Engaging the Community

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It is time for the next round of Community Engagement Sessions.
The February sessions were successful, with lots of citizens attending and gathering information on the rebranding project and our new logo and tagline, changes in legislation. That part of the presentation was a follow up on what has happened since the People’s Assembly in November, 2014. Steelhead LNG and Huu-ay-aht representatives also offered an update on the proposed LNG project as it moves into the environmental stage.
The April session will include an update on the upcoming elections for Chief and Council in June. With the nomination period fast approaching, it is important for citizens to attend to find out all of the details.
Presenters will also be sharing another update on the proposed LNG project and some of the research that Universities are conducting in partnership with Huu-ay-aht. Finally, we will be touching on some of Huu-ay-aht’s important cultural practices.
If you missed the last community engagement, a few items from the rebranding project are still available, along with other prizes.
Here are the times and locations of the April sessions:
Tuesday, April 14, 2015 – Vancouver session at the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre, 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday, April 16, 2015 – Port Alberni session at the Hospitality Inn, 4 to 7 p.m.
Friday, April 17, 2015 – The Anacla session will be held at the Anacla Government Office from 3 to 6 p.m.
There will be more informal sessions in Victoria and Nanaimo. The Nanaimo session will take place at Acme Food Co. from 4 to 7 p.m. on April 21. On April 23, it will be held at Comfort Inn in Victoria  from 4 to 7 p.m.
Light snacks and refreshments will be available for all sessions so come join us for food and conversation. Childminding is available in Vancouver, Port Alberni and Anacla.

Chief Councillor Jeff Cook

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JeffCookChief Councillor Jeff Cook grew up in the Bamfield, Kildonan and Sarita areas of Barkley Sound. He moved back to Anacla from 1977 to 1986. Anacla is on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

He is a product of the Port Alberni Indian Residential School, which he attended for 13 years.  After graduating from high school in 1969, he worked in the forest industry on the west coast for 40 years. He retired four years ago, in 2010.

The Chief Councillor is the second-ranked Ḥaw̓ił (hereditary chief) of the Huu-ay-aht First Nations. Traditional culture plays an important part of his family life, and the Chief Councillor tries to lead by example by living a positive and healthy lifestyle and by contributing to his community to the best of his ability.

The Chief Councillor has a long history of serving his community. During the years 1981 to 1997, he served on Council for a total of 12 years. In recent years, he has been a valued member of the committees assisting to draft the Huu-ay-aht legislation for self-government, and he served on the Constitution, Governance and Lands Committees.

In June 2011, Huu-ay-aht First Nations held their first elections as a self-governing First Nation, and Jeff Cook was elected to a four-year term as Chief Councillor. With Chief Councillor Cook leading the way, Huu-ay-aht First Nations is beginning a period of rapid and exciting change as the treaty is implemented and the new laws and legislation are put into practice.

Huu-ay-aht donates a total of $15,000 to flood relief efforts in Alberni Valley

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December 18, 2015 – When the water began to rise in Tseshaht territory on December 10, many Huu-ay-aht citizens and staff offered a helping hand in the flood relief effort.

In their meeting on December 18, Huu-ay-aht First Nations Executive Council voted to extend that support by making a $10,000 donation to Tseshaht’s flood relief fund.

“When we saw and heard the news about all the flooding that was happening in your community, a few of our citizens felt compelled to try and help out in any way we could, like sand bagging and feeding the many volunteers,” explained Elected Chief Councillor Jeff Cook.

Huu-ay-aht First Nations has been fortunate enough to be able to control its costs in recent months and post a small surplus. Chief and Council decided they wanted to share that success with Tseshaht First Nations during their time of need.

“Like Tseshaht, we have family, friends and relatives living in various Nuu-chah-nulth communities,” he said. “We recognize that many Huu-ay-aht, through marriage, relationships, friendship and kinship, live in your community. You have taken care of them, and it is important that we, not only support them, but also the community they live in.”

Huu-ay-aht First Nations will also be making a $5,000 donation to a local service organization that will commit to helping other residents of the Alberni Valley who were affected by the flood. Huu-ay-aht, working with the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District, is still looking into which group would be a suitable choice to receive the sizeable donation.

 

For more information call:

James Edwards, Executive Director

Huu-ay-aht First Nations

250-723-0100