Write to Read BC

Tag: partnerships

  • Tsawassen

    About the community

    The Tsawwassen First Nation is in greater Vancouver, in BC’s lower mainland. Its name means “land facing the sea”. Traditionally, its lands covered a what is now Pitt Meadows, New Westminster, and several gulf islands off the mainland’s west coast. It has lands close to the south arm of the Fraser River, and just north of the border with the USA at Point Roberts.

    Tsawassen First Nation has a youth centre on site that includes a gymnasium, weight room, art room, teen lounge, and teaching kitchen. It has areas for music, dance, and media that allow for scheduled and drop-in classes. There is after-school care for young children.

    The centre also has a library.

    About the library

    Write to Read BC installed the library in partnership with the Tsawwassen First Nation Youth Centre.

  • Aboriginal Mother Centre

    About the organisation

    Aboriginal Mother Centre offers housing in Vancouver, BC, for mothers and their young children, who are at risk of homelessness or child welfare intervention. The program offers suites for mothers and children under the age of nine.

    The program focuses on mothers giving back to their community, for example by helping with the Elders program by serving food, cleaning up tables, distributing food to take home, and engaging with Elders.

    Aboriginal Mother Centre also offers family-wellness programs for mothers to enhance their skills and abilities as parents, and help them on their life journeys. Each week, the centre also offers parenting workshops, housing- and resources workshops, life-skills workshops and self-care workshops.

    About the library

    Write to Read BC placed a library in the Aboriginal Mothers Centre. The library’s sponsors included the Rotary Club of Whistler Millennium.

  • Gitsegukla

    About the community

    Gitsegukla is is on the southeast side of the Skeena River adjacent to the Kitseguecla River mouth, in west-central BC’s Skeena region. This indigenous community is about 100 km northwest of Smithers and about 110 km northeast of Terrace.

    About the library

    Write to Read BC installed its 19th library here, in the Gitsegukla elementary school. Its sponsors included the Rotary Club of Terrace-Skeena Valley, the Rotary Club of Peachland, and the Jack Gin Family Foundation.

    The entrance of Gitsegukla school and library.
    A literacy-focused addition to the community school.

  • Ahousaht

    About the community

    Ahousaht First Nation is a coastal community on Vancouver Island in BC. It includes much of Clayoquot Sound, and is the largest First Nation on the west coast of Vancouver Island by population. It has 2,400 members.

    Ahousaht First Nation’s core values are to respect one another, teach one another, care for one another, and help one another​, and to know that everything is one—everything is interconnected. The community also publishes a dictionary of Ahousaht words.

    About the library

    Write to Read BC’s 15th library was installed here. Its sponsors included the Rotary Club of Vancouver Arbutus, and the Rotary Club of Steveston.

  • Tsay Keh Dene

    About the community

    The Tsay Keh Dene First Nation is a Sekani band in the Omineca region of northern BC’s interior. Its territories, settlements, and reserves are around Williston, about 550 kilometres north of Prince George.

    The people of Tsay Keh Dene hunted, trapped, fished, gathered food and herbs, and traditionally lived on this territory in the Rocky Mountain Trench. Tsay Keh Dene means People of the Mountain.

    The community is vibrant, created through hard work and commitment to its values, beliefs, and principles. This includes striving for sustainable growth and improving quality of life of its members. It does this through sound governance and responsible growth.

    About the library

    In partnership with the community Write to Read BC installed its 13th library here. Its sponsors included Rotary Club of Prince George Yellowhead, and Britco (now Boxx Modular).

  • Nooaitch

    About the community

    Nooaitch First Nation is in the southern interior region of BC, with its reserve community and offices in Merritt. The main urban centre is in the Nicola Country region, between the Lower Mainland and Kamloops.

    The Nooaitch First Nation reserve has a population of about 250 people.

    Economically, forestry is important to this community. In response to pine beetle infestation, in 2007 the band agreed to harvest 20,000 m³ of timber annually over a 5 years, in its traditional territory.

