Latest news with #Nuxalk
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Remains of Merritt, B.C., man found 2 years after disappearance
RCMP in the B.C. Interior have confirmed that a Merritt man's body was found more than two years after his disappearance. Miguel Mack was last seen on Feb. 27, 2023. He was reported missing on March 3 when family had not seen or heard from him for several days. On Wednesday, RCMP said that they had learned that his remains had been found and identified in April. Police said that Mack's family had been told of the discovery, but they did not disclose where exactly his remains were found. "The investigation into Miguel Mack's death continues to remain a priority," said Staff Sgt. Jason Smart with the Southeast District Major Crime Unit. "There are people out there with direct and indirect knowledge of Miguel Mack's death and we are asking those individuals to come forward and contact the police." The major crime unit had been looking into Mack's disappearance in 2023, saying that it was suspicious and involved criminality. Mack's brother told CBC News in 2023 that family and friends had been searching for the Nuxalk man since he went missing. Volunteers had covered much of the Nicola Valley in the search, and it reached as far as Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, Victoria, Bella Coola and Prince George. Mack was described as an athlete with a love for soccer, basketball, and slo-pitch.
Hamilton Spectator
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Spring Carving on the Edge Festival uplifts the next generation
Tofino, BC - Hammering chisels with rubber mallets, children helped hollow out a traditional Nuu-chah-nulth log drum at the spring Carving on the Edge Festival, which took place May 1 to 4 at the Tofino Community Hall in Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations territory. Tla-o-qui-aht artist Hjalmer Wenstob said the focus of the spring festival was all about coming together. 'Our log drum is what we built the whole festival around. It was drop-in carving throughout the whole festival. Really, it's just basically about learning about different tools,' said Wenstob. 'It's a nice, simple block of wood that people aren't afraid of. We're gonna hollow it out as a community,' he said. Three different school groups participated in the log drum project: the Grade 2/3 class from Wickaninnish Community School, an art class from Ahousaht and a high school group from Oregon. 'When young people come and create, it's beautiful. Having elders, the knowledge keepers in the room, to share with the next generations… it's all about sharing knowledge and building something together,' he said. Wenstob will take the log drum home and carve it into a wolf. He plans to gift the final work of art to Tla-o-qui-aht. 'I know they haven't had a traditional log drum in a while. We've been hosting the festival for 15 years now in Tla-o-qui-aht, so we thought it would be a good way to give back,' Wenstob continued. Beside the log drum, Port Alberni-based artist Kelly Robinson was working on a huge Thunderbird spirit mask in Nuxalk Nation's distinct style. 'Nuxalk is bulbous, voluptuous, curvy and deep,' said Robinson, who has had Nuxalk work in market for over 15 years. 'I've been practicing Nuu-chah-nulth style seriously for the past five years, and it will take a lifetime to learn. Nuu-chah-nulth is really fine with shapes coming out of nowhere,' he said. Robinson expressed his gratitude for the Carving Festival as it gives space for artists to network and just hang out with other artists. 'We're alone the majority of the time. It's been great to meet younger artists and share,' he told the Ha-Shilth-Sa. Tla-o-qui-aht artist Ivy Cargill-Martin agreed. 'I loved the overall feel of all the artists coming together, talking together and inspiring each other. It was so laidback. The whole vibe was just artists coming together to do art,' she said. When she wasn't hosting a busy lino carving and print making station, Cargill-Martin worked on a wooden fish commission inspired by Nuu-chah-nulth style, although a little more 'free'. 'My late uncle Darren Williams taught me to be more free and not as structured. He used to say to not draw with an eraser and just go with the mistakes you made,' Cargill-Martin shared. During the May 2 afternoon program, Hesquiaht artist and world-renowned carver Tim Paul surprised non-Indigenous west coast community member Laurel White with a Nuu-chah-nulth name. Surrounded by his family, Paul gave her the name ʔuuʔałuk, meaning 'taking care of'. 'Take that name and use that name as you go on in life. Just make sure you take care to pass on to our young people,' said Paul. White was raised in Prince Edward Island. She now lives in Ucluelet and works for the Nuu-Chah-Nulth Tribal Council (NTC) as a public health researcher with a focus on what it means to live well and raise children well. She was shocked and notably speechless after receiving her Nu-chah-nulth name. 'I was trying not to cry. It's more than a word, it carries meaning,' White said. 'It's such an honour, but also a gift of responsibility to the knowledge and learnings that have been shared with me over my years of working with the NTC health dept, such as the responsibility to take care of those teachings, share them and embed them into my work and my life,' she said. Since 2021, White has been working with Paul and other Nuu-chah-nulth Elders on the Indigenous Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative . 'Elders like Tim amplify the work. I have so much gratitude and respect for Nuu-chah-nulth culture. It's such a beautiful thing,' White said. The Nuu-chah-nulth log drum will be displayed at the fall Carving on the Edge Art Show coming Oct 3 to 9, 2025. -30-
CBC
21-02-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Heiltsuk Nation passes written constitution with 67% of votes
Social Sharing The Heiltsuk Nation has approved the adoption of a written constitution for the First Nation on British Columbia's central coast. The nation says 67 per cent of the 725 people who voted on the referendum were in favour of the constitution. It says voting this month came after about two decades of development and consultation. That included six months of engagement with more than 2,000 Heiltsuk members in Bella Bella, Nanaimo and Vancouver. Elected Chief Marilyn Slett says she felt "pride and happiness" upon hearing the result, calling the written constitution a "reclamation" of Heiltsuk ways. She says the document, which will be ratified in May, lays out a legal framework for self-governance and will help guide others who want to work with the nation. "It's a new day for our Heiltsuk people," she said in an interview Friday. "It's us charting our course forward based on our laws, our values and our beliefs." The nation says the constitution will help provide clarity for its own members and those it chooses to do business with, clearing up questions around decision-making in Heiltsuk territory that have previously been left to the courts. Hereditary Chief Elroy White says the constitution "reflects the deep history of our people and the ancient governance structure that existed prior to colonization." It will not supersede Canadian law, but will allow the nation to develop its own, he added. "It's been a long time for us," he said in an interview. "It's so important to have something written for the membership to be proud of and understand that this is accountable and transparent, and this means that our voice [will be] at tables." The nation says the constitution has also underwent a legal review, and the referendum was conducted by an independent electoral officer. Slett says the next steps to implement the constitution will be "developing core laws" for the nation, which will cover issues such as land management and language. "We'll move to developing those laws and having our celebration and ratification feast on May 30, [which] will be a big step for our community [to] move forward with the implementation," she said. However, several neighbouring nations have expressed concern about the process. In an open letter, the Nuxalk, Kitasoo Xai'xais and Wuikinuxv nations took issue with a territorial map attached as an appendix item to the Heiltsuk's constitutional documents, saying it overlaps with their territories. "Prior to finalizing your constitution, we encourage you to work with us to resolve our territorial matters," the letter reads. The constitution does not grant the Heiltsuk formal governance powers over land beyond what already exists, but the other nations say the document has "significant potential repercussions [which] could adversely affect our Nations' rights now and in the future." In a email, Slett told CBC News she hoped to speak with the other nations about their concerns soon. "These are Nation-to-Nation issues, ones that are best addressed in ancient processes and guided by our Indigenous protocols and practices," she said. "We have formally responded with an invitation to our neighbors and welcome the opportunity to meet with them."
