Launching March 2023, naaʔuu is a ticketed cultural experience presented by Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation, which will support Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks’ work in restoring and furthering the nation’s lands, language and culture. Join this unique event series for an evening of food, art, and cultural presentations.

Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation Presents naaʔuu

• When: March 2023
• Where: Best Western Plus Tin Wis Resort in Tofino
• Tickets: A limited number of tickets are on sale starting today.
  • Use code 30Miss604 for $30 off!

Named after a Nuu-chah-nulth word that translates to “come together” and “feast,” naaʔuu includes a delicious dinner that celebrates traditional coastal cuisine prepared by Chef Ian Riddick, with support from his Heartwood Kitchen team and Tla-o-qui-aht food suppliers.

“I’m really delighted to get involved because I really think that it’s a story that has to be told. One of the reasons that I was drawn to this area, and friends and family are drawn to this area, is because of this deep sense of history that was here before us,” says Chef Riddick.

“The art and culture of Nuu-chah-nulth and Tla-o-qui-aht, where we reside, it’s incredible and kind of drives us every day. Living here, getting a chance to work with Tla-o-qui-aht fishers, gatherers, and chefs, it’s a huge opportunity. To me, this is a really special opportunity for us.”

Held at the Tla-o-qui-aht-owned Best Western Plus Tin Wis Resort in Tofino, ticket-holders are invited to gather inside the resort’s conference centre, which has been transformed to look and feel like a traditional long house.

“We’ve been going back and forth about how the evening will look, but it’s really about bringing people together, almost in our house. Like inviting people into our house,” says Co-Producer Hjalmer Wenstob. “naaʔuu is really about sharing together and feasting together.”

ZenSeekers has more information about naaʔuu available here.

Tla-o-qui-aht Voices

“The evening itself is going to be culture and history, but told from the our perspective. Up until now we haven’t always been able to have the voice at the forefront of telling history so being able to tell our history is what we’re really excited about. We haven’t had this opportunity yet to really invite folks in to learn from Tla-o-qui-aht perspective, with their own voices.”

Wenstob says that naaʔuu will be done with Tla-o-qui-aht presenters, Tla-o-qui-aht hosts, Tla-o-qui-aht chefs and food will come from Tla-o-qui-aht.

“It’s really about inviting you in and being able to share a bit. I think the sharing element is what’s important, it’s not just us lecturing or even presenting. It’s about the cultural exchange and the experience in that way.”

naaʔuu events will also include an art show where local artists and makers will have their works for sale.

“I want folks to come in and have an experience that they’re proud of, that we’re proud of sharing, that they’re proud of hearing, and send folks off so they know a little bit more.”

Wenstob says that while he doesn’t expect anyone to learn everything in such a short amount of time at the events, it is an opportunity to ask questions then head out on their own adventure with Tla-o-qui-aht.

“With Truth and Reconciliation, we’re at the truth point still and this is an opportunity for us to share some truth, and for folks to ask questions and learn a little bit and just know where they are. Tla-o-qui-aht has been there from a scientific perspective for over 10,000 years, from our perspective, time immemorial.  This is our opportunity to open the door a little tiny bit, let a little bit of light out, and then folks have to go and do some exploration themselves.”

In the last two years, Wenstob has seen an increase in interest in learning about local history, the local nations, the language and the art. “To see that desire from the outside community means that this is the time. This is the time to start coming together and sharing, and really learning together and growing together. Up until now it’s always been at a distance – ‘us and them’ – and we have to break that down so this is an opportunity to start that work.”

When You Go

When you purchase naaʔuu tickets know that you are supporting Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks with an experience that will leave anyone with a Tla-o-qui-aht perspective on life and the lands they call home.

• Read about how staying at the Tla-o-qui-aht owned Tin Wis Resort supports the nation’s path forward.
• Purchase your tickets today, there are only a limited amount available for the 2023 spring event series!

