The Board of Directors of the Huu-ay-aht Group of Businesses is pleased to introduce the newest member of their team, Gary Wilson. Gary will be replacing the current Chief Executive Officer Stan Coleman who has advised the Board that he will not be seeking an extension at the expiration of his contract at the end of January 2016.
Gary is a citizen of the Heiltsuk Nation, located on the central coast of B.C. (Bella Bella). He began his career as a commercial fisherman. From there he decided to pursue post-secondary education, obtaining his Bachelor of Commerce Degree from Royal Roads University. His quest for learning continues, as he is currently enrolled in the Executive Masters of Business Administration Program at SFU.
Gary comes to Huu-ay-aht with a broad set of skills and a great deal of knowledge from his operational, academic and management experiences. He has worked with First Nation communities and organizations for the greater part of his career and spent fifteen years working in various management positions for CIBC in the banking industry.
Over the past decade, Gary has operated his own management consulting company, specializing in comprehensive planning, project management, corporate finance and business development. He also served the Heiltsuk Nation in its resource management department and that Nation’s Economic Development Corporation as General Manager. In his role with the Economic Development Corporation, he was responsible for overseeing a group of ten business units, including an airport, fisheries, forestry, fuel company and various retail companies.
CEO Stan Coleman has already had Gary on site, meeting staff and leadership and touring Huu-ay-aht territories and businesses.
“Working together over the next six weeks will allow for a seamless transition period in the CEO position,” says Stan. “The transition period will provide Gary with the opportunity to orient himself with Huu-ay-aht and to put his experience and expertise to work developing his own ideas that will lead us into the next phase of growth of our businesses.”
“It is an extreme honour to join the Huu-ay-aht team as the incoming CEO for the group of businesses. I look forward to working with the Staff, the Board, Huu-ay-aht leadership and partners, carrying on the good work of the corporation,” says Gary. “I am very excited to play a part in enhancing and building a sustainable economy for the current and future generations of Huu-ay-aht!”
“We are very excited to have Gary bring his experience and enthusiasm to the Huu-ay-aht group of businesses,” says Operating Board Chair Angela Wesley. “He will be a great asset to our Nation and our businesses. The Board is confident he will continue on with the great work that Stan has started over the past few years as well as bringing his own ideas for growth into our businesses.”
The Board looks forward to continuing to introduce Gary to our citizens, Ḥaw̓iiḥ and elected leadership.
čitakinʔaała n̓ačuʔał suw̓a and welcome to Team Huu-ay-aht.
Huu-ay-aht First Nations is encouraged by the Mutual Benefits Agreement announced this morning by Steelhead LNG and the Malahat Nation.
Through working with the Malahat Nation, Steelhead LNG continues to show its commitment to including input from First Nations communities from the onset of their projects.
Huu-ay-aht First Nations remains committed to proceeding with the project as long as the 11 conditions outlined by Ḥaw̓iiḥ Council are met by Steelhead LNG.
Since Huu-ay-aht First Nations and Steelhead LNG first announced their Opportunity Development Agreement, the biggest challenge for the LNG project at Sarita Bay is the expense of the pipeline route. While the route is still being investigated, the floating liquefied natural gas project at Bamberton will make pipeline development more feasible for both the Sarita and Malahat LNG projects. The development of the Malahat LNG project also enables Steelhead to market LNG and attract potential customers for Sarita LNG earlier than would otherwise be possible, which also increases the project’s viability.
“We support what our partners are doing and stress that it does not take away from what is happening between Steelhead and our Tribe,” explains Huu-ay-aht’s Elected Chief Councillor Robert Dennis. “Both projects will continue moving forward, with the Sarita Bay project now in the feasibility phase.”
Huu-ay-aht continues to work closely with Steelhead LNG and is committed to keeping its ḥaw̓iiḥ and citizens informed throughout the process. Huu-ay-aht’s elected chief stresses how committed the Nation is to moving forward in the direction given by the citizens at the People’s Assembly in 2014.
“We are in the process of building a strategy for our community that will help us continue to build a strong and bright future for our Tribe,” Dennis says. “Throughout this process, we will continue to focus on what will benefit Huu-ay-aht citizens.”
Huu-ay-aht First Nations is implementing a complete fire ban in its territory, including the Pachena Bay Campground, which was previously excluded from the ban because it fell into the “Fog Zone.”
The Nations will follow the lead of the Provincial Government, which announced yesterday that effective at noon on Wednesday, July 8, the existing campfire ban in the Coastal Fire Centre will be expanded to cover all areas within the fire centre’s jurisdiction, including the “Fog Zone,” to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety.
The Coastal Fire Centre is prohibiting all campfires due to continued hot and dry conditions and the dryness of forest fuels. Huu-ay-aht First Nations expects people using its territory to follow the rules outline by the Province.
The public’s assistance is requested to help reduce the number of human-caused fires and enable crews to respond to naturally occurring wildfires.
