GN ARTISTS: Call for Proposals for Tlama'las (Ends 3pm March 30!)

April 3 2012 Update: Walter Brown was the winning bidder for the tlama'las. Congratulations Walter!

From the Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw Trust - Culture Sub-Committee

We bought a 15' X 12' canvas and want to have a tlama'las for the use of all community members when they host a feast or potlatch, especially for those that don't own one. We want to have designs representing both Gwa'sala and 'Nakwaxda'xw, and are creating this opportunity for all artists to put in their proposals so they can paint the tlama'las if their proposal is succesful.

The deadline for proposals is March 30th, 2012, at 3 p.m.

Your proposal must include a copy of the application form filled out, plus a sketch of your design. Application forms are at the front desk of the Band Office, as well as being attached to this blog post.

Please hand proposals in to Gary Walkus or leave them at the front desk of the GN Band Office. The successful artist will be contacted, and their name posted to Facebook, www.gwanak.info, Gary's Facebook profile, and in the Yo! News.

Your proposal should include:
- Design ideas that represent both Gwa'sala and 'Nakwaxda'xw, with a story about the designs that can be shared in gatherings where the Tlama'las is used.
- The timeline required to complete the Tlama'las.
- Your fee, including the cost for all of your work, use of the stories, and necessary adjustments to the canvas to make it useable as a Tlama'las (putting holes in top of canvas for rope to go through, etc.)
- The cost of paints, brushes, and all other supplies.

HALIBUT LICENSE: Lease Opportunity (Deadline 1pm THIS FRIDAY!)

The GN Band has secured a halibut license for 2012 through our Aboriginal Fisheries Strategy (AFS) agreement, with an approximate quota of 20,000 pounds.

All persons interested in leasing the halibut license (and accompanying quota) secured by the band should submit a lease offer with the following info:
- Person applying for license / quota
- Halibut fishing experience
- Vessel to be fished & status of vessel (owner, insurance status, working condition). Vessel registration number must be included.
- # of deckhands anticipated for employment (GN Band Members)
- Lease price (must be paid prior to lease transfer)
- Work plan (please provide your fishing plan for the season including information such as preparation, any arrangements for offloading & sales, employment opportunity provided, other licences to be fished)

Lease offers will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Lease price offer: 20 max. points
- Fishing experience: 10 max. points
- Vessel status: 10 max. points
- Appropriateness of work plan: 10 max. points

Successful applicants will be notified no later than March 26, 2012

Applicants must send their halibut license lease offer by fax or mail to:
Nicole McLelland, Resource Coordinator
Fax: (888) 345-5063
E-mail: nmclelland@cablerocket.com

*Please do not drop applications off at the band office
*Please note that this info went house-to-house in Tsulquate in notice form

NIC OFFERS FREE EMPLOYMENT TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET LOCAL NEEDS

NIC OFFERS FREE EMPLOYMENT TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET LOCAL NEEDS 

North Island College in Port Hardy is now recruiting eligible students for tuition-free employment programs. They have three programs starting in February, March, and April designed to help unemployed people get back into the workforce and under-employed individuals requiring skills upgrading improve their job prospects.The programs have been selected to address local skill shortages and to meet local labour market needs. 

A Woodland Harvest Certificate Program will be offered Feb.  and is designed for individuals with limited experience, who have a desire to work in the field and gain the fundamental skills to pursue entry level forestry positions. It includes classroom and practical training as well as job readiness and work experience. 

A Shellfish Aquaculture Technician Program will be offered Mar.12th-Apr.18th and is designed for those interested in entering this aspect of the aquaculture industry. 

Leadership & Capacity Building for First Nations is an 18-day program starting Apr.2nd-May 30th, and is based on developing essential skills in leadership, communications and relationship building. This program will develop skills important in any workplace and is being instructed by a First Nations individual. 

Each program is limited to 14 seats which are available on a first come first served basis, so it is important not to wait till the last minute to apply. 

Recognizing that finances are often a roadblock to access training - tuition and material costs are being funded through the provincial Employment Skills Access (ESA) initiative. Transportation and living allowance remain the participants' responsibility. lf participants are receiving income assistance, they may continue to do so while receiving training. This is a great opportunity to help individuals make a significant change in their life and move toward fulfilling work. 

