Latest news with #HomalcoFirstNation
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
First Nations have plan to move problem grizzly but need go-ahead from B.C.
Three coastal First Nations have worked together to come up with a plan to move a grizzly bear that's been causing problems on Texada Island — just off B.C.'s Sunshine Coast — but so far, the province has not signed off. On June 13, the B.C. government said there was no "kill order" for the bear — but also that it was "not a candidate for relocation," because it had already been moved twice, before returning to human-inhabited areas. On Texada, the community of about 1,000 people has been divided on whether the bear should be killed or removed or left alone. But Erik Blaney — a legislator with the Tla'amin Nation — thinks the solution is to trap the bear and move it about one hundred kilometres northwest to Bute Inlet, where it can live with other coastal grizzlies and be far enough away that it can't swim back. Previously, the bear was relocated to Jervis Inlet, which is approximately 75 kilometres away. Blaney said he has worked with his nation, the neighbouring shíshálh Nation, and the Homalco First Nation to craft a plan for the relocation. Texada Island lies near the intersection of Tla'amin and shíshálh territory. Stewardship guardians from the nations would work together to trap the bear, which would then be moved by boat, and possibly plane, to Orford Bay in Bute Inlet, which is in Homalco territory. "We have the plan; we have the funding to do it. What we don't have is the province's assistance and backing," said Erik Blaney. He said they have been meeting with provincial officials and have some support, but have also been told that what they're asking is outside current policy — and that to capture and move the bear without a permit could lead to charges under the Wildlife Act. But he sees this as an opportunity for Tla'amin and shíshálh —both of which have self-governing agreements — to look after their lands and waters. "This really shows unity among coastal guardian programs that are doing exactly, you know, what we should, which is protecting the natural resources and wildlife within our territories." Homalco Chief Darren Blaney, who is a cousin of Erik Blaney, thinks it's a great plan. "When Erik called me to see about this bear that could potentially get killed, I give it a chance in Bute," he told CBC News. The Homalco have a tourism company that runs grizzly tours from Vancouver Island up to Bute Inlet. "We have an area that's about maybe five kilometres where the salmon gets into and we get about 50 to 60 grizzlies that come in there when the salmon runs are going," said Darren Blaney. He said it's a place where the grizzlies fatten up for winter. "So yeah, it's a good place for them and it's good for our tourism." The Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship said late Friday afternoon in an email that it is aware of the plan and that there are ongoing conversations between First Nations and the Grizzly Bear Foundation about it.
CBC
4 days ago
- Politics
- CBC
First Nations have plan to move problem grizzly but need go-ahead from B.C.
Three coastal First Nations have worked together to come up with a plan to move a grizzly bear that's been causing problems on Texada Island — just off B.C.'s Sunshine Coast — but so far, the province has not signed off. On June 13, the B.C. government said there was no "kill order" for the bear — but also that it was "not a candidate for relocation," because it had already been moved twice, before returning to human-inhabited areas. On Texada, the community of about 1,000 people has been divided on whether the bear should be killed or removed or left alone. But Erik Blaney — a legislator with the Tla'amin Nation — thinks the solution is to trap the bear and move it about one hundred kilometres northwest to Bute Inlet, where it can live with other coastal grizzlies and be far enough away that it can't swim back. Previously, the bear was relocated to Jervis Inlet, which is approximately 75 kilometres away. Blaney said he has worked with his nation, the neighbouring shíshálh Nation, and the Homalco First Nation to craft a plan for the relocation. Texada Island lies near the intersection of Tla'amin and shíshálh territory. Stewardship guardians from the nations would work together to trap the bear, which would then be moved by boat, and possibly plane, to Orford Bay in Bute Inlet, which is in Homalco territory. "We have the plan; we have the funding to do it. What we don't have is the province's assistance and backing," said Erik Blaney. He said they have been meeting with provincial officials and have some support, but have also been told that what they're asking is outside current policy — and that to capture and move the bear without a permit could lead to charges under the Wildlife Act. But he sees this as an opportunity for Tla'amin and shíshálh —both of which have self-governing agreements — to look after their lands and waters. "This really shows unity among coastal guardian programs that are doing exactly, you know, what we should, which is protecting the natural resources and wildlife within our territories." Homalco Chief Darren Blaney, who is a cousin of Erik Blaney, thinks it's a great plan. "When Erik called me to see about this bear that could potentially get killed, I give it a chance in Bute," he told CBC News. The Homalco have a tourism company that runs grizzly tours from Vancouver Island up to Bute Inlet. "We have an area that's about maybe five kilometres where the salmon gets into and we get about 50 to 60 grizzlies that come in there when the salmon runs are going," said Darren Blaney. He said it's a place where the grizzlies fatten up for winter. "So yeah, it's a good place for them and it's good for our tourism." The Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship said late Friday afternoon in an email that it is aware of the plan and that there are ongoing conversations between First Nations and the Grizzly Bear Foundation about it.
CBC
13-03-2025
- Health
- CBC
Calls for government support intensify as 3rd Vancouver Island Indigenous group declares state of emergency
The Homalco First Nation is holding its fourth funeral in six months this week for a young community member who died from a drug overdose. The north Island Nation is the third Indigenous group on Vancouver Island to declare a state of emergency due to the toxic drug crisis. It is joining calls for federal and provincial government leaders to take urgent action and provide resources to help them deal with it. "This crisis is a direct result of the aftermath of residential schools and the lasting generational trauma that continues to devastate Indigenous communities," it said. "The toxic drug epidemic is not just a Homalco issue—it is a direct consequence of colonial policies that fractured families, suppressed culture, and left lasting scars on Indigenous people." In March 2024, the Gwa'Sala-Nakwaxda'xw Nations, two north Island Nations with a population of 1,100, declared a state of emergency following the deaths of 11 members. The Nation said that many died due to drug poisoning and alcohol. The Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, which represents 14 West Coast nations with about 10,000 members on the island, declared a state of emergency in September due to the mental health and opioid crisis. One of their member communities, the Ahousaht First Nation, had declared a state of emergency two weeks prior to that, following the deaths of two young people within hours of each other in separate incidents. First Nations leader says 'we're in a crisis' Terry Teegee, regional chief of the B.C. Assembly of First Nations, says that 10 years into the toxic drug crisis, not enough co-ordinated, culturally appropriate support or resources have gone to Indigenous communities. Indigenous people, particularly women, make up a disproportionate number of the lives lost to toxic drugs. "I think we're in a crisis state with many First Nations across this province," said Teegee, who blames the generational trauma from residential schools for the depth of the current crisis. "One of the things that we're seeing sadly is almost a whole generation die as a result of the opioid crisis." Homalco Chief Darren Blaney spoke in a video posted to social media announcing the nation's state of emergency. He expressed sadness at the recent deaths of its four young members and said that Homalco leaders would be holding a community dinner on March 14 to discuss plans for addressing the crisis. "It's going to take more than chief and council to help the community to keep the drug dealers out, but also to support people when they're trying to sober up," he said in the video. "We need to have our young people be able to realize all of their potential." The leadership of the Homalco Nation and the First Nations Health Authority were not immediately available for an interview when contacted by CBC. Blaney called on the province to engage with the Homalco and other nations who have declared a state of emergency to come up with immediate long-term solutions through a government-to-government process. The CBC did not receive an immediate response from the province when asked for a comment. Blaney says he hopes to receive more funding to build a trauma centre to help prevent future deaths.