This prohibition does not apply to CSA-rated or ULC-rated cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes, or to a portable campfire apparatus that uses briquettes, liquid fuel or gaseous fuel, so long as the height of the flame is less than 15 centimetres. The Coastal Fire Centre previously allowed the use of briquettes in established campfire rings in campgrounds, but as of noon on Wednesday July 8, 2015, briquettes may only be used in ULC-approved or CSA-approved devices, due to the extreme fire danger.
Category 2 and 3 open fires are also prohibited throughout the Coastal Fire Centre’s jurisdiction. The use of burning barrels, burning cages, fireworks, firecrackers, sky lanterns, Tiki torches and binary exploding targets is also prohibited.
The Provinces prohibition covers all B.C. Parks, provincial Crown lands and private lands, but does not apply within the boundaries of a local government that has forest fire prevention bylaws and is serviced by a fire department. For that reason, Huu-ay-aht has made the decision to enact the provincial restrictions.
Under the provincial ban, anyone found in contravention of an open burning prohibition may be issued a ticket for $345, required to pay an administrative penalty of $10,000 or, if convicted in court, fined up to $100,000 and/or sentenced to one year in jail. If the contravention causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person responsible may be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.
The Coastal Fire Centre covers all of the area west of the height of land on the Coast Mountain Range north of the U.S.-Canada border at Manning Park, including Tweedsmuir South Provincial Park in the north, the Sunshine Coast, the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and Haida Gwaii.
For more information, call Huu-ay-aht First Nations at 250-723-0100 or 1-888-644-4555.
To report a wildfire or open burning violation, call 1-800-663-5555 toll-free or dial *5555 on a cellphone.
For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, visit the B.C. Wildfire Service website: www.bcwildfire.ca
Huu-ay-aht First Nations Elected Chief Councillor Jeff Cook is joined by Huu-ay-aht staff and citizens as they celebrate the arrival of the new refrigerator truck on Friday. The truck was purchased through the Generations Fund and will be used to distribute fresh food to Huu-ay-aht citizens. [Heather Thomson, Huu-ay-aht First Nations]Huu-ay-aht citizens will have more access to employment, skills training and community services following the creation of a multi-year Generations Fund that will provide immediate funding for community health and wellness programs and long-term support for Huu-ay-aht culture, environment, capacity building and economic development.
The initial unconditional contribution to the Fund, provided by Steelhead LNG over the course of the Feasibility phase of the proposed Project includes immediate funding for a community food truck program, a walking trail between Anacla and Bamfield, and the initial stages of development of a new program for Huu-ay-aht Children in Care. As the proposed Project progresses, the Fund will grow to provide resources for additional Huu-ay-aht programs and initiatives.
“We’re pleased to have secured this important funding for our people through our participation in the proposed LNG Project,” said Jeff Cook, Elected Chief Councillor, Huu-ay-aht First Nations. “Through significant community consultation, Huu-ay-aht citizens have identified issues and initiatives that are important to our people. Through this funding, we can have a real and immediate positive impact on the lives of our children and families, and can free up much-needed resources to better support our Ḥaw̓iiḥ (Hereditary Chiefs).”
Huu-ay-aht child protective services program
Through community consultation, led by the Huu-ay-aht government, citizens have identified that the health and wellness of Huu-ay-aht children, and providing them with safe, nurturing environments in which they will thrive is of utmost importance. The
Huu-ay-aht government has identified this as one of its highest priorities. As a result, it will use resources provided by the Generations Fund to develop its own agency and programs to assume responsibility for the foster care and welfare of Huu-ay-aht children from the Province of British Columbia.
“Nothing is more important than the health and welfare of our children,” said Cook. “There are many historical and ongoing issues that affect our ability to provide the best for our children, and there is no easy or quick fix. The most important fact, however, is that these are our children, and the best way to ensure they have the brightest and healthiest future possible, is to provide a Huu-ay-aht approach to their care, with input from our Ḥaw̓iiḥ, our elders and our people.”
Huu-ay-aht Fresh Food Program
One of the first community initiatives to be unveiled will be a fresh food distribution system called the Huu-ay-aht Fresh Food Program. The program will support
Huu-ay-aht families and improve the health of citizens through the delivery of nourishing food and practical food information. Each month, the program will deliver one free box of fresh fruits and vegetables and basic staples to approximately 120 Huu-ay-aht families in Anacla, Vancouver and Port Alberni, with a focus on families with children under 18, elders, and people on Social Assistance. The deliveries will be made in a new refrigeration truck that was purchased for the program this week. The truck will also be used to deliver traditional foods and food fish to Huu-ay-aht citizens.
Anacla-Bamfield walking trail
Through community consultation, Huu-ay-aht citizens and area residents have identified concerns regarding the safety of people walking between Anacla and Bamfield. In response to this concern, the Huu-ay-aht government is leading the development and construction of a safe pathway, allocating portions of the Generations Fund for the project. At this time, work on the path is focused on determining the best route between the two communities and securing the rights of way required, which currently pass through numerous properties including some held by unidentified landowners.
