Valine Crist: Researching Community Coalitions in Canada’s North

“Made on Haida Gwaii” Series, Part 7

June 28, 2012

By April Diamond Dutheil

The Made on Haida Gwaii series tells the stories of fifty talented young people who call Haida Gwaii home. In this vast country, our major urban centres tend to soak up most of the attention. This collection of success stories, about young people living on these beautiful but remote islands off the Pacific coast, aims to disrupt the dominant myths of what it means to grow up in Canada’s North.

Skeena River, May 25^th, 2012: Valine with 7-month-old nephews, Cohen (left), Asher (right). Photo credit: Sheri Disney.

“This was the best place to grow up,” says Valine Crist, who recently moved home after spending ten years studying, working, and traveling. “It was magnificent to spend weekends berry picking and camping,” she continues, “Nothing can compare to the comforts and securities of Haida Gwaii.”

Earning an undergraduate degree majoring in Psychology and Anthropology from the University of British Columbia-Okanagan, Valine will soon complete a Master’s degree in Anthropology from the University of Victoria.

Capturing the current realities faced by British Columbia’s coastal communities, Valine’s research is timely and cutting-edge. Her thesis examines how communities come together against threats of large-scale development projects.

Passionate about ecological sustainability and motivated to understand how people interact with the environment Valine notes that, “On Haida Gwaii we have a very strong connection to our home- understanding, appreciating and valuing this has influenced my identity and my values,” she says.

Today, Valine works for the Council of Haida Nation as a writer for Haida Laas and has helped to coordinate the Enbridge Joint Review Panel hearings on Haida Gwaii. When asked what are some lessons she’ll take away from the process, Valine says that, “Regardless of who you are or how long you’ve been here, people from Haida Gwaii are very passionate. I’ve also learned just how powerful an alliance of people can be, it’s absolutely inspiring.”

Motivated by her community to make a difference, Valine found outside experiences reinforced her work in environmental justice.

Valine spent time in Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador, exposing her to parallel environmental and development concerns faced by Indigenous peoples worldwide. “I visited communities affected by destructive resource extraction,” she says.

“In the Peruvian highlands, communities are losing access to their local water sources because of Canadian owned mining companies; irresponsible waste management contaminates local agricultural areas; unsustainable logging. They’re the same stories, different parts of the world,” Valine explains.

When asked what drives her towards this work, Valine answers, “Humans continue to over-exploit our environments, we’re exacerbating natural climate cycles and if we don’t act, we place ourselves at risk of facing environmentally catastrophic events. That’s not to say it’s hopeless though,” she asserts.

“Being aware of your ecological impacts—your carbon footprint, your water consumption—these are just some of the ways that you can start making a difference,” says Valine.

But the way in which people create positive environmental change may differ in regards to a number of factors, including ones’ economic, social and geographical realities.

Valine illustrates what differing access to resources may look like in northern rural communities compared to the city. “I use public transit in Victoria,” says Valine, “but on Haida Gwaii I rely much more on my car.” In comparison “it’s easier to recycle and buy ‘eco-friendly’ products in a city, but here at home, eating locally and ethically is easier,” she says.

No matter where you live, there are opportunities to make positive changes.

Imagining Haida Gwaii in fifty years Valine sees renewable energy solutions, strategic water conservation, and environmental stewardship as key to the Islands’ role in increasing self-sufficiency.

“We’re in a very advantageous position to act as responsible stewards and lead by example; we have been doing this and will continue to,” she says. 

Age: 27

Location: Masset

Philosophy: ‪With some integrity, ingenuity, and commitment, we can remedy our current environmental state. That’s our obligation to future generations.

Source: Haida Gwaii Observer, Rabble.ca, Project Gwaii

Returning to Our Roots: New Energy in the North

“Made on Haida Gwaii” Series, Part 1

Tlell, Haida Gwaii CANADA- March 22, 2012

by April Dutheil

July 2010, Rouen France- Dressed in regalia Dana Bellis leaves city hall with other summer students after meeting with the mayor of Rouen. Complementing her Masters program, this two week course at the University of Rouen in France brought Dana together with indigenous people from all over the world to study the Position of Indigenous People in International law.

“One of the best things about me is being from Haida Gwaii” says Dana Bellis who recently returned from the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards in Vancouver. Jaad Gudangaa ‘laas (Happy Lady), also know as Dana Bellis attended George M. Dawson High School in Masset, learning determination and hard work from an early age, “I always felt I had the support of the teachers and the community, but I also had to do it myself.” The islands have given Dana incredible gifts, “the islands foster an independent, creative and confident determination”, and for this she pays tribute to the Haida community and the island people.

Immersed in the field of consulting in policy development and community-engagement, Dana has been fortunate to work with Indigenous health and government organizations, energy companies, and the aboriginally owned and operated Indigenuity Consulting Group. Energized by the opportunity to work and engage with the community, “I am continually in awe of the people from Haida Gwaii, they have the innate ability to shape the world, making it how they want it to be”.

While earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Women’s studies from the University of Northern British Columbia in Prince George, Dana played rugby with the UNBC Women’s Rugby Team. As part of the team’s community involvement, Dana coached the UNBC Girls Mini Rugby Team and helped to inspire confidence and healthy living among the young girls she coached. Dana later traveled to Kenya, learning about community development first-hand and Finland, studying circumpolar history.  

Exploring the islands as a child and visiting Europe at age 8, Dana’s curiosity recently took her to Norway. At Tromsø University, the only university in the world above the Arctic circle, Dana studied reindeer herding history and it’s relation to gender and policy, obtaining a Masters degree in the Philosophy of Indigenous studies. Along with an offer to publish her research, Dana considers this to be one opportunity, among many which have shaped where she is today.  

But you won’t find her biggest accomplishments on her resume. Named Jaad Gudangaa ‘laas, Dana considers striving for happiness to be central to a good life. Working from Haida Gwaii fosters a work-life balance like none-other, “I can work during the day, then relax with friends and family, baking cookies for the Masset soup kitchen and sewing quilts for charity”. Dana also notes the career benefits of being on island, “Where else in the world can you be mentored by such amazing professionals? Here you can literally look up someone’s name in the phone book and be talking to a top negotiator or business leader in Canada, and they want to talk to you, where else can you do that?”

When asked about what’s next, Dana has a list full of things that excite and energize, among that list is assisting with organizing the upcoming Potlatch for the Residential School Survivor Totem Pole Raising in Masset, attending the 2012 Aboriginal Opportunities Forum in Vancouver and contributing to conversations on ways to improve community access to energy, social value and opportunity in the North. Inspired by the confidence of Haida Gwaii and curiosity  “I love to see where things go, where a good idea can take you”, says Dana.

Age: 27

Current location: Masset

Philosophy: Work hard, be honest, and when in doubt be kind.

The Made on Haida Gwaii series tells the stories of fifty talented young people who call Haida Gwaii home. In this vast country, our major urban centres tend to soak up most of the attention. This collection of success stories, about young people living on these beautiful but remote islands off the Pacific coast, aims to disrupt the dominant myths of what it means to grow up in Canada’s North.