in this issue · entrances to the longhouse kitchen and dining hall. longhouse construction crew...

Malahat NewsMalahat Nation Quarterly Newsletter March 2018

THE

In this issue:

• Lands Announcement

• Longhouse Kitchen

• Longhouse Timbers

• Paddles & Spears

• Bonner Students

• Housing & Renos

• Arbutus Ridge

• Caldlelight Vigil

• BladeRunners

• Golf & Gala

• Christmas

• Logging

• Lift Stations

• Construction

• Elders Day

• Movie Night

• Photo Contest

• Contact Numbers

Contact Us

110 Thunder RoadMill Bay, BC, V0R 2P4Tel: 250 743-3231Email: info@malahat nation.com

After 2 years of hard work and dedica-tion by Malahat Councilors George Harry, Matt Harry, Vince Harry, Malahat CEO Renee Racette and Malahat Investment Corp. CEO Alan Lolacher, the Malahat Lands purchase was announced on March 2nd. Scott Fraser, the respected Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, represented the Province of BC in making the announcement.

The BC government purchased a por-tion of the Bamberton lands for the Nation which we will receive upon completing our treaty. Malahat also purchased a second portion in collaboration with the First Na-tions Finance Authority.

We look forward to having jurisdiction over all these lands after treaty! This is an unprescedented case and is part of the NDP government’s focus on reconciliation with

Minister makes Malahat Lands Announcement

(Pictured l to r) at the gathering with community members were Wes and Jeff Edwards, Caroline Harry, Minister Scott Fraser, Matt Harry, George Harry, Steve Berna, Vince Harry and Christie Harvie.

First Nations communities. In taking ac-tion to advance treaty negotiations with the Malahat Nation, 230 hectares of valu-able land will become part of the Malahat Nation’s treaty lands when the treaty is concluded and comes into effect.

Minister Fraser said “this land pur-chase from it’s most recent owner is a tan-gible demonstration of how the province is doing things differently and taking an approach with Indigenous communities based on partnership, respect and recog-nition of rights.

We’ll see the benefits of this invest-ment in the Malahat Nation as we com-plete and implement a treaty, and as the nation develops its lands in ways that cre-ate jobs and support the economic, social and cultural needs of the Malahat people.

Recognizing the past - moving toward the future

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Cedar logs will serve as posts to hold up the overhang of entrances to the Longhouse kitchen and dining hall.

Longhouse construction crew member Jordan Harry braces a wall with a 2 x 6 as crane drops the kitchen wall into position.

Worker safety is very important to the Malahat Nation and workers receive ongoing safety training particularly when they are tackling a new task. After the kitchen walls were fabricated laying down on the ground, it was time for the boom lift and crane to lift the walls into position.

Timbers are now in place providing the main structure of the dining hall. When it is complete this Summer, the dining hall of the kitchen will seat 100 people. The kitchen will have ample prep space for cooks to utilize, including a large fridge and freezer, 2 stoves, 3 ovens and an expansive pantry for storage.

Repair work on the main structure of the Longhouse continued despite a very wet winter season. Siding milled by our community crew is now going into place and great progress is being made on the re-building of bleachers and construction of the new north entry way.

Workers use a crane and boom lift to place walls which were fabri-cated on the ground by Malahat crews for efficiency and timing.

Longhouse kitchen is coming together with timbers now in place


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The boom lift completes securing the fir roof timbers into place on the new kitchen and dining hall of the Malahat Longhouse.

NOTICE: Malahat Passive Build TrainingMalahat Indigenous OPassive Construction Project

ANNOUNCEMENT

Funded training is now available for an Indigenous Passive Construction Project. The Malahat Nation, in collaboration with Excel Career College, will provide on-the-job training for a passive construction building starting this spring. Funding includes:

• all training costs • industry certifications • work gear and basic tools • personal protection equipment

This training will help you gain employment within or outside the nation with a variety of career options such as factory frame construction, general construction, traffic control, security work, maintenance and repairs.

