You are here
What's New
Science World To Host Regular Screenings Of "Bear Witness" During Hunting Season
(VANCOUVER, BC, September 13 2013) - Coastal First Nations is pleased to announce that Vancouver's Telus World of Science has added the short documentary Bear Witness to its fall programming. The centre's regular visitors will now have the chance to learn about First Nations-led bear research — and the threat of trophy hunting — in the Great Bear Rainforest.
"We applaud the courage it took for Science World to come on board as a supporting venue," said Heiltsuk tribal Councillor Jessie Housty. "Trophy hunting is controversial in British Columbia, and it's a testament to this great educational institution that they would choose to shine a light on the problem and the work being done by our coastal communities."
COASTAL GUARDIAN WATCHMEN READY TO UPHOLD FIRST NATIONS BAN ON TROPHY HUNTING
(VANCOUVER, BC, September 10 2013) - With trophy hunters descending on BC's Central Coast for the opening of grizzly season, Guardian Watchmen patrol vessels from First Nations communities are once again heading out to monitor compliance with tribal law.
One year ago, the Coastal First Nations alliance announced a ban on killing bears for sport in the unceded territories of nine signatory nations. That ban remains in effect and extends protection to grizzlies, black bears, Kermode bears, and the genetically unique Haida black bear.
The Coastal Guardian Watchmen Network, a project of the Coastal First Nations, provides support to community Resource Stewardship Offices to monitor and protect their lands and waters. The stewardship offices are responsible for managing fisheries, marine use and land use planning, tracking referrals and other resource stewardship activities.
BearsForever website launched
Coastal First Nations is proud to announce the launch of www.BearsForever.ca, a project of the Central Coast First Nations Bear Working Group. "This website gives all British Columbians the chance to meet some of our real coastal bears, and speak up on their behalf," said Heiltsuk Coastwatch Director William Housty.
Members of the public are invited to voice their support for the Coastal First Nations ban on trophy hunting by signing the pledge at www.BearsForever.ca.
Coastal First Nations is an alliance of the Wuikinuxv Nation, Heiltsuk, Kitasoo/Xai’xais, Nuxalk, Gitga’at, Metlakatla, Old Massett, Skidegate, and Council of the Haida Nation, working together to create a sustainable economy on British Columbia’s North and Central Coast and Haida Gwaii.
MEDIA ADVISORY – NEW FILM TELLS STORY OF GRIZZLY BEAR KILLED IN VIOLATION OF FIRST NATIONS BAN ON TROPHY HUNTING
(VANCOUVER, BC, September 3, 2013) Last May, trophy hunters shot and killed a five-year-old grizzly bear in BC’s Kwatna estuary — an ancient First Nations village site midway between the central coast communities of Bella Bella and Bella Coola. The bear, nicknamed 'Cheeky' by local field technicians, was skinned and left to rot in a field. His head and paws were carried out past a sign declaring trophy hunting closed in the Great Bear Rainforest.
Cheeky the bear may have died the same way as 100 other bears every year in the Great Bear Rainforest. The difference is, this time there was a witness.
Help Rebuild Bella Bella
http://rebuildbellabella.tumblr.com/
Funds raised will support immediate assistance for families in need and will help initiate the process of rebuilding. Any assistance is welcome.
How to donate
We have set up a PayPal account to accept credit card donations. At the moment, monetary funds are most useful to us as we try to meet immediate and urgent needs of our community. As time goes by and we learn more about the state of the damage, other donations may be needed. Thank you so much for all of your support.
Fire destroys Bella Bella grocery store, post office, and community services
Tribal leaders ask for support, donations as community pledges to rebuild
Bella Bella, BC - Residents of the First Nations community of Bella Bella, BC are devastated today by a sudden fire that destroyed one of the most important buildings in their small coastal village. The commercial hub and community gathering place housed Bella Bella’s only grocery store, liquor store, post office, community library and cafe.
The fire broke out at approximately 3am and the building suffered extensive damage from smoke, fire and water, including the collapse of parts of the main floor into the offices and services located below.
The Sound of Silence: First Nations Release Oil Spill Commercial Reminding British Columbians of Dangers Oil Tankers
Released on the 24th anniversary of the Exxon Valdez oil spill, powerful television commercial features oil spill footage and iconic song by Simon & Garfunkel
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA (March 24, 2013) - The Coastal First Nations today released a television commercial reminding British Columbians of the dangers and costs of bringing oil tankers to BC’s pristine coastal waters.
See the commercial on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XNwjdI5m_E
Media Advisory - Coastal First Nations to release oil spill commercial reminding British Columbians of Dangers of Oil Tankers
Media Advisory
Released on the 24th anniversary of the Exxon Valdez oil spill, powerful television commercial features music by famous American singer-songwriter.
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - March 22, 2013) - Attention News Editors: Media are invited to a brief media screening and Q&A session with Art Sterritt, Executive Director of the Coastal First Nations, for a new oil spill television commercial being released on the anniversary of the Exxon Valdez oil spill (March 24).
The commercial features the music of a famous American singer-songwriter, and high-resolution copies will be made available to media on USB flash drives.
Who: Art Sterritt, Executive Director of the Coastal First Nations
When: Sunday, March 24, 2013 at 1:00pm
Great Bear Forest Carbon Project
In the Great Bear Forest Carbon Project video members of the Coastal FIrst Nations are interviewed on why the project is so important to them.
Only one place on Earth is h ome to ancient cedars, towering spruce, cougars, wolves, grizzlies, salmon, and the iconic Kermode, or Spirit Bear, which gives its name to the region. at 6.4 million hectares, the Great Bear Rainforest is the largest intact coastal temperate rainforest in the world. For thousands of years First Nations on Canada's west coast have sourced life, culture and heritage from this environment. Today, the Great Bear Rainforest is such a global rarity that it has inspired unconventional partnerships, visionary leadership, and a radical change in the way we manage our resources.
Coastal First Nations pull out of this week's Northern Gateway Pipeline Joint Review Panel hearings
(Prince Rupert, BC) February 4, 2013 – Coastal First Nations can’t afford to participate in this week’s Joint Review Panel (JRP) on the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline in Prince Rupert.
This is a David and Goliath scenario, said Art Sterritt. “It seems the only party that can afford this long and extended hearing process is Enbridge and, perhaps, the Federal Government. The average citizen can’t afford to be here and the Coastal First Nations cannot afford to be here.”
Sterritt, the executive director of the Coastal First Nations, said pulling out was a difficult decision because the Emergency Response Panel is dealing with important issues. “We planned to ask questions that included: does diluted bitumen sink; how quickly can a spill be responded to and how effective can cleanup be; how long will spilled oil remain in the ecosystem and what are the costs of a spill cleanup and who will pay.”