You are eligible for these programs if: 
  • You are unemployed and not currently receiving employment insurance (EI) benefits, and have not received Elin the past 3 years or the past 5 years for a maternity/parental claim. 
  • You are employed with less than 21 hours per week and have not completed high school; 
  • or if you have completed high school, you have no post-secondary education towards a degree/diploma or trade certificate. 

For more information please check out the attachments or give Barb Groening at North Island College a call at 250-949-7912 ext. 2849 or email Barb.Groening@nic.bc.ca

Posted by Jessie Hemphill, Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw Executive Assistant & Communications Officer

Update on GN Staff & Program Activities

Following are updates on our different departments & programs. This information will be on a handout for tonight's Comprehensive Community Planning (CCP) meeting on the Tsulquate Reserve:


Band Office

  • ·         The new receptionist, Bernadine Clayton, will be taking over more duties like helping with the Yo! News & online calendar
  • ·         We had 2 recent staff meetings at the Band Office, with a larger staff meeting planned for Feb. 2

 

Economic Development

  • ·         Nakwakto Rapids Tours set to begin this summer
  • ·         Work on the Ec. Dev. Corporation has stalled, but is still on the back burner
  • ·         We are working with Nanwakolas on a regional ec. dev. strategy that is focused on tourism and aquaculture
  • ·         We are looking at selling carbon credits based on the forests in our home lands

 

Natural Resources

  • ·         GN is part of the PICFI program, which means a lot of fisheries-related stuff is and will be happening, including training for active and wannabe fishermen
  • ·         There will a focus on safety this year, trying to make sure there are better plans in place for emergencies in our field operations
  • ·         The fisheries crew will be getting a bunch of training in the next few months
  • ·         The Guardian Watchmen are set to carry on this summer, with some training coming up in the next couple of months

 

Treaty

  • ·         We are close to completion of a milestone in the negotiations, the Agreement in Principal. All members will be informed by the Treaty Negotiation Team before being asked to vote.
  • ·         The Treaty Advisory Committee (TAC) has been great, and will carry on in 2012, there are many more participants than in 2011
  • ·         We got two grants (called TRMs, or Treaty Related Measures) one will be completed by the end of May, the other to be completed by March 2013
  • ·         One of them is for Land Expansion, where we will look at the lands around Tsulquate and see where we want to expand for new housing and for economic development purposes
  • ·         The other TRM is on Governance, where we will look at how our nation is being goverened. In other words, we will look at our elected leadership, administration, policies, plans, etc. and see if they’re working for us
  • ·         The film project is coming along, should have the full-length movie ready to view in the spring. It’s about our connection to our home lands and the relocation

Social Development

  • ·         People need to come in and sign their B&D form if they want to get wood
  • ·         SA recipients need to come & fill out stubs before the middle of the month and bring in hydro bills as soon as they get them in mail, both pages, not just one page
  • ·         Training for the fisheries crew, guardian watchmen and others is being provided through a TESI grant, through social development

 

Education

  • ·         We’re talking with NIC to try and get Adult Basic Education (ABE) offered in Tsulquate sometime this year

 

Health & Family Services

  • ·         Thomas Jack has been hired as the new Home Visitor (replacing Ev Rolfe) and Missy Henderson was hired as a Nurse’s Assistant, to help out a lot around the office

 

Housing

  • ·         A few community members got training in mould remediation, and are now able to tackle the mould problem in our community
  • ·         The GPS (Global Panel System) houses are coming along a little slower than planned, but are still working out pretty good
  • ·         Our community was on CBC radio in December to talk about the progress that we have made, and what we need (more funding) to move ahead
  • ·         Because of all the house fires this year, our insurance has gotten really expensive and we might not be able to renew it if it gets worse. People can contact Bob Swain or Les if they need fire extinguishers or smoke detectors

 

Emergency Planning

  • ·         Bob Swain has been coordinating our community’s new Emergency Management Committee, which has about ten members now
  • ·         Many committee members have gotten training in the basics of what to do in a community emergency
  • ·         If we get grant funding, the main things we’d like to purchase for the community are back-up generators and some kind of escape route over the Tsulquate River