Related: Indigenous Art & Voices

The Future Arts Network is launching its inaugural mentorship workshop for emerging writers and artists of colour. The free, low-barrier, and accessible program will be held online this month and applications for the program are now open through January 9th. Open to all BIPOC women and other marginalized genders, the program will run January 23 to February 15, 2023, focusing on how to engage with the literary arts and publishing industry.

Future Arts Network Society Mentorship Workshop

Future Arts Network Society was established in 2022 by co-leads Kristin Cheung and Michelle Ha. The organization was built on the groundwork laid by “The Future is you and me”, the country’s first and only interdisciplinary arts mentorship program for women of colour that was co-founded by Cheung and Megan Lau.

Over five years, the initiative hosted annual professional development workshops, produced an online symposium in 2020, and co-developed a community research report in 2021 with Cineworks titled “A Seat at the Table: Black, Indigenous & Women of Colour in Metro Vancouver’s Film and TV Industry Speak”. The project was officially sunset in 2021, but the mission to support and develop women of colour leaders in the arts remained a priority, which is why the Future Arts Network Society was founded. 

“Future Arts Network Society supports BIPOC, trans, and non-binary cultural workers to be creative, artistic, and innovative leaders,” says Cheung. “There is currently a lack of training that addresses the unique lived experiences of racialized women. Our programs serve as strategic interventions to reduce systemic barriers. We hope that by connecting emerging and industry professionals, we can build a meaningful community of future leaders that better reflect the make-up of Canada.”

The inaugural workshop will be focused on the literary arts, with mentorship sessions on pitching book proposals, grant writing, marketing, and more. Participants will also develop a collaborative book that will be published in spring 2023. Speakers currently include former Room magazine publisher and poet Molly Cross-Blanchard, co-creators of Hungry Zine Kathryn Gwun-Yeen and Kyla Pascal, award-winning author Jessica Johns, author and journalist Doretta Lau, Hugo Award-winning editor and writer Chimedum Ohaegbu, and more.  

How to Apply for the Program

Applicants must be 18 years or older and while no experience is necessary, they must have a keen interest in writing and the arts. Each participant will receive an honorarium of $500 at the end of the program. Apply online until January 9, 2023.

The is monthly series features the latest updates and news from Covenant House Vancouver. Miss604 is proud to be their Official Blog Partner. This month’s post has been written by Jason Bosher of Covenant House Vancouver.

Covenant House Vancouver 2022 Impact Wrap Up

Looking back on 2022 it was a year of change and growth for Covenant House Vancouver. They moved into a new 10-storey, purpose-built facility in downtown Vancouver, and their programs and services expanded.

At Covenant House Vancouver, young people are greeted without judgment — with unconditional love and with absolute respect — often for the first time in their lives. Community support makes it possible for their frontline staff to develop meaningful relationships built on trust with the youth who access their programs. They work to meet each young person’s unique needs by providing them with individualized programming, wraparound services, and relentless support.

Covenant House thanks everyone who has stood behind and shown support for each of the resilient and inspiring young people who needed a helping hand last year.

Here are just a few ways that their community of supporters and volunteers made an impact on the youth at Covenant House Vancouver in 2022:

You can learn more about Covenant House Vancouver and read inspiring stories in the 2022 Impact Report.

Looking Towards 2023 With Hope

As you head into a new year remind yourself of all the good you have accomplished. What have you been able to overcome? How far are you from where you started? What are you most proud of?

Because of the incredible support from the community, the youth who come to Covenant House Vancouver can have the same reflections. They can look back and be proud of where they are today.

Because supporters, donors, volunteers, and staff believe in them the young people start to believe in themselves. And when they start to believe in themselves, their futures are limitless.

Thank you for helping to make 2023 brighter for thousands of young people!

Since 1997, Covenant House Vancouver has been providing love and hope to youth experiencing homelessness. They are the premiere service provider of residential and outreach services for homeless and at-risk youth ages 16 to 24 in Vancouver. Follow Covenant House on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more info.

E-Comm, which handles 99 per cent of BC’s 9-1-1 call volume at its two emergency communications centres, has released its annual Top Ten list of calls that don’t belong on 9-1-1.

