Greens at Tribal Journeys 2017

by | Aug 12, 2017 | Member Submitted Articles, News and Events

By Mark de Bruijn      This annual event is hosted by a different 1st Nation or tribe somewhere on the Pacific Northwest Coast. This year it was the Wei Wai Kai Nation of Campbell River and the Wei Wai Kum Nation of Cape Mudge on Quadra Island that co-hosted it, August 4-10. The theme of this year’s Journey was Standing Together, and it certainly lived up to this vision! Native peoples from up and down the Pacific Northwest Coast came to stand together as they continue to rediscover their cultures, languages, and most important, their strength and dignity.      One of the largest such events yet, Standing Together saw over 100 traditional west coast canoes from deep in Puget Sound to Haida Gwaii paddle their way to Campbell River. With their support crews, over 1000 people were involved in the paddling, which included men and women and children of all ages.      The canoes arrived at Cape Mudge on Friday afternoon, Aug. 4, where they were welcomed ashore in traditional fashion by the chiefs of the Wei Wai Kum, accompanied by singing and drumming. A number of dignitaries were on hand to add to the welcome with some inspired speeches. Then on Saturday all paddled over to Campbell River’s Tyee Spit, part of the traditional territory of the Wei Wai Kai Nation. With ceremony, speeches, singing and gift giving, each paddling family was received in turn by the local chiefs.      After all had been welcomed, everyone reconvened on the grounds of the Thunderbird Hall for a huge feast. It is estimated the crowd swelled to over 7000 people by...

Campbell River Canada Day 2017

by | Jul 5, 2017 | News and Events

Truly Reflective of Green’s environmentalist roots, NIPR volunteers once again organized and staffed the recycling program at the 2017 Campbell River Canada Day festivities. Shown here are Carol Thatcher and Mark de Bruijn, with Mark’s brther Roland from the Alberta oil patch (!). The fourth member of the crew (seen in the second picture) was Sylvie Keen, a new NIPR volunteer who traveled from her home in Tahsis to help out. Thanks, Sylvie. It was so great to meet you and work with...

Microplastics in shellfish

by | Jun 20, 2017 | Letters to the Editor

I was surprised to read that, according to the Denman Island beach clean-up people, the biggest source of plastics in the Sound is from the shellfish industry itself tossing its plastic waste in to the water (three to four tons annually). I would have thought and industry would not contaminate its own product, but especially an industry that calls itself ‘sustainable’.

Saanich-Gulf Islands EDA Annual General Meeting

by | Jun 14, 2017 | News and Events

Photo caption: “Six Greens from the Courtenay-Alberni and North Island-Powell River federal electoral districts travelled to Sydney yesterday (June 10) to attend the Annual General Meeting of the Saanich-Gulf Islands (SGI) Green Party of Canada Electoral District Association. Shown in the photo, from left to right: LeRoy McFarlane (CEO of NIPR EDA), Megan Ardyche, Mark de Bruijn, Sue Moen (all from the NIPR EDA), Elizabeth May (Leader of the Green Party of Canada and MP for SGI), Don Munroe, Sharon Edwards (both from the Courtenay-Alberni riding), Thomas Toewen (Coordinator of the SGI EDA), and Adam Olsen (newly elected BC Green MLA for the provincial riding that overlaps SGI).” SGI is Elizabeth May’s riding, and the EDA there is probably the most active and enthusiastic in all of Canada, for all parties — according to Elizabeth! So it was an exciting opportunity for us from the north end of the Island to see how a mature EDA operates its AGM, and have fun mingling with fellow Greens from the south. An added bonus was the Elizabeth’s presence, as well as that of Adam Olsen, the newly elected Green MLA for Saanich North and the Islands provincial riding.  Meeting Adam Olsen was a special treat, and he gave a wonderful and heart-felt talk on some of his experiences in Victoria as one of the three BC Greens that were elected to the Legislature on May 9. It is clear that Green values and perspectives are already having an influence on our provincial government. The highlight of the day was spending a few moments with Elizabeth, and hearing her give an update on...

Earth Day on Mitlenatch Island

by | Apr 27, 2017 | News and Events

Green Party members Mark de Bruijn and Carol Thatcher, with friends Elizabeth Karunaratne and Chris Farah, spent Earth Day as part of the week of April 16-23 as volunteer stewards on Mitlenatch Island in the middle of the Salish Sea. This little island oasis is a Provincial Nature Park, home to BC’s largest garter snakes, as well as many of BC’s endangered plant species. In late winter-early spring, large numbers of seals and sea lions congregate on its many rocks and cliffs. As one of our largest breeding grounds of the glaucous winged gull and two species of cormorants, it is also an internationally designated Important Bird Area. The rich waters surrounding it comprise a large Rockfish Conservation Area. Every week from April to September small teams of volunteers take turns spending a week on the island acting as stewards. The only human presence, apart from the volunteer stewards, is the occasional day visitor arriving by boat. To safeguard the plants and breeding birds, most of the island is strictly out of bounds to everyone. Our role as stewards is to ensure that visitors understand the special and protected nature of the place. We also participate in a number of scientific studies and help remove various invasive plant species such as sedum and Himalayan blackberries. Mitlenatch was a magical place indeed to be on Earth Day, as we joined with many others around the world who in their own ways were demonstrating their love for our...

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