 

Chief & Council

  • ·         Portfolios were recently reviewed & updated – the most recent Yo! News reflects the changes
  • ·         Council has been looking at housing issues and the dog issue a lot, and have also requested to be more in the loop on staff activities

 

Trust

  • ·         The four Trust projects (Elders, Culture, Emergency, and Youth Sports & Recreation) have been coming along well, with just a few setbacks
  • ·         $68,000 was approved for use for a new house for Marion Wamiss in 2012
  • ·         A Community Healing Feast is scheduled for March 3, to come together as a community and work on healing (part of the Culture grant)
  • ·         The hall painting and purchase of sports equipment has taken place through the Youth Sports & Recreation grant, as well as hockey registration fees
  • ·         The Elders Grant has been managed extremely well, with tons of elders activities and trips that happened in 2011
  • ·         The Emergency fund has been difficult to manage, and when it runs out (which will be soon) there is no more emergency fund unless someone submits a proposal for a new one, in which case it would have much stricter rules
  • ·         Many new policies have been developed for the Trust, including a template for proposals
  • ·         The next big thing is going to be the investment strategy, which will help the committee allocate Trust funds in a way that is sustainable in the long-term while still serving the community’s immediate needs

 

Miscellaneous

  • ·         The Truth & Reconciliation Commission will be holding hearings in Port Hardy on Feb. 27-28, to hear the stories of residential school survivors
  • ·         Aftab Erfan, from UBC, is still visiting to help get a parent’s group set up as part of her school work

 

Update prepared by Jessie Hemphill, 

Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw Executive Assistant & Communications Officer

jessieh@gwanakplan.org

(250) 949-8343

Aboriginal SWIM Camp - Jan 28 & 29 - Courtenay, BC

 

  

The Aboriginal Sport, Recreation & Physical Activity Partners Councilis pleased to present

 BC Aboriginal Provincial SWIM Camp

 JANUARY 28 & 29, 2012

Comox Valley Aquatic Centre

377 Lerwick Road, Courtenay, BC

Hosted by Wachiay Friendship Centre

This BC Aboriginal Provincial SWIM Camp will be hosted January 28 & 29 in Courtenay, BC at the Comox Valley Aquatic Centre.  Thank you to Wachiay Friendship Centre who is serving as the official host organization of this Swim BC supported camp.

 We are inviting Aboriginal youth (First Nations, Métis, Inuit), ages 10 to 19, who want to further develop their swimming skills and gain quality coaching and instruction with Leanne Sirup, trained NCCP Level III coach, in a safe, positive, fun and professional atmosphere to sign up and come on out and join us! 

 

Two different levels of camp will be provided:  

SATURDAY, January 28

“ACTIVE START”

3:30 to 6:30 pm  (Snack included).

Arrive to check-in by 3:15pm.

This session is for individuals interested in the Sport of Swimming and want to learn more on what it’s all about.

Suggested minimum level:  able to swim 25m unassisted

SUNDAY, January 29

“TRAINING TO COMPETE”

9:00 am to 3:00 pm  (Lunch included)

Arrive to check-in at 8:45am.

This session is for individuals who are currently / or have recently been involved with the organized Sport of Swimming. 

Suggested minimum level:  SwimBC 11yrs Provincial A times.

 

With the support of our partners, including the Province of BC and Nike Inc., the camp fee is only $5.00!

Participants also receive a pair of goggles, a Nike N7 BC Aboriginal Camp T-shirt and a Swim BC swim cap! 

**** You must register by 4pm, Wednesday, January 25th. ****

Space is limited so sign up today!

