Latest news with #Tla-o-qui-ahtFirstNation
Hamilton Spectator
30-07-2025
- Climate
- Hamilton Spectator
Tsunami advisory puts coastal communities on alert, but no evacuations
Eric Plummer Although the sirens didn't go off and evacuations weren't made, a massive earthquake that struck the north Pacific Tuesday had Vancouver Island's coastal communities on alert. At 4:24 P.M. Pacific time on July 29 an 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck under the ocean floor of the north Pacific Ocean, occurring 136 kilometres southeast of Petropavlovsk in Russia's Kamchatka peninsula. This was one of the most powerful earthquakes every recorded, causing almost two million people to be evacuated from coastal areas of Japan, while four-metre waves were reported at the port of the Russian town of Severo-Kurilsk. Alerts were soon issued across the Pacific, including a tsunami advisory for the B.C. coast that came at approximately 6:30 p.m. Waves one foot above normal levels were expected to hit the west coast of Vancouver Island by 11:30 p.m., which was half an hour after low tide in Tofino. 'Stay away from coastal areas, harbours and marinas,' cautioned Emergency Info BC. 'Do not go to the shore to observe the waves.' A tsunami advisory is the second highest alert in the province, warning people to stay out of the water and away from the shore. The next level is a tsunami warning, which urges people to get to high ground immediately. By late afternoon after the earthquake the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation began issuing video messages for its members through social media. 'We've evacuated the beach,' said Chief Councillor Elmer Frank, who delivered the message from the First Nation's community next to Tofino. 'We're working with Parks Canada to do the same thing over there.' Although no evacuations were ordered, members were advised to pack four bottles of water each and any necessary medications. 'We're asking you to pack an evacuation bag,' said Frank. 'Make sure you take a blanket, make sure you take some snacks, take some drinks.' Residents of the Hesquiaht village of Hot Springs Cove are well aware of the devastation a tsunami can bring, as a tidal wave destroyed several homes in the coastal community north of Tofino in 1964. That was the Good Friday Earthquake, a 9.2 magnitude event that struck off the coast of Alaska on March 27, 1964. Generations later, preparing for a tsunami has become a regular part of life for the village of a few dozen people, says Hesquiaht Chief Councillor Mariah Charleson. After the advisory was issued on July 29 the First Nation worked to ensure Hot Springs Cove residents were accounted for and warned of the possible evacuation to the Hesquiaht Place of Learning up the hill. 'There was door-to-door knocking just to see if anybody needed anything,' said Charleson. Vic Tom Sr. was ready to shut off power in the community if needed, while electricity at the dock was turned off. 'The dock was off limits for people,' said Charleson. 'We wanted to ensure that the boats were secured and that the alarm system was working in the case that people would have to go to higher ground.' By 6:34 a.m. on July 30 the tsunami advisory was cancelled. The last tsunami warning on the B.C. coast came Jan. 23, 2018, after an early-morning 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Alaska's Kodiak Island. This prompted evacuations across the West Coast, including parts of Port Alberni, although no significant damage or injuries were reported. -30- By the morning of July 30 things appeared calm in the Clayoquot Sound town of Ucluelet, although the previous evening a tsunami advisory urged people to stay away from the shore. (Nora O'Malley photo) Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Fate of Yankee trade ship Tonquin brought to life in play at Tofino's Village Green
By Nora O'Malley Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Tofino, B.C. – Children playing 'Tla-o-qui-aht warriors' paddled in cardboard cutouts of dugout canoes around the wooden pirate ship play structure at Tofino's Village Green to recount the fate of the Tonquin. The 269-ton American trade ship sank to the bottom of Clayoquot Sound in 1811 after being overwhelmed by the warriors – and blew up. As told by Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation's Gisele Martin and her father Joe Martin on June 11, the Tonquin's goal was to establish a trade post and claim the region as part of the United States of America. The Tonquin's captain Jonathan Thorn, who was played by Tofino resident Hugo Hall, was brash, and not well-liked by his crew. Thorn wanted to trade for sea otter furs with Gisele's great, great grandfather Nookmis. But when Nookmis told him the price for one pelt was three blankets, 30 beads, 30 buckets and three knifes, Thorn scoffed and shoved the otter pelt in Nookmis' face. In the novel Astoria by American historian Washington Irving, which chronicles the entire journey of the Tonquin, Thorn is said to have 'slapped' the chief in the face. The next day, angry Tla-o-qui-aht warriors boarded the ship and threw the captain overboard. 'The captain got clubbed by the women and disappeared under water,' Gisele regaled the audience on the sunny June 11 afternoon. One crew member, James Lewis, who was played by Clayoquot Action's Dan Lewis, allegedly scuttled to the bottom of the ship and lit five tons of gun powder. 'KA-BOOM!' Joe exclaimed as the children ran around the mock Tonquin ship with sparklers. 'Sparks flew and Nookmis got thrown overboard.' Tonquin's crew and roughly 100 brave Tla-o-qui-aht warriors perished in the sea. Martin says Lewis became the first 'suicide bomber' of Clayoquot Sound. 