Cortes Currents

Roy L Hales/Cortes Currents - In a normal year, Cortes Island’s best known learning centre needs to take in $3 million in revenues to keep operating. 2020 has been anything but normal. As a result of COVID, most of this year’s programs were cancelled and Hollyhock could not rehire most of its usual staff. This has also been a year of innovations: with courses being offered online for the first time and a day-long virtual Hollyhock-a-thon called ‘Shine the Light.’ The Cortes Island centre’s response to this year’s challenges almost amounts to reinventing Hollyhock.

Francesca Gesualdi/ LIstening In - Helen Humphreys’ fourth novel, Wild Dogs, sure to be a hit with canine lovers everywhere, launches with a bold and poetic narrative voice. It is Alice, describing the circumstances of six strangers who’ve bonded over the loss of their dogs, now roaming as a pack in the woods. She readies us for one of the novel’s extended metaphors – “Love is like those wild dogs.”

Francesca Gesualdi/ LIstening In - Helen Humphreys’ fourth novel, Wild Dogs, sure to be a hit with canine lovers everywhere, launches with a bold and poetic narrative voice. It is Alice, describing the circumstances of six strangers who’ve bonded over the loss of their dogs, now roaming as a pack in the woods. She readies us for one of the novel’s extended metaphors – “Love is like those wild dogs.”

Odette Auger/Deep Roots - Language Warrior is a story about Jessie Louie, and her life’s work preserving and revitalizing ʔayʔaǰuθəm a distinct dialect of Northern Salishan. Jessie knows the value of reclaiming language as a source of strength; a treasure to preserve, and a key to survival.

Odette Auger/Deep Roots - Language Warrior is a story about Jessie Louie, and her life’s work preserving and revitalizing ʔayʔaǰuθəm a distinct dialect of Northern Salishan. Jessie knows the value of reclaiming language as a source of strength; a treasure to preserve, and a key to survival.

Toba Inlet is the glacier blue artery punching into the heart of the Toba River Valley and its mountainous flanks to access the mainland body of Klahoose traditional territory.

An entity in and of itself, Toba resources were, and continue to be, vital to Klahoose survival, culture and economic well-being.

The notion place can have affect on those that reside there is ancient and widespread in human history.

The Toba has shaped and has been shaped by the Klahoose, and the settlers, homesteaders and loggers who followed.

The story of Toba: The Heart Home is how living in his people’s traditional territory profoundly shaped a young boy. And, how that experience built a foundation of resilience, and forged an inspirational bond with an ancestor, both of which he’d draw upon to surmount challenges later in life.

Toba Inlet is the glacier blue artery punching into the heart of the Toba River Valley and its mountainous flanks to access the mainland body of Klahoose traditional territory.

An entity in and of itself, Toba resources were, and continue to be, vital to Klahoose survival, culture and economic well-being.

The notion place can have affect on those that reside there is ancient and widespread in human history.

The Toba has shaped and has been shaped by the Klahoose, and the settlers, homesteaders and loggers who followed.

The story of Toba: The Heart Home is how living in his people’s traditional territory profoundly shaped a young boy. And, how that experience built a foundation of resilience, and forged an inspirational bond with an ancestor, both of which he’d draw upon to surmount challenges later in life.

Odette AUger/ Deep Roots - The electoral system was brought by the Canadian government and imposed upon nations who with hereditary chiefs. It was was meant to bring equality and prevent oppression. If this has happened, it is only through the strength, determination and honour of leaders like Jessie Louie. She was the first woman chief of Klahoose, elected at a time when women in leadership roles were few.

Odette AUger/ Deep Roots - The electoral system was brought by the Canadian government and imposed upon nations who with hereditary chiefs. It was was meant to bring equality and prevent oppression. If this has happened, it is only through the strength, determination and honour of leaders like Jessie Louie. She was the first woman chief of Klahoose, elected at a time when women in leadership roles were few.

Odette Auger/ Deep Roots - Reclaiming Culture is a look into Culture nights with Michelle Robinson. What is shared over a meal? More than food, teachings are passed along through generations. Gathering to celebrate identity inspires drum making, and new songs are sung. Songs were lost as a direct result of intentional oppression [eg. residential school]. When Klahoose writes new songs to Welcome people to their lands, we are witnessing a profound moment of living culture, of cutting edge language work and a powerful pivot point in history. We also hear the voice of Jessie Louie, Drew Blaney drumming and song workshop, Cortes Museum and Archives work recording school children learning a new public song. Hands up to Jessie Louie, Michelle Robinson, CIMAS’s Brittany Baxter and Drew Blaney.