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When BC Elders Gathering Queen Irene Wydeness hands over her crown to her successor at the end of this year, it will bring an end to her reign, but not to her busy schedule.

Wydeness began her reign as queen following last year's gathering in Kamloops.

"We went to Kamloops, and we put our bid in to have the gathering in Campbell River. There were other cities that put their bids in, and Campbell River won their bid, and so we had to elect a queen for the Elders gathering, and the Elders elected me as the queen. It's quite an honor," Wydeness said.

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Everyone attending this year's BC Elders Gathering is sure to enjoy the four full days of entertainment and education planned, and they'll get in a healthy dose of sharing with friends old and new.

The 24th annual gathering will be held in Campbell River in the Strathcona Gardens Arena from July 10 to 13 and is being hosted by the Campbell River and District Golden Age Elders Society and the Campbell River, Cape Mudge, Comox, and Homalco First Nations.

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Everyone attending this year's BC Elders Gathering is sure to enjoy the four full days of entertainment and education planned, and they'll get in a healthy dose of sharing with friends old and new.

The 24th annual gathering will be held in Campbell River in the Strathcona Gardens Arena from July 10 to 13 and is being hosted by the Campbell River and District Golden Age Elders Society and the Campbell River, Cape Mudge, Comox, and Homalco First Nations.

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Thundering applause momentarily drowned out Nisga'a President Joe Gosnell as he told hundreds of celebrants gathered in Gitwinksihlkw that their hard-won final agreement had taken effect, ending more than a century under the Indian Act.

"We are no longer wards of the state. We are no longer wards of the government," Gosnell said, pausing to be heard over the crowd's approval. "We are no longer beggars in our own land. We are free to make our own mistakes, savor our own victories, and stand on our own feet."

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Thundering applause momentarily drowned out Nisga'a President Joe Gosnell as he told hundreds of celebrants gathered in Gitwinksihlkw that their hard-won final agreement had taken effect, ending more than a century under the Indian Act.

"We are no longer wards of the state. We are no longer wards of the government," Gosnell said, pausing to be heard over the crowd's approval. "We are no longer beggars in our own land. We are free to make our own mistakes, savor our own victories, and stand on our own feet."

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On a chilly, grey morning more than 100 Tla-o-qui-aht members and their supporters gathered at the entrance of Esowista reserve lands to begin their march of protest over the transfer of the Tofino Airport lands to the city's municipal district.

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On a chilly, grey morning more than 100 Tla-o-qui-aht members and their supporters gathered at the entrance of Esowista reserve lands to begin their march of protest over the transfer of the Tofino Airport lands to the city's municipal district.

Page 3

When arson destroyed the 'Namgis bighouse in Alert Bay, it burned at the soul of the entire community. And when the spectacular bighouse was recreated and rebuilt in 1998, powerful emotions swept across all Kwakwaka'wakw nations as they celebrated a culture and spirit that could not be destroyed.

From anti-potlatch laws to residential schools to a jilted lover with a torch for revenge, the 'Namgis First Nation has survived it all.

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When arson destroyed the 'Namgis bighouse in Alert Bay, it burned at the soul of the entire community. And when the spectacular bighouse was recreated and rebuilt in 1998, powerful emotions swept across all Kwakwaka'wakw nations as they celebrated a culture and spirit that could not be destroyed.

From anti-potlatch laws to residential schools to a jilted lover with a torch for revenge, the 'Namgis First Nation has survived it all.

Page 3

On Aug. 29, 1997, Gukwdzi, the 'Namgis bighouse in Alert Bay, was burned to the ground by the estranged common-law husband of a 'Namgis woman.

Although the arsonist had only recently arrived on Cormorant Island from his home in El Salvador, he knew exactly how to strike at the heart of a community he felt had spurned him.