Employees must be E.I. eligible or have had a claim within the last 3 years. Eligibility will be determined through the WorkBC Employment Services Centre. Pref-erence will be given to members of the Malahat Nation and neighbouring Nations.

For more information contact: Excel Career College 1.855.334.2452 or [email protected] Malahat Nation 250.743.3231 or [email protected]


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Malahat youth make spears and paddles after school

Pictured left to right are Sophie Joe, Shayna Douglas, Amanda Harry, Jayden Wyse, Evan Henry and Malikai Joe as they practiced the paddle song taught to them by Jeff and Wes Edwards

Evan Henry carefully holds one of the long spears made by older students who participated in the fishing spear making class.

When you step into a canoe and grasp the handle of a wooden paddle, you may not know how much work actually goes into making one.

A group of young Malahat students race from the school bus to the Malahat boat shed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays after the school bus drops them off.

They are learning from Jeff and Gerald Edwards ex-actly how much work it really takes to build their own paddles. This is a hands-on class and our paddlers are preparing themselves for future canoe trips and the cul-ture that surrounds the life of someone who is part of the ‘canoe pulling’ community.

Jeff and Gerald work on Malahat construction crews during the day and in their free time they are sharing their knowledge and passing along the skills they have learned. They have been doing the work on the 8 pad-dles which requires the use of sharp tools and electric sanders.

Plans are in the works at the Malahat Social Pro-grams Department to host a series of canoe building workshops this summer. Jeff and Gerald Edwards are expected to lead the classes which will build a 27’ strip canoe. Watch for the announcement to register com-munity youth in this Spring/Summer program.

Jeff Edwards with Jayden Wyse, Shayna Douglas and Amanda Harry who wear safety goggles and protective ear wear during class.


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Our grade 4 and 5 students at-tending George Bonner Elemen-tary School went on an excursion to the Kinsol shops at Bamberton (now known as the Malahat Lands).

They had an opportunity to learn about the art of carpentry and how to build things out of wood.Students were taught how to hold a hammer when pounding in a nail (grasp it near the end of the han-dle rather than closer to the metal head). Everyone had several turns to test their skill. The Kinsol staff demonstrated other ways of hold-ing wood together with dowels and

George Bonner students learn about carpentry from the finest craftsmen

Malahat students Amanda Harry, Shayna Douglas, Dakota Harry, Jayden Wyse from George Bonner Elementary are shown how to hammer nails into beams by Kinsol owner/opertors Steve Stevenson and Mike Marshall.

Shayna Douglas watches as her friend Amanda Harry straightens a nail.

angles cut out of the ends of the wooden beams.Kinsol were one of Malahat’s partners in building the Kwunew Kwasun Learning Centre in 2013. Today their Red Seal Car-penters are creating the cedar posts and beams for the Malahat Long-house restoration.

If our students are interested in becoming carpenters when they get a little older, Kinsol have made a commitment to the Malahat Na-tion that they will take on Malahat apprentices if they are interested in becoming carpenters with a special-ty in post and beam construction.

Kinsol is located in the Malahat Lands industrial area and they are one of a growing number of companies who have entered partnership agree-ments with the Malahat Nation.

ing the 1960’s and 70’s.All homes undergoing exterior

renovations are receiving new sid-ing, windows, doors, decks and outside stairs as well as efficient wood stoves.

Some homes are receiving in-terior upgrades with a new coat of paint in each room. Insulating cement walls in unfinished base-ments will allow additional bed-rooms to be built so that Elders can enjoy the comfort of their families around them as they age.

There are few Elders who choose to live in formal ‘seniors centres’ be-cause they prefer to live in the com-munity with their families - and amongst friends and neighbours they’ve known for years.

Perhaps there will be an oppor-tunity in the future to build a facility dedicated to our seniors, for them to live in or just visit for a while when they feel like going out.


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Work has continued over the winter with many Malahat mem-bers involved in home construc-tion and renovations.

Using skills they have learned over the past 2 years, members are working on both interior and ex-terior renovations to their homes.

