Tides Of Change - Volunteering Adventures in Alert Bay, B.C.

Alastair Henry and Candas Whitlock went to Alert Bay on Cormorant Island (between North Vancouver Island and the B.C. mainland) in February 2016 on a four month volunteering placement with Cuso International. Alastair was the on-site business coach for ten aspiring entrepreneurs. Island life, the ocean and a different climate were initially novel and interesting to this couple from S.W. Ontario. They gained understanding and respect for the ‘Namgis First Nations culture and their traditions, but what impacted them the most was what they learned about the social injustices inflicted on all First Nations people by past governments and how the effects of those events play out today. They felt compelled to share their enlightenment with other non-aboriginal people by writing Tides of Change, and in so doing, help support Reconciliation Canada achieve its goals: -To create a greater awareness among non-aboriginal people of the social injustices inflicted on First Nations people by the Canadian government of the day and the multi generational harm it did. -To better educate the general public of the healing process First Nations people are struggling with today so that they have a greater empathy for them, and the realization that this is a Canadian problem, not just a First Nations one. We are one. -To encourage parents to educate their children about the historical facts of what transpired and why the First Nations people are struggling with healing today so that they can grow up better informed and have a more compassionate and empathetic understanding of tour First Nations people.