'People in Opitsaht could see the mass of the ship for three years poking out of the water. During that time, Tla-o-qui-aht became very diligent about protecting this coast,' said Gisele. It wasn't until 20 years later that Tla-o-qui-aht started having a relationship with some of the British trading companies. 'That's why Tofino is here today and that's also why this is not part of the United States today. We've never sold this land. We've never ceded it; we've never signed it away in a treaty,' said Gisele, noting Tla-o-qui-aht's fight to protect Meares Island from old growth logging, preserving the source of Tofino's drinking water. '[I]n 1984 Tla-o-qui-aht took the government all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada. In their own courts, the government could not prove that they owned this land.' Forty-one years ago, Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation, with support from the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council (NTC), famously declared Meares Island the 'Wanachis Hilth-huu-is Tribal Park' under Nuu-chah-nulth law. The Meares Declaration protected the old-growth forest from being logged, and is recognized as one of the largest demonstrations of civil disobedience in North America. Prior to the conservation stance, there was no 'tribal park' in existence under provincial or federal legislation. The wreck of the Tonquin was never found… But one day in the spring of 2000, a local crab fisherman found his trap hooked on the end of an old, old anchor – that anchor, encrusted with blue trading beads, is believed to be the Tonquin's. The anchor is on display at the Village Green in the gazebo to this day and belongs to the Tla-o-qui-aht. -30- Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
10-06-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve reminds public to be mindful of wolves on the landscape
By Nora O'Malley Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Long Beach, B.C. – Recent reports of a pack of sea wolves in the Pacific Rim corridor acting habituated towards humans has prompted Parks Canada to issue a public reminder about how to stay safe and respect these animals. Francis Bruhwiler is a specialist in human-wildlife co-existence in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve (PRNPR). He says the pack is likely the same two or three coastal wolves acting 'very indifferent' when they see people. 'If you want to break that down, it's a loss of the natural human fear we would like them to have,' said Bruhwiler. 'That behaviour is concerning because of that loss of that wariness towards humans. It seems like it's faded a little bit.' 'Habituated wolves have been happening for at least 30 years,' he continued. 'We've had way worse. In 2017, they were in parking lots. It's not there, we're not there, but we don't want to get to that place. If everyone can take this seriously, we feel like that wariness of humans that they need can be maintained.' The human-wolf interactions started back in April when a pair of wolves showed up in downtown Tofino, according to Bruhwiler. 'There's a lot of food in those communities. And I'm not talking human food, I'm talking about dogs, cats, racoons, deer… There's a lot of prey right where we live and I think that's what people have to remember,' he said. Sea wolves primarily eat a marine-based diet; they are known to feed on otters, salmon, harbour seals, herring eggs, clams, mussels and whale or sea lion carcasses. They also go for racoons, small deer and injured black bears or cubs. Another April dispatch to Parks Canada involved a wolf walking by a visitor in the PRNPR without any fear. Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation also posted a bulletin on their community board on May 2 asking residents of Esowista and Ty-Histanis to walk in groups or pairs while being careful and diligent, particularly at sunset and night. A pair of wolves were regularly sighted in the communities, which are located just north of Long Beach. How to reduce human-wolf conflicts 'Put your dog on-leash. That's a big one. A dog on-leash is way safer,' says Bruhwiler. 'I've seen big dogs killed here by wolf. I've seen dead dogs. We don't want to go back there. This is what we are trying to avoid.' Managing all attractants like putting food away before going out for a surf and not going up to the animal to take photos will also help keep the 'wild in wildlife', notes Bruhwiler. 'Let's say a wolf is on the beach and around, the best thing we can do is make it obvious that we don't want it nearby. Make noise, group together. Exactly like seeing a black bear. If the wolf is there and doesn't want to leave then we leave,' he said. Parks Canada works in collaboration with Tla-o-qui-aht and Ucluelet First Nation to monitor the wolf activity in the region. 'We have a lot of strong teachings from wolves in Nuu-chah-nulth cultures across many nations and families,' said Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks Guardian Gisele Martin. 'A lot of teachings have to do with respecting natural law, with upholding traditional ecological roles or about doing the things that need to be done to make things right in this world, is associated with wolves.' She explained that it is against Nuu-chah-nulth traditional law to harm or disturb wolves. 'It's also part of our culture to give wolves right of way because they are so integral in maintaining the balance of life in nature. They have the same role in ocean as orca whales,' said Martin. 