It’s a very satisfying experience to be able to work on your own home and have the skills to fix it when anything goes wrong down the line. The experience will also help members get jobs outside the community as well.

Of the 40 homes in the Mala-hat Village, only 8 have been built within the last 5 years. The re-maining 30 were built between 30 and 40 years ago.

Malahat homes have received a lot of wear and tear over the years with generations of families being raised in the same home their grandparents first moved into dur-

Housing starts and renovations

Alexandra and Savannah Goldsmith and Malahat workers removed stucco in preparation for applying new siding.

Larry Jack and his son Larry Jr. on the new deck. They have replaced the siding, and are now building decks and stairs.

Gerald and Jeff Edwards at work on reno to the front of their home.

Workers take a quick coffee break while prepping walls for siding on the new duplex.


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Some of our neighbours in Cobble Hill ex-pressed the wish to learn more about the Malahat people and called the Malahat office to ask if some-one would come out to their monthly meeting and be a guest speaker. Council asked our CEO, Renee Racette to accept the invitation and share with the group some success stories about their First Nations neighbours at Malahat.

The womens’ group were overwhelmed with the amount and scope of work that Malahat members are undertaking here - from upgrading and skills training to renovating and building new homes.

Council then extended an invitation for the women to visit Malahat and meet with former Life Skills participants to learn about their training and how it has impacted their lives for the better. Coun-cilor George Harry says “we are proud of who we are and what we’re doing; building bridges in the com-munity - one person at a time”.

Malahat hosts visit from Artutus Ridge Womens’ Circle

George Harry with Arbutus Ridge community members talking about his work in bringing economic investment to Malahat.

Women from Arbutus Ridge joined by Malahat Council, staff and past participants from the Malahat Life Skills Program.

On February 28th, Malahat held its second annual candlelight vigil at noon to honour Indigenous women and girls who have been missing or murdered. This was a community event led by Paul Harry, whose family has been touched by the loss of a niece and nephew.

Those in attendance were invited to share stories of remembrance about their experience with the devastat-ing and mysterious disappearance of a loved one.

A beautiful lunch was prepared by Maureen Daniels and the Womens’ Circle from Arbutus Ridge brought desserts for everyone to share.


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Malahat Vigil for Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women & Girls

George Harry welcomed over 70 Malahat members, administrative staff and guests to Malahat’s Candlelight Vigil for MMIW+G.

NOTICE: Malahat Passive Build TrainingMalahat Indigenous OPassive Construction Project

Member Paul Harry with Chief Caroline Harry and Councilor Vince Harry.

Two beautiful T-Shirts have been designed by Mala-hat member Earl Harry and by Leah Dorion, a Métis art-ist from Saskatchewan. Both are for sale at the Malahat admin. office with profits going to support the work of Women’s and Girl’s Groups in the community.

We invite everyone to support all the women and girls in our community as well as the broader commu-nity where some of our female loved ones may not be as safe amongst strangers as they are when they are here at home with us. But they can’t all be home, some must stretch their wings and fly.

When we treat our children well, they grow strong and become leaders of the next generation. Every child is a blessing. Let’s treat our children well.

Employment Opportunity

KLTP looking to hire Indigenous employees in Summer 2018 for work in Vancouver and the lower mainland. The project will see construction of pipeline and the expansion of facilities.Potential Job Openings:• Labourer • Electrician• Apprentice • Heavy Duty Mechanic• Welder • Heavy Equipment Operator• Pipefitter

If you are interested, please send your resume to [email protected]

Malahat in February and provided instruction and cer-tification in workplace safety. Participants were made aware of many instances where workplace injury can be prevented.

They received instruction and certification in injury prevention, workplace safety awareness, ladder safety, working in a confined space, fall prevention, and Bobcat operation as well as cashier training and Foodsafe.

In a fast-paced construction industry, employers need trained, ready-to-work people who can be count-ed on. They are constructing more than a building, they are building a team.

