The Ahousaht’s Coastal Nations Coast Guard Auxiliary team has extensive search and rescue training and a vessel that’s equipped with the latest marine technology. These are critical assets as they race to find the sinking fishing boat with one man overboard.
Every marine search and rescue mission begins with something going seriously wrong on the water, from capsized boats to lost kayakers. The Coastal Nations Coast Guard Auxiliary Ahousaht team searches for a diver who became separated from his diving partner.
The Coastal Nations Coast Guard Auxiliary’s Ahousaht team are highly qualified to carry out marine rescues and promote water safety. There are times when their mission is to support the members of their community, including youth who are considered at risk.
The First Nations communities along BC’s coastal waterways have been expert mariners and boat builders for thousands of years. This history makes the Ahousaht Nation a formidable and vital search and rescue team on Vancouver Island’s rugged western coastline.
After a long day of patrolling the waterways in Quatsino Sound, the Coastal Nations Coast Guard Auxiliary team is tasked with searching for the two missing kayakers. As night falls and temperatures drop, the search for the kayakers becomes an urgent mission.
The First Nations communities along BC’s coastal waterways have been expert mariners and boat builders for thousands of years. This history makes the Ahousaht Nation a formidable and vital search and rescue team on Vancouver Island’s rugged western coastline.
Namgis territory covers several islands off of northern Vancouver Island and along the Nimpkish River, making every search and rescue mission challenging. The Coastal Nations Coast Guard Auxiliary’s ‘Namgis team searches for a beachcomber missing for two days.
The ocean is a dangerous work environment, and training exercises and teamwork are critical to the success of every search and rescue mission. The Coastal Nations Coast Guard Auxiliary’s Quatsino team practices high speed maneuvers and crew overboard drills.
The Coastal Nations Coast Guard Auxiliary’s Heiltsuk team uses marine radar, AIS, longitude and latitude coordinates and an extensive knowledge of local waters in their search and rescue missions. The team searches for a crab fisherman on his stranded boat.
The Coastal Nations Coast Guard Auxiliary program has created job opportunities for First Nations men and women in eight coastal communities in BC including the Heiltsuk Nation. The Heiltsuk team checks out a possible oil spill in their traditional waterways.
BC’s coastal waterways are littered with fallen trees and debris that create a serious hazard to boaters. The Heiltsuk Coastal Nations Coast Guard Auxiliary team has been tasked with doing a shoreline search for an overdue fishing boat with one man on board.
An oil spill from a grounded tug and barge in 2016 proved devasting to the Heiltsuk, who use their waterways for food, transport and cultural practices. The Heiltsuk Coastal Nations Coast Guard Auxiliary’s Heiltsuk team search for a missing community member.
Representatives from the eight Coastal Nations Coast Guard Auxiliary teams have travelled to Prince Rupert to take part in a friendly skills competition, including Ahousaht, Heiltsuk, Gitxaala, Kitasoo, Kyuquot-Cheklesahht, ‘Namgis, Nisga’a and Quatsino crews.