Tag Archives: We Wai Kai Nation

Health, Indigenous Nations

Namgis Elder’s Death Heightens Concern

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The shutdown of First Nations communities is more crucial than ever with the sad news that an Indigenous elder from another island has died from COVID-19, says a Quadra Island, B.C., council member.

“My first thought was real sadness to hear this,” We Wai Kai Councillor Ted Lewis said. “It hurts all First Nations to hear this. Quite a few members have family up there, lots of people are related to that community.”

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Community, Indigenous Nations

First Nations Fishermen Rescues Kayaker Off Rebecca Spit

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Lucas Chickite almost didn’t hear it. The Quadra Island fisherman was standing on the bow of the Armada, a vessel working a scallop farm off the east shore of Rebecca Spit, on Thursday at around 6 p.m., when he heard a faint sound over the noise of the engine and hydraulics. The west wind had come up to 20 knots in the afternoon and the water was showing whitecaps. He strained his ears again and looked around, but didn’t see any other boats. He was about to start working, when he heard it again.

“It definitely sounded like someone cried, Help,’” said Chickite. “I starting scanning the horizon and I saw a white hand flash out of the water.”

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Health, Indigenous Nations

Quadra Island Asks Visitors To Stay Away During COVID 19 Crises

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Quadra Island, a tourist haven off the eastern coast of Vancouver Island, B.C., is making a request to the visitors that usually flock there: please stay home.

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Disaster

The SRD Is Preparing For An Emergency

On February 23, the Quadra Island Emergency Support Services Team will practise setting up an Emergency Reception Centre at the Quadra Island Community Centre. Two weeks ago, the SRD’s Protective Services Coordinator asked how feasible it was for CKTZ to deploy its’ “radio in a suitcase” to different locations on Cortes Island. The SRD is currently considering extending its fire protection zones on both Cortes and Quadra Islands. At its last meeting, the SRD Board approved funding to purchase mobile radio kits to enhance emergency “ … communications between the City of Campbell River, Homalco First Nation, and Wei Wai Kai First Nation.” These are only a few recent examples of how the SRD is preparing for an emergency in our area.

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Indigenous Nations, Politics

Unresolved Indigenous Issues

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By Roy L Hales

They occupied Cortes Radio’s broadcast area for thousands of years before the European advent. The Homalco, Tla’amin, Klahoose, and K’ómoks nations’ shared language testifies to their common ancestry. Their neighbours, the Laich-kwil-tach were fierce warriors, whose canoes carried raiders into the southern Georgia Strait, Puget Sound and up the Fraser River. (They attacked the Hudsons Bay Company post at Fort Langley in 1837). When the influx of settlers was sufficiently numerous, they took over. The indigenous population was deprived of lands they had occupied for generations. Their customs and governance was superseded. Prior to 1960, the native population could not vote in a Federal election unless they first surrendered their treaty rights and Indian status. This situation is slowly improving. The BC Treaty Commission was set up in 1992, but so far has only signed a single treaty within our area. So I asked the candidates running in the Powell River – North Island what their parties will do about unresolved indigenous issues  

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