Category Archives: Indigenous Nations

Indigenous Nations, Rivers & Oceans

Salmon SWAT teams deployed in B.C to help fish during drought

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A provincewide drought this summer dried up B.C. rivers and jeopardized the survival of already stressed salmon stocks. 

But for the first time, localized salmon SWAT teams mobilized quickly to tackle hot spots of concern on rivers across B.C. as part of a new pilot project, said Jane Pendray, manager of the Pacific Salmon Foundation’s (PSF) climate adaptation program.

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Clothing, Indigenous Nations

After years of exploitation, the iconic Cowichan sweater is being protected with a new fair-trade program

Editor’s note: Prior to the colonial era, Coast Salish Peoples used mountain goat wool, dog hair and plant fibres in their woven textiles. Cowichan sweaters were produced after the arrival of sheep and European two-needle and multiple-needle knitting techniques. According to Marianne P. Stopp, The first documented instance of Coast Salish knitting took place at the Sisters of St. Anne Roman Catholic mission in Duncan, in the Tzouhalem district, which opened in 1864.

By Mike Graeme, Indiginews, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The art of knitting Cowichan sweaters has been in Zena Roland’s family for generations.

Her grandmother knit sweaters for the likes of Bing Crosby — and Roland herself has been practicing the craft almost her entire life, for more than 50 years.

But although the Cowichan sweater has become an iconic symbol of the West Coast, cultural appropriation and the exploitation of artisans has made the craft unsustainable for many knitters who need to make a living.

“We weren’t getting a good price for a while and it wasn’t worth doing,” Roland said.

Now, Roland is part of a group of Coast Salish knitters who are reclaiming their work crafting Cowichan sweaters, with a new initiative that pushes back against the unfair wages and design theft that has stifled their practice for decades.

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Arts, History, Indigenous Nations History

Robert Bringhurst on local history, science, poetry, the ridge where he lives and much more

On Saturday Robert Bringhurst (RB) brings his own brand of literature, local history, science and humour to the stage of the Quadra Community Centre. He just gave Cortes Currents a taste in a rambling conversation that at one point went off topic to include remarks about Cortes Island, Campbell River and Whistler. Bringhurst started out by describing his intentions in the epic description of ‘the Ridge’ on Quadra Island where he lives.    

RB: “I wanted to make good poetry out of, among other things, good science. I wanted  to walk the ridge and relish it as one does without any thought of scientific measurement or accuracy, but I also wanted to think about it as a real place in historical time and to look at the species in relation to other species on the planet, and at the rocks in relation to other rocks. I began to wonder how much biology, geology, astronomy and climatology I could put in this poem without sinking it. The answer turned out to be quite a bit.” 

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Indigenous Nations

A mistake is a gift: decolonizing journalism includes missteps and teachings

Editor’s not: The story of one man’s experience navigating the new world of more culturally sensitive journalism.

By Matt Simmons, The Narwhal, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

The Nisg̱a’a word for respect is kwhlixhoosa’anskw. 

Driving up to Nisg̱a’a territory to bear witness to a ceremony and take part in a feast, I knew there was going to be a lot of media at the events and I was concerned I might see some extractive or disrespectful behaviour. As a non-Indigenous journalist who lives near Nisg̱a’a lands, I am committed to decolonizing my journalism and know how easy it is to make a mistake.

I was worried there would be a lack of kwhlixhoosa’anskw. 

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Business, Indigenous Nations

QXMX’s newest operation: the Klahoose mill

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QXMC, the Klahoose development corporation, recently acquired a new operation. Kevin Peacey, who ran the Klahoose mill before he became Chief in 2017, will now be overseeing operations.   

“As of September 1st,  QXMC has taken over the mill and has leased the land here from the band. We have three employees right now, (myself),  J. R. Harry and Tim.  In the near future, which is coming up pretty quick, we’re going to probably employ three or four more people. Phase three power is coming into the mill, here in Squirrel Cove, and we’ve got four more machines coming in:  an edger, a kiln, a TNG machine,  and  a big chop saw machine.  Everything will be run off  phase three, as much as we can get here,” he explained.

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