Stay Prepared for Flood Season: A Message from Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council

At Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council, we care deeply about the safety and well-being of our Member Nations and their communities. As we move through this winter season, a mix of mild weather and wild events—such as strong windstorms and heavy rainfall—serves as a reminder of how unpredictable weather can be. These events highlight the importance of being prepared for unexpected disruptions, and it’s crucial to plan ahead. Taking the necessary steps to ensure your household is prepared can make all the difference when the unexpected happens.

As colder weather approaches, now is the perfect time to review and update your emergency plans. Here are some essential flood preparedness steps to help ensure you’re ready for whatever the season may bring.

Essential Flood Preparedness Steps:

1. Develop an Emergency Plan: Discuss evacuation routes and establish a meeting place for your household in case of an emergency. Make sure everyone knows what to do and where to go if flooding or another emergency occurs.

2. Assemble an Emergency Kit: Create a kit with the essentials you’ll need to stay safe and comfortable during an emergency. Items should include non-perishable food, water, medications, a flashlight, extra batteries, and important documents like identification and insurance papers.

3. Stay Informed: Stay updated with local weather forecasts and alerts. Reliable sources, such as weather apps or local news outlets, can provide you with the most current information, allowing you to make informed decisions.

4. Protect Your Property: Ensure that your property is as safe as possible by checking drainage systems around your home. Consider using sandbags to divert water away from your property during heavy rainfall, which can help minimize damage.

5. Review Insurance Coverage: Check your insurance policy to ensure it covers flood-related damages. Understanding your coverage can provide peace of mind in the event that flooding affects your property

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For a more comprehensive guide on flood preparedness, visit the PreparedBC Flood Preparedness Guide at www2.gov.bc.ca.

We’re here to help ensure that all of our Member Nations are ready for the season ahead. We encourage you to take these steps to heart and prepare your household in advance. Stay safe, stay prepared, and know that together, we can support each other and keep our communities strong through any storm.

Photo from gov.bc.ca

T'Souke First Nation: the Epitome of Stewards of the Land

T'Souke First Nation exemplifies what it means to be stewards of the land. In collaboration with organizations such as the Coastal Restoration Society, work continues on projects such as the monitoring of green crab populations, marine shore clean-up, emergency response, and monitoring of wild salmon populations. The Coastal Restoration Society supports environmental remediation projects in alliance with First Nations and government agencies, as well as community members and businesses in the marine industry like Vancouver Island Lodge.

Chief Gordon Planes, T'Sou'ke First Nation

The monitoring and controlling of the European green crab population is a challenging one, given that they are a thriving, invasive species which poses a danger to native eelgrass beds, juvenile clam beds, and wild salmon rearing habitat.

"Invasive European Green Crab are being found up and down the West Coast in larger numbers than ever. These crabs outcompete native species and destroy sensitive and ecologically important habitat.

Coastal Restoration Society, in partnership with BCSRIF (British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund), Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ahousaht, Tla-o-qui-aht, and T'Sou-ke First Nations have launch a project to study industrial trapping as a way to mitigate the impacts of European Green Crab on the West Coast of Canada. "

As well, the Clean Coast, Clean Waters Initiative is aimed at the removal of anthropogenic debris from shoreline environments and removal of derelict vessels from near and inshore marine environments.

"In partnership with the T’Sou-ke First Nation, the beaches around Sooke got a deep clean this summer thanks to the Clean Coast, Clean Waters Initiative, which funded the T’Sou-ke Shoreline Beach Clean Up. A team built of T’Sou-ke Nation members, local businesses, and community members retrieved a staggering 10 tons of debris, with the majority headed to the The Ocean Legacy Foundation recycling facility in Vancouver."

Naut'sa mawt Tribal Council raises our hands to Chief Gordon Planes as he continues to inspire others and show that T'Souke First Nation is the embodiment of Indigenous Land Guardians. Hay čxʷ q̓ə.

Compost Workshop at Malahat Community Garden

The Community Food Network organized and funded a compost workshop at the Malahat Community Garden on Friday, September 23, 2022. It was taught by Kayla Siefried from the Compost Education Center and was a hands-on demo of making outdoor compost and general tips and tricks and uses for compost. The gardeners received kudos from Kayla for having a very pollinator friendly garden.

Attending was Sandy Joe (lead gardener), Shane Sylvester (seasonal gardener) and Darren James (assistant gardener).

Please reach out to seannaj@nautsamawt.com if you would like to host a compost workshop in your community or if you'd like the notes from this workshop.