    About the library

    Nooaitch First Nation’s vision for its library included video-conferencing. As a result, other partners donated computers and screens, to make that vision a reality. This library can offer remote participation in courses and conferences, in its learning centre. In partnership with the community, this was the 12th library Write to Read BC installed. Sponsors included Rotary Club of Merritt, and Britco Structures (now Boxx Modular).

  • Metlakatla

    About the community

    Metlakatla is a small, west-coast village at Metlakatla Pass near Prince Rupert, BC.

    Metlakatla village is a progressive community, 5 km north of Prince Rupert on an ancient site. For thousands of years, the Metlakatla people have lived there. Metlakatla means saltwater pass in Sm’algyax, the language of the Coast Ts’msyen (Tsimshian) people.

    Metlakatla honour their history on the land. Its council oversees a number of services in the community to ensure members have the best quality of life possible, including access to healthcare, education, recreation, and social development.

    About the library

    This is the 10th library Write to Read BC installed, in partnership with the community. Its sponsors included Camera Buildings and Coquitlam Chrysler (Now Journey Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram).

  • Ditidaht

    About the community

    The Ditidaht First Nation is a band government on southern Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. The government has 17 reserve lands: Ahuk, Tsuquanah, Wyah, Clo-oose, Cheewat, Sarque, Carmanah, Iktuksasuk, Hobitan, Oyees, Doobah, Malachan, Opatseeah, Wokitsas, Chuchummisapo, and Saouk.

    Several of these lands are part of the newly established Pacific Rim National Park and can be reached on foot by the West Coast Trail. The land, waters, resources, and environment have always been the source of life, culture, and spirituality of the Ditidaht People.

    Ditidaht First Nation is governed by an elected Chief and councillors. Ditidaht Economic Development Corporation manages economic development the nation.

    About the library

    Write to Read BC installed its ninth library here, in partnership with the community. The Rotary Club of North Delta was a sponsor of this library.

  • Kwakiutl

    About the community

    The Kwakiutl, in Fort Rupert, are a First Nation community located next to Port Hardy.

    The Kwakiutl have lived on the north-eastern shores of Vancouver Island, since time immemorial. Their ancestors hunted and fished on these lands and waters, and developed a rich culture through which they celebrated the diversity of life around them. They continue to be strong by honouring all that our ancestors have taught them.

    The Kwakiutl are a part of the larger Kwakwaka’wakw cultural group, known for their distinct art, language, and ceremonies. Their ancestors were skilled fishers, hunters, and gatherers who lived in harmony with the natural world. Through potlatches, storytelling, and intricate carvings, they passed down knowledge, values, and traditions from generation to generation.

    The Kwakiutl Band operates a certified band operated school providing grades preschool to grade seven.

    About the library

    This is the eighth library installed by Write to Read BC. Its sponsors included Rotary Club of Burnaby Metrotown, Rotary Club of Port McNeill, Rotary Club of Port Hardy, Success By 6, and Britco Structures (now Boxx Modular).

  • Wuikinuxv Nation

    Oweekeno is located on the banks of the Wannock River at the entrance to Owikeno Lake east of Rivers Inlet, south of Bella Bella on the BC coastline. Oweekeno is home to the Wuikinuxv Nation, many who live off-reserve in other areas of the province. The Wuikinuxv have an affiliation with the Oweekeno-Kitasoo-Nuxalk Tribal Council in Bella Coola.

    Currently the reserve hosts a band administration office, a health centre, a Kindergarten to grade 7 school, a fire hall, an airstrip, and a newly constructed ceremonial Big House, used for cultural purposes. The community also has a multi-purpose flex court for healthy, recreational activities such as basketball, volleyball, ball hockey, and tennis.

    Oweekeno volunteers.
    A group photo before the grand opening of Wuikinuxv Nation’s Oweekeno library.

    About the library

    This is the sixth library Write to Read BC installed, in collaboration with the Wuikinuxv Nation. Its sponsors included Rotary Club of Lions Gate and Britco Structures (now Boxx Modular).

    This facility was a cooperative venture between the rural Wuikinuxv and partners from other communities, organized by Write to Read BC volunteers.