Huu-ay-aht blessed logs for the W’SANEC Carving Project

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The W’SANEC Carving Project started about one year ago. Its main goal is to provide a more culturally safe environment at the Saanich Peninsula Hospital for people from its four Nations.

Unfortunately, the hospital lacks of features that reflect the First Nations culture or honour the traditional territory in which the facility is built on. However, Island Health is committed to strengthen its relationship with Aboriginal People, improve their access to services and, therefore, their health.

Huu-ay-aht, as a supporting neighbour within Vancouver Island, donated four 17 foot long yellow cedar logs to the program. Tsartlip- Charles Elliot (Brentwood Bay), Tsawout- Doug LaFortune (Saanichton), Pauquachin- Mark Henry and Tseycum- James Jimmy (both from North Saanich) are the carvers in charge of crafting four totem poles with the wood.

“By having four beautiful welcome poles on hospital grounds, we hope this will welcome and encourage people from the communities to feel they can use the hospital services,” stated Jane Fox RN, Aboriginal Liaison Nurse, Saanich Peninsula Hospital.

 

The blessing

The blessing was performed by  Rob Dennis Jr., Wish Key, with the assistance of Cheryl Thomas, Cultural Program Coordinator, on February 12th. They wore traditional regalia for the occasion. The ceremony is called Eagle Down and helps to thank the Creator (Naas) for the life and spirit of the tree and to guide the artists in their journey to transform the wood.

The unveiling of the totems is expected to coincide with the Elders Gathering between July 7th and 8th this year or happen by early August.

 

More about the cedar

Cedar is considered the tree of life, a symbol of strength and revitalization, but yellow cedar has healing powers too. Hilary Stewart explains in her book “Cedar: Tree of Life to the Northwest Coast Indians” (1984, p. 25) that the yellow-gold inner bark is exceptionally strong, like satin to the touch, more durable than red cedar’s and, therefore, the most suitable for carving.

 

Alice Huang wrote an article about Cedar for Indigenousfoundations.arts.ubc.ca that includes the following beliefs:

  • Someone who cuts a tree down without permission would be cursed by other cedar trees.
  • A pregnant woman should not braid baskets as the umbilical cord would twist around the baby’s neck.
  • Because cedar is a long-lived tree, some Coast Salish groups guaranteed longevity by placing the babies in the stump of a large cedar.

Just to refresh or enhance your Nuu-cha-nulth, try this expression: ʔuxaapw̕it̕asaḥ ḥum̕iis (Oogh-sop wit us saḥ ḥuu-mees), which means I am going to cut down cedar.

The Ha’wiih Council

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The Ha’wiih Council is integrated by the Hereditary Chiefs who represent seven houses. They provide the Huu-ay-aht Government with advice and take care of protocol during cultural events.

Its current members are:

  • Ta’yii Ha’wiilth Derek Peters (ƛ̕iišin )
  • Jeff Cook  
  • Victor Williams 
  • Andy Clappis 
  • Tom Happynook 
  • Bill Frank 
  • Benson Nookemis 
  • Darlene Nookemus 

One of their goals for 2015 is to have a regular meeting schedule.

According to the Constitution Act:

2.13 There shall be constituted an advisory body to the Huu-ay-aht First Nations Council
composed of the Huu-ay-aht Ha’wiih, to be known as the Ha’wiih Council.

2.14 Representation on the Ha’wiih Council shall be determined in accordance with
customary practices.

2.15 Prior to passing any laws, the Huu-ay-aht First Nations Council must seek and consider
any advice from the Ha’wiih Council.

2.16 In addition to the role contemplated in 2.15, the Ha’wiih Council shall assume those
additional roles and responsibilities contemplated in this Constitution.


Constitution act
Huu-ay-aht First Nations
page 9
Huuayaht.org
2011
http://huuayaht.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/constitution-act.pdf

 

Ḥaw̓iih and Executive Council approve motion on proposed LNG Project

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So what is the LNG Motion at the People’s Assembly all about?
At the People’s Assembly, Huu-ay-aht citizens will be asked if they support leasing the Sarita land to Steelhead LNG for no more than 35 years for the proposed Project. While the lifespan of the project could go beyond 35 years, the renewal of the lease beyond this time would require another vote at a People’s Assembly.