 

 

Lara Mussell Savage

Manager, Sport Development & Competitions

Aboriginal Sport, Recreation & Physical Activity Partners Council

Phone:  250.388.5522 ext. 233 |1.800.990.2432

Mobile:  604.799.1456

Email:  teambc@bcaafc.com

For more information on the Aboriginal Sport, Recreation & Physical Activity Partners Council, please visit our webpage:  www.bcaafc.com/initiatives/ASRPA-Partners-Council or find us on Facebook:  www.facebook.com/ASRPAPartnersCouncil

SALL 2012 Application form & poster: Sport and Active Living Leadership for Aboriginal Youth: Conference March 20-23 in NANAIMO BC

2012 Sport & Active Living Leadership for Aboriginal Youth (SALL)

 The Aboriginal Sports Recreation and Physical Activity Partners Council (Partners Council) is accepting applications from Aboriginal youth ages 14-24 (as of March 20, 2012) to participate in the 2012 Sport & Active Living Leadership for Aboriginal Youth (SALL) program that will be launched as part of Gathering Our Voices Aboriginal Youth Conference, March 20-23, 2012 in Nanaimo, BC.

 A total of 18 Aboriginal Youth (living in BC) will be selected to participate in this year’s program, with 3 youth selected from each of the 6 Partners Council Regions (North West, North East, Vancouver Coastal, Fraser, Interior, Vancouver Island). Two youth alternates per Region will also be identified.

 The year-long program will begin with a series of SALL specific workshops presented during Gathering Our Voices. Participants will also be able to take part in some of the general workshops being delivered by Gathering Our Voices and encouraged to attend the Career Fair, Cultural afternoon, Youth Dance, and Youth Talent Showcase.

 Successful applicants will have registration, travel, accommodation, and meals paid for by the Partners Council through the generous support of 2010 Legacies Now with the following notations:

 ·         Departure location and mode of travel will be determined by the Partners Council (Bus and/or ferry, airplane)

·         Some travel related costs will be the responsibility of the participant (eg. travel from home to and from departure location and meals during travel) 

Chaperones will be provided for those applicants age 14-17 years of age.

 Note:

Successful applicants will be required to participate in other SALL related activities (inclusive of a community project, teleconferences, email communications, and other opportunities) conducted throughout the year and must commit to serving as a youth representative on their corresponding Partners Council Regional Committee for a minimum of 1 year ending March 31, 2013.

 

Application Deadline:  5 pm, Monday, February 13, 2012

 *Note: all applications must be received by this date

 Applications should be sent to the attention of Joe Akerman via:

 Email to: jakerman@bcaafc.com

Fax: 250 388-5502

or

Mail: BCAAFC#200 -506 Fort St. Victoria BC V8W 1E6

 

 Joe Akerman

Manager, Regional Engagement

Aboriginal Sport, Recreation and Physical Activity Partners Council

BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres

#200-506 Fort St |Victoria, BC| V8W 1E6

 Website: www.bcaafc.com/initiatives/asrpa-partners-council

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ASRPAPartnersCouncil

 Phone: 250.388.5522 ext. 213|1.800.990.2432

Fax: 250.388.5502 | Email: jakerman@bcaafc.com


Update on Highway 19 Closure & Coal Harbour power outage

Many Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw community members and staff are stranded down island due to the recent closure of highway 19 after a slide covered the road. For anyone that is stranded in Campbell River and can't get home, please go to the Campbell River Community Centre (401-11th Ave.) before 5pm today to register and get your hotel and food costs covered. 

As of 308 p.m. today they had cleared the highway enough for single-lane traffic to get through. If you're planning to come home tonight, be prepared for about a 15 minute wait.

For anyone stuck in Port Hardy, trying to get home down island, the Port Hardy Civic Centre is where you need to go to register before 5pm today, or the Haidaway Inn in Pt. McNeill.

www.drivebc.ca is posting regular updates on the closure, and others around the province. I have also been posting updates to the Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw Facebook page.

Here are two news articles about the recent mudslide that resulted in a closure of Highway 19 on Sunday, November 17:

There is also a power outage near Coal Harbour. BC Hydro estimates power will be back on Dec. 1 at 4pm.

Hope you are all safe and sound out there. If you are interested in participating in Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw Emergency Planning, please call Bob Swain, Public Works, at (250) 230-0087. You can read about our emergency planning (and view our plan) here:  http://www.gwanak.info/for-members/projects/emergency-planning-preparedness-ongoing

Take care!

Jessie Hemphill
Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw Nations
Executive Assistant & Communications
jessieh@gwanakplan.org
Phone: (250) 949-8343
Fax: (250) 949-7402