Tag Archives: Wood Carving

Cost of Climate Change, Indigenous Nations History

Salvaging the sacred from climate disaster

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The floodwaters rose swiftly and silently inside Nicole Norris’s family home and other residences of the Halalt First Nation on Vancouver Island when a storm unleashed a furious deluge of rain in November 2021. 

Her brother, asleep in the home’s ground-floor suite, awoke when his leg, hanging off the side of the bed, became submerged by overflow from the Chemainus River, said Norris, an Indigenous planning officer for the B.C. Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness. 

“Our home took on four feet of water in the basement. There was no sound to it,” said Norris, also known as Alag̱a̱mił. 

“Instantly, he yelled for my daughter and they were able to start pulling things from the basement.” 

Not everything of value escaped unscathed, said Norris, a regalia maker, weaver and cultural knowledge holder. 

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Forests

Forestry cooperative explores value-added timber products as way to do more with less

By Greg Osoba, CKTZ News, through an LJI grant from Canada-info.ca

According to the BC government, recent projections indicate there will be a decline in timber supply by 2025 throughout the province.

As a result, the Cortes Island Community Forestry Cooperative (CCFC) is hoping to find creative ways to repurpose timber on the island. The organization is holding a public meeting this weekend that aims to get public input on creating value added wood products from timber harvested on its nearly 4,000 hectare tenure.

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Arts, Indigenous Nations, Tourism

New season for Klahoose Wilderness Resort starts May 12th

The Klahoose First Nation conducted grizzly bear tours in Toba Inlet for five years before their economic development arm, Qathen Xwegus Management Corporation (QXMC), purchased the former Homfray Lodge in November 2020. Many of the packages are already booked for the Klahoose Wilderness Resort’s second season, which starts May 12th.

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Education, Indigenous Nations

Jessie Recalma Visits Cortes Island School

Jessie Recalma, Qualicum First Nation, is a self-taught contemporary Coast Salish artist.

Cortes Island School Parent Advisory Committee fundraises every year for an Arts/Music program. I offered to help coordinate artist visits, and as an Indigenous person and artist, wanted very much to see this happening. We were grateful to hear Jessie was willing to drive from Qualicum Beach for an artist talk series; meaning he was sharing a 14 hour day with us- leaving at dawn to get to Cortes School to share with 2 classrooms- intermediate and senior.

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