Indigenous reconcilliation

Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation master carver Joe Martin orchestrates the raising of a new totem pole for Opitsaht on July 1, 2022. (Nora O’Malley photo)

Truth-speaking Vancouver Island totem pole unveiled on Canada Day

July 1 ceremony on the shores of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations village of Opitsaht near Tofino

Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation master carver Joe Martin orchestrates the raising of a new totem pole for Opitsaht on July 1, 2022. (Nora O’Malley photo)
Riding the road to reconciliation, T̓iick̓in (Thunderbird) Ebikes owner Gordon Taylor Jr., front, takes MP John Aldag and MP Gord Johns out for a test ride on the newly minted ʔapsčiik t̓ašii (pronounced ups-cheek ta-shee) trail. (Nora O’Malley photo)

First Nations say landmark Pacific Rim national park path ‘going in the right direction’

New 25-km ʔapsčiik t̓ašii symbolizes true collaboration between Parks Canada and First Nations

Riding the road to reconciliation, T̓iick̓in (Thunderbird) Ebikes owner Gordon Taylor Jr., front, takes MP John Aldag and MP Gord Johns out for a test ride on the newly minted ʔapsčiik t̓ašii (pronounced ups-cheek ta-shee) trail. (Nora O’Malley photo)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau listens to Prince Charles delivering remarks during the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda on Friday, June 24, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Learn from reconciliation efforts in Canada, Prince Charles urges Commonwealth

Prince of Wales offered Canada as an example to follow

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau listens to Prince Charles delivering remarks during the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda on Friday, June 24, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
Jo-Ina Young and her puppet, Rosie, teach kids at Sooke School District schools about Metis culture and history. (Courtesy of Jo-Ina Young)

Metis educator keeping language, history alive in Sooke School District

Jo-Ina Young is resident Metis elder at Ecole John Stubbs Memorial in Colwood

Jo-Ina Young and her puppet, Rosie, teach kids at Sooke School District schools about Metis culture and history. (Courtesy of Jo-Ina Young)
Point Ellice House heritage gardens and exhibit will be reopened to the public as of May 22. (Facebook/ Point Ellice House Museum & Gardens)

Victoria historian awarded for retelling of Point Ellice House’s history

Kelly Black highlights former house owner Peter O’Reilly’s 18 years as Indian Reserve commissioner

Point Ellice House heritage gardens and exhibit will be reopened to the public as of May 22. (Facebook/ Point Ellice House Museum & Gardens)
Cermaq Canada and the Ahousaht First Nation have renewed a protocol agreement that will allow salmon farm operations to continue in Clayoquot Sound. (Cermaq Canada photo)

Cermaq Canada renews protocol agreement with Ahousaht First Nation near Tofino

Federal government maintains its commitment to transitioning away from open-net fish farms

Cermaq Canada and the Ahousaht First Nation have renewed a protocol agreement that will allow salmon farm operations to continue in Clayoquot Sound. (Cermaq Canada photo)
Recent UBC graduate Aiyana Twigg won the 2022 Lieutenant Governor’s medal for inclusion, democracy and reconciliation. (Courtesy of Aiyana Twigg)

UBC student wins Lieutenant-Governor medal for work on Indigenous language revitalization

Aiyana Twigg helps under-resourced communities to develop their own dictionaries, among other things

Recent UBC graduate Aiyana Twigg won the 2022 Lieutenant Governor’s medal for inclusion, democracy and reconciliation. (Courtesy of Aiyana Twigg)
Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, arrive in St. John’s to begin a three-day Canadian tour, Tuesday, May 17, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Prince Charles offers remarks about reconciliation as Canadian tour begins

Gov. Gen. Mary Simon welcomed Charles and Camilla to Canada in Inuktitut

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, arrive in St. John’s to begin a three-day Canadian tour, Tuesday, May 17, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
Motorists line up to cross the Confederation Bridge on Friday July 3, 2020. Members of the Prince Edward Island legislature voted unanimously to ask the federal government to change the name of the Confederation Bridge to Epekwitk Crossing. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Brian McInnis

P.E.I. asking Ottawa to change name of Confederation Bridge to Epekwitk Crossing

Members of the Prince Edward Island legislature voted unanimously Friday to ask…

Motorists line up to cross the Confederation Bridge on Friday July 3, 2020. Members of the Prince Edward Island legislature voted unanimously to ask the federal government to change the name of the Confederation Bridge to Epekwitk Crossing. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Brian McInnis
Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations leaders, Tofino Resort + Marina crew, and Bottom Dwellers Freediving teamed up on April 23 to host an inaugural Spearfishing Summit. All the funds raised at the event go to support the Nuu-Chah-Nulth Youth Warrior Leadership Program, a local society that weaves traditional and mainstream leadership and wellness teachings and practices together on the land to build capability, cultural pride and confidence in young men. (Nora O’Malley photo)