PURPOSE OF THE VOTE:

  • To decide whether Huu-ay-aht citizens are in favour of learning more about the proposed Project, by conducting environmental, traditional use and technical studies, over the months and years to come.
  • To vote on whether the lands, which will become Treaty Settlement Lands (TSL), should be leased to the Project in order to conduct these studies and possibly construct and operate the LNG facility.

For more information and an explanation on what the motion means, check out the LNG motion decoded.

2014 People’s Assembly

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Executive Council has called a regular session of the People’s Assembly to be held on Saturday, November 29, 2014 and Sunday, November 30, 2014 beginning at 9 am in Port Alberni at the Barclay Hotel (4277 Stamp Avenue).    For more details please click here http://huuayaht.org/?page_id=4353.

HFN to be represented on Premier’s India Trade Mission

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When Premier Christy Clark heads to India next week, she will have two Huu-ay-aht First Nations representatives in her delegation.

HFN Councillor John Jack and Huu-ay-aht Executive Director James Edwards will take part in the Premier’s India Trade Mission 2014. It will be a chance to explore opportunities and offer exposure to two of Huu-ay-aht’s most important projects – the transshipment hub and the proposed LNG facility in Sarita Bay.

James Edwards says this is an opportunity to be in the same room as some of their biggest potential customers and partners for both projects. For that reason, when the Port Alberni Port Authority and Steelhead LNG suggested Huu-ay-aht be represented, James Edwards and John Jack agreed to participate.

“It’s important for Huu-ay-aht to demonstrate its understanding of the global economy,” John Jack says. “We should be able to show how international competition requires information-sharing and coordination between business and all levels of government in B.C.”

The trade mission is part of the province’s Job Plan commitment to expand international trade and investment. In addition to the delegates, Advanced Education Minister Amrik Virk will join the Premier on the mission, which runs from October 9-18.

“These trade missions are about making connections with the provincial leaders in government and business just as much as they are about making connections with business and government from foreign countries,” John Jack says. “Raising the Huu-ay-aht profile creates opportunities that we can freely explore and then freely choose which we want to work on and gain the benefits of that collaboration.”

India is an emerging trade partner for B.C., and the mission will focus on a number of key areas, including education, natural gas and other resources, agrifoods, clean technology, life sciences, film and digital arts, and finance.

The trade mission delegates will travel to New Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai and Chandigarh to meet with potential partners, investors and key government stakeholders.

James Edwards says not only is this trip important to the Nation because of the opportunities it offers the LNG and port projects, but also for a number of other reasons.

“Huu-ay-aht First Nations has many resources – forestry, trade, cultural, foods – that could be marketed to India,” James Edwards says. “But we also have our Treaty Settlement Lands that could be used for the growing Indian film business.”

James Edwards says this is an opportunity to strengthen ties with the provincial government and improve and maintain relationships they have built in recent years.

“Lucrative opportunities often come about by making connections with a wide variety of business and government representatives and openly sharing intent and information,” John Jack explains. “Many of our most prominent opportunities have come about from making such connections and learning more about what opportunities are out there and how Huu-ay-aht could benefit.”

India has Asia’s third-largest economy and is projected to become one of the largest consumer markets in the world. Its young demographic profile and growing middle class makes it one of the world’s fastest growing economies.

James Edwards says facts like these make building relationships with potential partners and customers in India essential to Huu-ay-aht’s future success.

The mission’s agenda includes a Friend of B.C. Receptions, a B.C. India Investment Lunch, a B.C. India Business Luncheon and a chance to be present when the opening bell rings at the Bombay Stock Exchange.

James Edwards says the business and investor luncheons are extremely important networking opportunities for Huu-ay-aht.

“It will allow us to network with key global players,” James Edwards says. “It is going to put all the right people in the right place, at the right time.”