By Nora O害羞草研究所橫alley & Eric Plummer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter HA-SHILTH-SA
A State of Emergency has been declared in the remote West Coast B.C. community of Ahousaht following a heartbreaking weekend of two unexpected deaths.
Police are investigating the death of an adult man and Ahousaht leadership has confirmed the tragic passing of a female youth worker.
In a statement Sunday, police say Ahousaht RCMP responded to a call on Saturday, Aug. 31 at 6:29 p.m. to a residence on Robinson Avenue in the First Nations community located on Flores Island, north of Tofino.
害羞草研究所淲hen police arrived, they saw that BCEHS were on scene providing medical aid to an adult man. He was immediately transported to hospital where he was later pronounced deceased,害羞草研究所� said Cpl. Madonna Saunderson in a media release.
害羞草研究所淎 short time later an adult man was arrested in connection with the incident. He has been remanded in custody pending a court appearance on Wednesday, September 4, 2024,害羞草研究所� the police statement continues.
In light of the homicide investigation, Ahousaht chief and council have enacted a 9 p.m. curfew until further notice and there is a heightened police presence in the community. Cultural and counselling supports are also available, and a community cleansing was held on Tuesday, Sept. 3.
害羞草研究所淐hief and council also recognizes that the current losses of life are deeply impacting our youth and that added supports are also required specifically for them as well,害羞草研究所� reads a bulletin from Ahousaht chief and council.
害羞草研究所淲e all walk lightly and respectfully during these hard times. Pull your loved ones close and check in on those that may need extra love during this time,害羞草研究所� notes the bulletin.
Ahousaht Hereditary Chief Hasheukumiss (Richard George) says Ahousaht is in desperate need of help.
害羞草研究所淚ntergenerational trauma is very real to this very day. This is high time that the government actually acknowledges what is going on,害羞草研究所� said Hasheukumiss. 害羞草研究所淲hy are we drinking so much? Because we are hurting. We are really hurting. It comes down to not having the proper facilities to turn the corner from the direct fallout from residential school.害羞草研究所�
In recent years the First Nation built a wellness centre by its Flores Island community, on the former site of the Ahousaht Residential School. Part of a network of services offered in the community, this facility was sponsored by a private donor, with this support administered through the Power to Give foundation, according to Ahousaht Chief Councillor n虛aas蕯a艂uk (John Rampanen), in an interview with Ha-Shilth-Sa last year when the construction was nearing completion.
According to Power to Give害羞草研究所檚 website the facility is 害羞草研究所渞eady for use害羞草研究所� this summer.
The wellness centre is described as 害羞草研究所渁 place for members of the Ahousaht Nation and all other Nuu-chah-nulth people to receive addition treatment within the safety of their own community.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淲e have supported the community in bringing their project to life from the inception of the idea, providing advisory services and programming dollars to support delivery of care,害羞草研究所� stated Power to Give.
In another effort to provide healing services to its people, the Maaqutusiis Hahoulthee Stewardship Society bought the former Tofino Wilderness Lodge in 2022 with the intention of making it a tourist destination for the summer season, while the facility could be used for the health and well-being of Ahousaht members for the rest of the year. But this plan suffered a setback in May when funding was denied, according to Hasheukumiss.
He went on to say that over 100 people have passed away in Ahousaht due to alcohol and drug related causes over the last four plus years.
害羞草研究所淚t has taken five generations to get us here and it will take five generations to get us out. We haven害羞草研究所檛 even scratched the surface yet. We are really hurting. We can害羞草研究所檛 be too proud to ask for help. We need help from the highest levels,害羞草研究所� said Hasheukumiss.
害羞草研究所淭he youth are really shaken up over this along with the whole community of Ahousaht. The school administration is shook right up,害羞草研究所� he continued. 害羞草研究所淲e would like the school to continue to be open. It害羞草研究所檚 a safe place and a place of healing as well when you bring in the facilitators. Keeping the school open is the healthiest thing for the children and the nation as well.害羞草研究所�
In a bulletin posted Sept. 3 Ahousaht害羞草研究所檚 Maaqtusiis Elementary School principal announced that classes would commence as originally planned after the Labour Day weekend. After offering condolences to the families connected to those that were lost, Principal Andrea Frank advised that school would begin Sept. 3 for all Kindergarten to grade 12 students. The first full day of school for all, including the Maaqtusiis Childcare Centre, will be on Sept. 4th and 5th.
She went on to say that the first week of school will be conducted in a quiet and respectful manner.
害羞草研究所淲e will also respect any parents/guardians害羞草研究所� decision to keep their children home from school this week and would like to keep the schools open to support parents/guardians who work,害羞草研究所� wrote Frank.
In a social media post, Tseshaht Chief Councillor Ken Watts had this message for the people: 害羞草研究所淪ending all of Ahousaht my thoughts, prayers, condolences and loving healing energy today.害羞草研究所�
He shared his sentiments to all the families and other first nations impacted by the tragic incidents.
害羞草研究所淚f there is anything I or our nation can do, please do not hesitate to reach out,害羞草研究所� Watts wrote.
