation, due to not knowing how the Klahoose Nation feels about that.”

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