First-ever B.C. Spearfishing Summit nets over $20,000 for Indigenous youth

36 sets of advanced snorkeling gear will be distributed amongst the Nations thanks to the fundraiser

Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations leaders, Tofino Resort + Marina crew, and Bottom Dwellers Freediving teamed up on April 23 to host an inaugural Spearfishing Summit. All the funds raised at the event go to support the Nuu-Chah-Nulth Youth Warrior Leadership Program, a local society that weaves traditional and mainstream leadership and wellness teachings and practices together on the land to build capability, cultural pride and confidence in young men. (Nora O’Malley photo)
Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Murray Rankin was welcomed to Ahousaht to celebrate the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the First Nation and the Province. (Murray Rankin Facebook photo)

Ahousaht First Nation signs agreement with province

AHP-CII-UK agreement celebrated

Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Murray Rankin was welcomed to Ahousaht to celebrate the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the First Nation and the Province. (Murray Rankin Facebook photo)
Crystal Smith (far left) and husband Raymond Shaw were unable to register their newborn son’s name because it uses Kwak’wala characters. Photo contributed

Province refuses to register baby’s First Nations name

Registrar General office says λugʷaləs K’ala’ask Shaw contravened Vital Statistics Agency standards

Crystal Smith (far left) and husband Raymond Shaw were unable to register their newborn son’s name because it uses Kwak’wala characters. Photo contributed
“True Reconciliation” will be Jody Wilson-Raybould’s third book. (Mélanie Provencher/House of Commons Photo Services)

Former justice minister Jody Wilson-Raybould to release book on reconciliation

The publisher says the book comes in response to the most common question Wilson-Raybould receives

“True Reconciliation” will be Jody Wilson-Raybould’s third book. (Mélanie Provencher/House of Commons Photo Services)
The stone monument overlooking Loon Bay in Oak Bay is part of a First Nations monument walking tour in the community. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Oak Bay poised to phase in reconciliation work with Songhees, Esquimalt Nations

Mayor tasked with appointing councillors to start prep work

The stone monument overlooking Loon Bay in Oak Bay is part of a First Nations monument walking tour in the community. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Pope Francis meets with the Canadian Metis delegates at the Vatican, Monday March 28, 2022. (Vatican Media)

‘Truth, justice and healing:’ Métis and Inuit delegates meet with Pope Francis

Métis and Inuit residential school survivors and leaders had meetings with the head of the Roman Catholic Church

Pope Francis meets with the Canadian Metis delegates at the Vatican, Monday March 28, 2022. (Vatican Media)
Victoria councillors approved a motion Thursday (March 24) that calls for forms to be mailed with tax notices that enable property owners to make a voluntary donation to local First Nations, as an act of reconciliation. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)

Victoria approves voluntary reconciliation payment program for property owners

Owners will have option to donate to local First Nations alongside tax payment

Victoria councillors approved a motion Thursday (March 24) that calls for forms to be mailed with tax notices that enable property owners to make a voluntary donation to local First Nations, as an act of reconciliation. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)
Victoria council, meeting as committee of the whole, will consider a motion on a voluntary reconciliation tax. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C’s capital considering voluntary Indigenous reconciliation tax for property owners

Under Victoria proposal, city taxpayers would have option to add contribution to area First Nations

Victoria council, meeting as committee of the whole, will consider a motion on a voluntary reconciliation tax. (Black Press Media file photo)
Victoria council, meeting as committee of the whole, will consider a motion on a voluntary reconciliation tax. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria considering voluntary reconciliation tax for property owners

Motion headed to committee of the whole March 24

Victoria council, meeting as committee of the whole, will consider a motion on a voluntary reconciliation tax. (Black Press Media file photo)
Eleanor Nooski (left) and Tanya Stump at Lejac on March 17, 2022. (Photo by Michael Bramadat-Willcock/Omineca Express)

B.C. First Nation prepares for Vatican visit

Delegates will invite Pope Francis to visit Lejac residential school, push for access to Vatican archives

Eleanor Nooski (left) and Tanya Stump at Lejac on March 17, 2022. (Photo by Michael Bramadat-Willcock/Omineca Express)
Longtime Tofino crab fisher Jeff Edwards holds up a Dungeness crab aboard his vessel ‘Camegan’. (Submitted photo)

Tofino crab fishery rocked by rights transfer pleading for federal help

Indigenous rights-based changes to Tofino crab fishery weigh heavily on family-run businesses

Longtime Tofino crab fisher Jeff Edwards holds up a Dungeness crab aboard his vessel ‘Camegan’. (Submitted photo)