E-Comm call taker Mark Kolomejac has responded to many nuisance calls during his time as a police call taker. He says that although general questions and complaints might not seem like a significant burden, their impact on public safety can be detrimental. The worst part? The problem is preventable.

“Nuisance calls never belong on emergency lines, but it’s extremely concerning how often callers know their non-urgent concerns aren’t an appropriate reason to call 9-1-1. We regularly get callers stating ‘I know this isn’t an emergency, but I didn’t know who else to call,’” explains Kolomejac. “If you have a flat tire or a broken windshield wiper for example, we can’t help you on 9-1-1, but a towing company or roadside assistance will be able to get you the support that you need.”

Top Ten 9-1-1 Nuisance Calls of 2022

1. The nozzle wasn’t working at the gas station
2. They had a flat tire
3. People were playing basketball on a public court at night time
4. Someone wasn’t picking up after their dog
5. Someone was using their garbage bin
6. Complaining about children drawing with chalk at a playground
7. Their phone was stuck in a bench
8. Looking for an update on a nationwide telco outage
9. Someone called 9-1-1 because they had a broken window wiper
10. Someone cut in line at the car wash

E-Comm answered a total of 2,109,440 calls on 9-1-1 in 2022, marking the busiest year in the organization’s history with a 1.8 per cent increase from 2021. Of these calls, 98 per cent were answered in five seconds or less – surpassing both E-Comm’s contracted service level and industry standards for 9-1-1 call answer. Despite a publicly recognized rise in demand for all emergency services, E-Comm call takers continue to field nuisance calls on 9-1-1, diverting critical resources from British Columbians in real emergency situations.

By making the right call, you can help ensure that your loved ones get the assistance that they need in an emergency. It can be confusing to know the right resource to reach out to, so E-Comm has a comprehensive list of alternative resources on its website.

E-Comm is encouraging British Columbians to commit to a resolution that they can keep—protecting the province’s critical emergency resources by keeping 9-1-1 lines free for police, fire and ambulance emergencies.

The Vernon Winter Carnival is a continuing tradition that brings the community together and keeps everyone connected through shared and memorable experiences. From February 3 to 12, 2023, enjoy over a hundred events from the legendary parade and ice sculpture competition to dining, dancing, games, and fun for the whole family. As you plan around your Carnival calendar, here are a few things to know:

Learn more from FestivalSeekers how has all of the details, and some great stories about the Carnival and don’t miss out on the Carnival Raffle. There are over $28,000 in prizes up for grabs in support of the festival and its legacy, enter today and experience the best of Vernon all year round!

5 Things to Know About the Vernon Winter Carnival

1. The first Winter Carnival in Vernon was held on Long Lake (Kalamalka Lake) February 23, 1893 and the first annual Carnival (as we know it today) was held January 27 to February 5, 1961. You can read about the early days of the festival in this interview I did for FestivalSeekers.

2. What is a Jopo? As in the Jopo Swim at the Vernon Aquatic Centre on February 5th. Jopo (and Jopette) is a made-up name for Carnival jesters first introduced in 1966.

3. The first Polar Bear Swim was in 1976. You can join this year’s Polar Bear Swim on February 11th at Paddlewheel Hall, and don’t miss the Polar Bear Market happening there as well.

4. The Carnival has had many unique events over the years, like Jam Can Curling, and they continue to come up with fun and innovative activities. New events this year include Bubble Tea Making Class, Pokemon Habitats, a Snowmobile Scavenger Hunt.

5. Fire and ice! From the heat of the hot air Balloon Glow lighting up the night sky, to roasting s’mores at Carnival Days at O’Keefe Ranch, to snow sculptures at Silver Star and the incredible Snow Globe Concert with the Reklaws February 10th. The two extremes blend together harmoniously for heaps of winter fun during the Carnival.

To learn more on the history to one of Canada’s longest – and biggest – winter celebrations, please have a read to this FestivalSeekers story. Follow the Vernon Winter Carnival on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for information and inspiration.

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