Gallery: ‘100 Drums’ celebration at Shulus Arbor
A sense of community was on full display on Saturday, September 18, through the 100 Drums celebration.
Category: Aboriginal
Merritt forester named new BCFNFC CEO
The BC First Nations Forestry Council (BCFNFC) recently found its newest CEO in Merritt man Lennard Joe, a Registered Professional Forester with more than 30 years of experience in natural resource management and consulting.
100 Drums celebration at Shulus
The sense of community will be in full display on Saturday, September 18, through the 100 Drums celebration.
Nicola Valley welcomes the UWindsor Lancers
On Saturday, August 27, the team and staff of the University of Windsor Lancers hockey team, along with representatives of Unifor Canada and First Nations Emergency Services Society, were present at Shulus Arbor for a welcoming ceremony.
Merritt lacrosse player plays in BC Summer Games
A local Indigenous student athlete represented Merritt at the BC Summer Games in Prince George last month, with 15 year old Roland Quewezance, a Merritt Secondary School student and lifelong lacrosse player, joining up with other students from across the province for a weekend tournament.
CNA hands out free potatoes
42 pallets containing 1200 lbs of potatoes in each were delivered to Citxw Nlaka’pamux Assembly (CNA) for distribution to the community. The potatoes are from Second Harvest, the largest food rescue charity in Canada.
Nexii to build first homes in Lytton
Nexii Building Solutions, a climate-friendly construction company, announced it will rebuild the first two homes in the Lytton fire zone in collaboration with the Village of Lytton and Lytton First Nation.
Lower Nicola Indian Band performs wildfire mitigation
Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC) awarded close to $250,000 in funding to the Lower Nicola Indian Band (LNIB) for the removal of wildfire risks.
Upper Nicola Band assists in the update of foreshore program
Councillor Brian Holmes of the Upper Nicola Band (UNB), sustainability scholars from the University of British Columbia, and representatives of Living Lakes Canada recently gathered at Nicola Lake to discuss culturally and archaeologically significant areas of the lake’s foreshore, and perform a mock survey of the lake.
BC External Credentials Program update
B.C.’s External Credentials Program (ECP) announced that it will be expanding its scope on Friday, July 1.
Merrittonians win ‘Indigenous Youth Excellence’ sports award
Three young local Indigenous athletes have won the 2021 Premier’s Awards for Indigenous Youth Excellence in Sport, being hailed for their commitment to sport, active living, education, and culture.
Local wins first place in provincial bull riding
The Provincials took place in Quesnel, B.C. from June 10 – 12. Sterling Jr. edged out the competition and was able to take home the first place buckle, cash prize, and a scholarship from the association.
Indigenous Peoples Day at Rotary Park
Community members crowded Rotary Park for the first time in three years to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21, marking a return to ‘normal’ for yet another beloved Merritt event. Warm weather and blue skies greeted participants for a day of culture and fun.
Vancouver reporter wins awards for reporting on Indigenous injustices
Through covering issues such as residential schools and Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), the award-winning journalist had faced countless horrors that could make others quit on the job. However through her persistence, she has not only covered these sensitive issues but has also been awarded and recognized because of it.
CNA hosts hand drumming group
Merrittonians wishing to go by the beat of their own drum can attend the monthly hand drum group meeting held at the Coldwater Access Centre on June 29th, one of the many initiatives supporting Indigenous culture and learning during Indigenous History Month.
Learning how to make bannock at Kekuli Cafe
In thinking about Indigenous cuisine, chances are that Bannock would be one of the first things that comes to mind. This popular baked good has been a staple within the Indigenous community and for good reason.
Scw’exmx Community Health Services Society is ‘Bringing Tradition Home’
This 9-week program will serve as a tool for parents to navigate through a modern urban society, all the while preserving traditional values and cultural practices through their children.
SD58 Aboriginal Graduation
Caps flew in the air for the first time in Merritt last week, with School District 58’s (SD58) Aboriginal Graduation marking the beginning of the 2022 grad ceremony season. Graduates and their friends and families gathered at Merritt’s NVIT campus for traditionally-based graduation processions.
Recognizing National Indigenous History Month
The federal government has released a statement recognizing June as National Indigenous History Month, acknowledging both the importance of Indigenous culture and experiences, and the horrifying mistreatment of Indigenous people throughout the colonial history of Canada.
Conayt opens new daycare
The community came out in full force to support the Conayt Friendship Society’s newest endeavour, a daycare and Aboriginal Headstart program space at Merritt’s Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT) campus. The space is host to a handbuilt traditional playground space, one of the many pieces of Indigenous culture in the space.