'If you encounter a wolf, back up. Give them the right of way. Don't be wolf paparazzi.' Martin shared that the 'qʷa' in the Nuu-chah-nulth word qʷayac̓iik (wolf) is seen in other words or phrases that translate to 'be good like that', 'things that we need to do to make things right in the world' and 'bow of the canoe'. 'The bow of the canoe, that's what gives us direction and is shaped like the head of a wolf,' said Martin. In June 2024, the ʔapsčiik t̓ašii Trail (pronounced ups-cheek ta-shee) multi-use pathway that connects Ucluelet to Tofino was officially opened, creating an influx of cyclists through the Pacific Rim corridor. The paved pathway is roughly 40-kilometres long and weaves through the traditional territories of the Tla-o-qui-aht and Yuułuʔiłʔat as well as the shoreline in the Long Beach Unit of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. 'The trail definitely has an impact on the land and the place,' said Martin. 'The Banana slugs who cross it, they have important duties to do in the forest. It's just not the wolves; it's everybody that lives there. It's something to be mindful of.' On May 7, a deceased juvenile gray whale washed up on Long Beach and is still on the landscape, but the carcass is not 'readily available to wolves', according to Bruhwiler. 'With the whale that washed in, we did not have any wolf interactions at that time. They are their own little minds and maybe they had other things on the go,' he said, adding that sea wolves are incredible swimmers and could travel from Long Beach to the Broken Group Islands in days. Martin encouraged people to familiarize themselves with the ʔiisaak (ii-saak) Pledge , which outlines respectful behaviours and practices that can be used as guidance on how to relate to wolves and wolf habitat. 'Every plant and animal, living being, every insect, has something important that they contribute to the community of life. Wolves are really integral to that whole process,' Martin said. If you see or encounter a wolf in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, report it Parks Canada dispatch at: 1-877-852-3100. -30- Captions A remote Parks Canada wildlife camera captured this image of a wolf or qʷayac̓iik (pronounced qwa-ya-tseek) near Long Beach, B.C. on Vancouver Island in 2020. (Parks Canada photo) Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Vancouver Sun
08-05-2025
- General
- Vancouver Sun
Grey whale washes ashore near Tofino, cause of death unknown
A grey whale among a population that is listed as a special concern in Canada has washed ashore on a Vancouver Island beach. Parks Canada says the whale was spotted floating offshore on May 6, then it landed the next day on Long Beach in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve near Tofino. The federal agency is warning visitors to the popular beach not to touch the whale and to keep dogs on a leash. The Fisheries Department says in a statement its marine mammal response team is working with Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation and Parks Canada to secure the animal and perform a necropsy. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. It says the cause of death won't be confirmed until after the necropsy reports are complete, which usually takes two to three months. The department says the whale is part of the Eastern North Pacific population, which was assessed in 2005 as being of special concern under the federal Species at Risk Act. Parks Canada says in a statement that its staff and Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Park guardians were on scene as the whale came ashore. It says access to the animal has been restricted both for health and safety reasons, and out of respect for the whale. 'The Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation continues to steward the lands and waters within their hahuuli (traditional lands and waters) and will be determining how to respectfully steward the carcass,' the statement says. Parks Canada says that although the loss of a whale can be difficult to observe, it also provides important nutrients to other animals and the environment. A sperm whale came ashore on a South Carolina resort island on Saturday, and was euthanized late Sunday after veterinarians determined it was too sick to help. The town of Hilton Head Island in South Carolina says the whale will be buried on the beach. Whales often beach themselves when sick or injured, and the Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida estimates about 2,000 whales come ashore each year. — With files from The Associated Press
Epoch Times
08-05-2025
- General
- Epoch Times
Grey Whale Washes Ashore Near Tofino, BC. Cause of Death Unknown
A grey whale among a population that is listed as a special concern in Canada has washed ashore on a Vancouver Island beach. Parks Canada says the whale was spotted floating offshore on May 6, then it landed the next day on Long Beach in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve near Tofino. The federal agency is warning visitors to the popular beach not to touch the whale and to keep dogs on leash. The Fisheries Department says in a statement its marine mammal response team is working with Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation and Parks Canada to secure the animal and perform a necropsy. It says the cause of death won't be confirmed until after the necropsy reports are complete, which usually takes two to three months. The department says the whale is part of the Eastern North Pacific population, which was assessed in 2005 as being of special concern under the federal Species at Risk Act. Related Stories 3/4/2025 2/18/2025