Since 1994, BladeRunners has helped construc-tion contractors fill entry-level positions with mo-tivated young people between the ages of 17 and 30. The month-long CSETS funded program was offered at

Malahat hosts BladeRunners Program

BladeRunners Malahat participants were Troy Harry, Lauri-Lyn Harry, Trevor Daniels, Clarice Daniels, Jordan Thomas, William Sulkanum and Malden Harry while Halalt participants were Brandy James, Arlene Norris, Dakota Norris, Brandon Norris, Andrew Norris, Dylan Norris and Dorothy Jack. The BladeRunners instructor was Herman Henry.


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Jordan Thomas takes the controls of the bobcat as he learns how to manoeuvre the tiny machine in restrictive areas.

Malahat members welcomed youth from Halalt First Nation who joined the BladeRunners program with them.

Support from the Duncan Cowichan business com-munity generated significant revenues for new construc-tion at the Malahat Nation lands in Mill Bay.

The Nation’s annual Golf and Gala Event at Bear Mountain Resort was an unrivaled success, raising near-ly a quarter million dollars.

Malahat CouncilIor Matt George commented “we were truly humbled by the overwhelming support from so many local businesses and shop owners. Their donations made a huge difference in the success of our live and silent auctions generating an additional $50,000 in sales over the previous year”.

The success of the fundraising Golf and Gala means that a new home for sports and recreation activities will now be incorporated into the new Multi-purpose facility which will also house a daycare and health unit .

The Nation raises their hands in thanks to the many investors, business partners, patrons and friends who have contributed to the Gala event since its inception in 2013.

“We are so grateful for the support of the business com-munity in helping us build a brighter future for our chil-dren and youth” Matt said.

Date announced for 2018 Malahat Golf & Gala


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Malahat Councillor Matt Harry looking at framing options with Suzan Kostiuck, owner of Excellent Frameworks in Duncan.

...last year’s Golf & Gala raised nearly a quarter million dollars

The Malahat annual Golf and Gala will be held at Bear Mountain Resort once again this year on Friday, September 14th, 2018. The day-long event is a month earlier that last year and promises to be great fun for Sponsors and guests.

Plans are well underway now for the 2018 Golf & Gala. Early in the day, a shotgun start will herald 18 holes of golf on the Mountain course and participants will have the op-portunity to win a fabulous car with a lucky hole-in-one shot. There are competitions and games throughout the day with wonderful prizes to be won.

For the evening Gala, Malahat organizers have invited one of Canada’s Top Chefs, Rich Francis to be a guest chef in the kitchens at Bear Mountain Resort and prepare a tradi-tional Coast Salish Feast for Gala guests.

Based in Saskatoon, Rich has been working to inrease the profile of Modern Indigenous Cuisine and is set to open ‘The Seventh Fire’ a first of its kind modern Indigenous cui-sine restaurant this spring. Rich is also a cookbook author and producer of Red Chef Revival, a new television series which blends history and cooking with traditional foods.

Gala ticket holders will have a chance to meet Rich on his cross-country tour filming segments for the TV series and he has been invited to be our guest speaker at the Gala event on September 14th.

Rich Francis, top chef, author, educator and restaurateur will be joining the Malahat Gala as guest chef and keynote speaker


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A very merry Malahat ChristmasThe Malahat annual Children’s

Christmas party and community dinner was an enjoyable afternoon for many Malahat families.

Malahat members even came from Duncan and Victoria to see cousins they haven’t seen for a while... and say hello to Santa too.

Everyone was welcomed by our Council members to this festive event and bright red T-shirts and touques were given to all members in attendance. Our chef Azam and

his team at Vancouver Island Event Catering laid out a beautiful tur-key dinner with all the trimmings.There was plenty for everyone and even a little left over for folks to take home.

Councillor George Harry was pleased to find a Christmas tree and says his regular hikes in the forest are not just good for hunting deer, but also good for spotting the ideal tree for Malahat’s annual Christmas celebration.

We heard that Santa gave this little one a tape measure and hammer for Christmas.