Employment for Huu-ay-aht citizens
To help ensure that employment opportunities within the Huu-ay-aht government and with Nation-owned enterprises are filled by Huu-ay-aht citizens, funding from the Generations Fund has been set aside to support citizens to transition into such jobs. Where Huu-ay-aht citizens have interest in current and new positions, the funding will be used to support job shadowing and internships so citizens can learn more about the position and whether or not it’s the right one for them. If it is, funding could then be used to provide the education and training required to fill that position.
Trades training for Huu-ay-aht citizens
To maximize potential employment opportunities at the proposed LNG Project for
Huu-ay-aht citizens, the Generations Fund will provide funding for 12 red seal trades training seats to Huu-ay-aht citizens.
Ḥaw̓iiḥ support
By providing funding for a wide range of Huu-ay-aht government initiatives, the Generations Fund is freeing up much-needed resources that will be re-allocated to support the Nation’s Ḥaw̓iiḥ.
“For thousands of years, our Ḥaw̓iiḥ have guided our Nation and borne the tremendous responsibility of protecting our land and our people, and ensuring that our history, culture, traditions and values continue to thrive,” said Cook. “Thanks to this new funding, we can now provide an additional funding to ensure our Ḥaw̓iiḥ have the resources they need to carry out the important role they play in our Nation’s affairs.
“Through Treaty, we now have the freedom as a Nation to decide how best to manage our lands and derive economic benefits from them,” added Cook. “At this critical time, it is important for us to provide the training, education and funding our citizens need so they can develop their own individual capacity, pursue the careers they want, and support themselves and their families wherever they choose to live. The Generations Fund is an important part of that process.”
Together, Huu-ay-aht First Nations and Steelhead LNG are exploring developing an LNG Project with a land‐based natural gas liquefaction facility at Sarita Bay, 75 kms southwest of Port Alberni on Vancouver Island. At the Huu-ay-aht First Nations People’s Assembly in November 2014, Huu-ay-aht citizens voted in favour of continuing to explore the proposed Project, which is now undergoing feasibility studies.
“Over the past few months, the Huu-ay-aht government and Huu-ay-aht citizens clearly identified the conditions that must guide the proposed Project for it to proceed,” said Nigel Kuzemko, CEO Steelhead LNG. “The Generations Fund will help us address many of those conditions together and will help provide the Huu-ay-aht with the funding and internal resources they need to carry out their Nation’s strategic plan.
“In addition, as our relationship has developed, Huu-ay-aht citizens continue to honour us by inviting us into their homes and community events and sharing their traditions and culture with us. The Generations Fund will help support the development of community infrastructure and programs to ensure Huu-ay-aht cultural practices and events are recognized, respected and encouraged.”
When the China LNG International Summit kicks off this week, Huu-ay-aht First Nations will be represented, along with the Nations partner Steelhead LNG.
Huu-ay-aht Councillor John Jack and Executive Director James Edwards will travel to Beijing to attend the summit. They will be gone from April 20 to 25, and the conference runs from April 22 to 24. It is an opportunity to gain more information about the industry, but also a chance to meet with some of the decision makers within the LNG community.
“It is the first in a series of conferences taking place around the world in the next year,” John Jack explains. “While there, we will attend information sessions, networking events and interface with companies and countries involved at all stages of the value chain of LNG.”
He says it also offers the opportunity to tour an LNG off-take and regasification facility near Beijing.
Steelhead LNG CEO Nigel Kuzemko will be joined at the event with other representatives from Steelhead, and he is one of the speakers on the first day of the conference. Kuzemko will join other industry leaders from around the world to offer a Global LNG Supply Update, called “Which Projects are Destined for Success in the China Market?” on April 22.
Huu-ay-aht representatives have no official role at the conference, but John Jack says they are there to observe, learn and aid Steelhead as it promotes the marketing plan for the proposed LNG Project.
“Huu-ay-aht has expressed a willingness and concerted effort to express our openness to development and trade to the business and wider world,” John Jack says. “This trip will be an opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to improving our economic conditions while retaining our distinct identity and honouring the values that make us who we are.”
He adds that this trip will also offer a chance to pursue connections and opportunities for the Port Alberni Trans-shipment Hub, export of forestry and fishery products, investments and tourism exposure. John Jack says, in general, the Nation is seeking a wider array of opportunities for economic development, and attending the conference is a step in that direction.
“We hope to come back with more knowledge and connections, as well as a higher profile locally, regionally, nationally and internationally,” he says.
![Port Alberni - 05-08-15 - Huu-ay-aht First Nations Elected Chief Councillor Jeff Cook hands over the key to the new refridgerator truck to Director of Community Services Kathy Waddell. The truck was purchased through the Generations Fund and will be used to distribute fresh food to Huu-ay-aht citizens. [Heather Thomson, Huu-ay-aht First Nations]](https://i0.wp.com/huuayaht.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/truck-gen-fund.jpg?ssl=1)
