The festival is a two-day event that will be held at Maht Mahs gym. Doors open at 9 a.m. and sessions begin at 10 a.m.

The first day will be a brainstorming session and on Day 2 the festival will showcase what the communities already have and do to retain, revitalize and restore the language.

On March 30, students who attended Alberni Indian Residential School between 1959 and 1966 were reunited with their paintings done in volunteer art teacher Robert Aller's class. It was an emotional repatriation ceremony that took place at Alberni Athletic Hall.

Photos by Debora Steel

In mid-January, The Maaqutusiis Hahoulthee Stewardship Holdings Inc.. purchased the Kakawis land on Meares Island from the Oblates and on Feb. 16, the Ha'wiih (hereditary chiefs), and the elected Chief and Council hosted a celebration in honor of the acquisition. It is the site of the former residential school and a treatment centre that has since moved to Port Alberni. The Ahousahts will use the land for economic development, though there is no specific project in the works.

Facebook friend Montah Nadine McGee Sam has generously shared some photos from the Idle No More event held Dec. 30 at Simms Park in Courtenay.

The Idle No More Movement that has traveled like a fire from coast to coast, said Anne Robinson, has arrived on the West Coast. Today's event was in solidarity with the Idle no More activities that protest the Conservative agenda, including the Omnibus bills that change environmental protections on First Nations lands without consultation. There was also mention of a woman who is on a hunger strike, a chief from the northern Ontario community of Attiwapiskat, whose people live in extreme poverty, with substandard housing.

The Ditidaht First Nation hosted the province at this year's BC Aboriginal canoe championships held Sept. 22 and 23 on Nitinaht Lake. Ditidaht has had a paddling program for 100 days, launching the initiative June 11 with classes held as part of the school curriculum. 

Photographer Debora Steel

Photographer Debora Steel

Tlu-piich Games 2012: The 30th anniversary of the event. Fastball is a crowd favorite, because it's not much played anymore here in the valley.

Photographer Debora Steel

Photographer Debora Steel

So these are the faces of kids having fun... Aug. 9 at Bob Dailey field in Port Alberni .

Photographer Debora Steel

Sorry: I've lost track of what race or races these photos are from. They were taken in the morning of Aug. 9 during the NTC Tlu-piich Games.

Photographer Debora Steel

Photographer Debora Steel

Some athletic individuals who work at the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council sent out a challenge to other like minded individuals within the organization to take part in the 1500 at the Tlu-piich Games. We congratulate all the participants who went three and three/quarters around Bob Dailey Track in Port Alberni on August 8 under the noon-day sun.

Photographer Debora Steel

The nations with athletes competing in this, the 30th anniversary of the Tlu-piich Games, gathered together to show their colors and wave their flags during grand entry onto the field at Bob Dailey stadium in Port Alberni on Aug. 8, 2012.

Photographer Debora Steel

Opening day of the 30th anniversary of the Tlu-piich Games began with canoe races, and not only for the very experienced. Even children as young as seven were able to compete in the waters off Clutesi Haven Marina in Port Alberni on Aug. 7.

Photographer Debora Steel

The Assembly of First Nations held its election for the position of national chief on July 18. Eight candidates entered the race, including incumbent Shawn A-in-chut Atleo, and over three voting rounds the chiefs whittled the numbers down to one. They chose to give A-in-chut a renewed mandate. This is the story of that day through photos. Details about what's happening in the photos can be seen by clicking on details while you are viewing the photo, or by clicking on the name of the photo.

Photographer Debora Steel

On July 7, Uchucklesaht Tribe members traveled to their main village site, Elhlateese, to celebrate the completion of their new power generating system. The system was built under the Remote Community Electrification Program, which offers BC Hydro electricity services to communities that are in need of a reliable and cost-effective electricity supply. Joining the Uchucklesaht were representatives of BC Hydro, the federal government's Aboriginal Affairs ministry, and a variety of technical companies that worked to bring the service to Elhlateese.

The Atleo team held a fundraiser June 3 to support Shawn A-in-chut Atleo's re-election bid in the upcoming vote for Assembly of First Nations national chief to be held in Toronto July 18. The salmon barbecue with silent and live auctions took place at Vancouver Island University at the Shq'apthut Gathering House. The funds raised will go toward Atleo's travel as he campaigns in First Nations communities across Canada over the next 45 days.

Photos by Debora Steel

On May 23, the new Tseshaht Nation council was sworn into office at the Tseshaht Cultural Centre. Hugh Braker was also chosen as chief councillor.

Photos By Debora Steel

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission set up camp in Victoria holding statement gathering hearings on April 13 and 14. Opening ceremonies included a procession of dignitaries--the three commissioners Murray Sinclair, Marie Wilson and Wilton Littlechild, National Chief Shawn Atleo, President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs Stewart Phillip, Ed John of the First Nations Summit, and Barney Williams of the TRC advisory committee. Official witnesses, Chatelaine Gwendolyn Point, wife of Lt. Gov. Steven L. Point, and Dr. Andrea Walsh, were also introduced.

Photographer Debora Steel

Photographer Jim Steel

Photographer Debora Steel

Photographer Debora Steel

Photographer Debora Steel

Photographer Jim Steel

Given that the BC Junior All Native Basketball Championships begins tomorrow (Sunday, March 18) we thought you might like a look at basketball's glorious past in Nuu-chah-nulth territory.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission held hearings in Port Alberni March 12. Commissioner Marie Wilson heard stories from 23 people with an estimated 500 people looking on throughout the day.

Photos by Debora Steel

Photos by Debora Steel

Photos by Debora Steel

Photos by Debora Steel

Island Zones held in Port Alberni's Athletic  Hall Feb. 18. Finals will be webcast at www.hashilthsa.com starting at 9 a.m. Feb. 19.

Photos by Debora Steel

Homiss Wolves and Hesquiaht Braves--Boys Final--Braves win

Young Guns v. Hesquiaht Braves---Boys Semi finals--Braves' win.

The Quu'asa Urban Gatherings are currently underway. On July 14, the Quu-asa team was in Vancouver. Pictures were taken by photographer Joshua Hergesheimer.

Ha-Shilth-Sa is Canada's Oldest First Nations Newspaper. It began publishing on Jan. 24, 1974. Ha-Shilth-Sa is published by the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council (formerly West Coast District Council), a non-profit society serving members of the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations located along the west coast of Vancouver Island. In the beginning, the paper published without a name.