Clarice Daniels and Silas Harry thank Santa for the gifts.

The tables and bleachers were full of happy diners enjoying a fabu-lous turkey dinner with all the trimmings.

George Harry says hikes in the forest are good for hunting deer and spotting the perfect Christmas tree for the Malahat annual dinner.

Edward Daniels, Placide and June Mickey were happy to see Santa.


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Malahat’s two new wastewater lift stations are 90% complete and the generators will be up and running by mid-April 2018. General Con-tractor Stone Pacific will ensure the safe disposal of wastewater from the Malahat Village in this $1.6 million project. Our wastewater lift sta-tions (or sewage pump stations) are designed for pumping wastewater or sewage from a lower to a higher elevation because a gravity system is not possible due to our location on the side of a mountain and beside the ocean. This efficient lift station model avoids the far greater cost of installing a conventional system.

Logger Jason Coulson and his assistant were cutting down trees this month in preparation for the addition of 5 new homes on a new cul-de-sac uphill from Jesken Road. The new road will be known as Salmon Arrow Way.

One or more of the new homes will be con-structed with labour to lock-up stage provided through a partnership with Vancouver Island University and apprentices in their Red Seal Carpentry Trades Program.

The Nation is also looking forward to con-ducting a feasibility study next year with the support of INAC to look at building a subdivi-sion for an additional 50 new homes.

This would comply with our Council’s goal of bringing home members of our community who have left to find homes and employment opportunities elsewhere.

The Malahat Village is beginning to show signs of becoming a thriving little community and the home of our hopes and dreams as we work together in the spirit of “Nawt sa mawt Shqwaluwun” to build a future for our children and a place that embodies the spirit of our an-cestors as they walked these hills and forests long ago.

The Capital City Paving crew completes the asphalt road to our main lift station.

Self-loading logging truck operator Steve Sangara readies the load for delivery to the Malahat Longhouse to be milled as lumber for the restoration.

Logger Jason Closson falls trees on 3 homesites ready for development this Summer.

Lift Stations complete in April

Logging for additional homes


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A great deal of work is going on in our little community. Huge dump trucks, excavators and other heavy equipment from Maximum Excavating are moving 100’s of thousands of tons of aggregate from the Coast Mountain Resources site on the Malahat Industrial Lands to the site of the new Malahat multi-purpose facility. The aggregate is being built up to create a level sports field and bike track in front of the Kwunew Kwasun Centre and the adjacent new building site. With so much construction going on in the neighbourhood, safety fencing has been installed to keep our members and visitors out of the way of construction vehicles.

Good weather and planned activities for our youth dur-ing spring vacation means there are many children in close proximity to the heart of the construction activity. To keep everyone safe, the Nation has erected blue coated steel wire fencing panels around the hub of activity at the Kwunew Kwasun Learning Centre. Our children have been given les-sons in following safety rules on a construction site (the same one their parents get when they start working here).

The children know where they can go and where they can’t. They know to look up when they hear the beep-beep-beep of a vehicle which is backing-up on the site. We encourage our children to be safe and parents are encouraged to discuss safety facts with them. They’re learning the drill well and some are so keen they’ve even asked for jobs this summer.

Malahat Village becomes a construction site

Heavy duty construction fencing around the Kwunew Kwasun Centre and playground keeps our children safe.

The new building will be constructed on the North side of the Kwunew Kwasun Learning Centre.

Homes seen in the distance (along Jesken Road) will back onto the new multi-purpose facility.

Excavator and truck from Maximum Excavating move crushed gravel to the intented destinations, once it has been delivered to the site.


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Mill Bay Fireman Brian Caseley shows a serious looking Delores George how to use the firehose and adjust the spray for a far-away or close-by fire.

During the second week of the School District 79 annual spring break, Malahat children attending our Spring Camp were given the thrill of a visit from the Mill Bay Fire Department. Brian Caseley and Lieut. Arni Sandford showed the children some valuable fire safety lessons through a video presentation. The best part of the day may have been the opportunity to sit in the cab of a very big fire truck and take turns learning how to control the spray of a fire hose. All of the children spent a great morning with the firemen and said thanks to them for the visit.

On any Wednesday, you will find Jennifer Daniels picking up Elders in the Malahat van and taking them into town for appointments or shopping at one of the bigger stores.

This courtesy is extended to Malahat Elders so they don’t have to manoeuvre up and down our village’s steep hills to get to the bus stop on-Mill Bay Road. Rose takes advantage of the ser-vice from time to time when she has a big shop to do or when the weather makes travelling more difficult. Rose is a very active Elder, but we’re only too happy to give a little help when it can make a difference. Malahat staffer Jennifer Daniels escorts Rose Harry to Thrifty’s on Wednesday

Delores George making gingerbread cookies at school

Shayna Douglas on a school trip to Kerry Park Arena for skating

Elders Day on Wednesdays

George Bonner Activities

Mill Bay firemen visit Malahat

The staff and School Support Workers from George Bonner Elementary School enjoy non-instructional time just about as much as the kids do. Parents are welcome to join the stu-dents and teaching staff on outings such as the recent skating afternoon at Kerry Park Arena. An extra pair of hands to help lace up skates or help get novice skaters into the rink and using the skate trainers is always appreciated. Sup-port Workers Karalyn Joyce and John Thomas would enjoy your assistance on outings with your school age children.


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Emergency Police, Fire, Ambulance: ............ 911

RCMP Non emergency - Cobble Hill ........... 250-743-5514RCMP Non emergency - Duncan ................. 250-748-5522Crisis and Emergency Services (24hr) ...... 1-888-494-3888BC Hydro - report power outage ................. 1-800-224-9376Wildlife Conservation Officer ...................... 1-877-952-7277Cowichan District Hospital ............................ 250-709-3040H’ ulh-etun Health - Malahat ......................... 250-743-3900Mill Bay Medical Centre ................................. 250-743-3211Ingram Family Physicians ............................. 250-746-4401Coleman Clinic ............................................. 250-746-4102Alderlea Medical Clinic (walk in) ................... 250-748-9000Beverly Medical Clinic (walk in) .................... 250-597-3390Primacy – Cowichan Way Clinic (walk in) .... 778-422-3999Valley Medical Clinic ..................................... 250-748-6167

Food Bank - Mill Bay ................................... 250-743-5242Cowichan Valley Basket Society .................. 250-746-1566 Lake Cowichan Food Bank ........................... 250-749-6822

Chemainus Harvest House Food Bank ....... 250-246-3455 Cowichan Community Kitchens .........250-748-2242 ext.134CVRD ........................................................... 250-746-2500Municipality of North Cowichan .................... 250-746-3100 City of Duncan .............................................. 250-746-6126Town of Lake Cowichan ................................ 250-749-6681Town of Ladysmith ........................................ 250-245-6400

School Board Office (SD 79) ....................... 250-748-0321Vancouver Island University ......................... 250-753-3245Camosun College ......................................... 250-370-3000University of Victoria ...................................... 250-721-7211Royal Roads University ................................. 250-391-2511

Hiiye’yu Lelum (House of Friendship) ........... 250-748-2242M’akola Housing Society (Duncan) .............. 250-746-1785M’akola Housing Society (Victoria) ............... 250-384-1423Cowichan Aquatic Centre ............................ 250-746-7665 Bikeworks & Youth Art Studio ....................... 250-746-5512

Community Resources


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Photo ContestMalahat members are invited to submit photos for publication in the Malahat Quarterly Newsletter. Im-ages of people and places in our community will be reviewed by a panel of independent judges, and the winning images may be posted on our new website or in the Malahat Quarterly Newsletter. The member whose image is chosen each month will receive a restaurant gift card. Please send your photos to the Malahat Communications Department at:

[email protected] Harry (wearing T-Shirt designed by Earl Harry) takes phone shots around the community.

in this issue · entrances to the longhouse kitchen and dining hall. longhouse construction crew...

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