From the very beginning the Bella Coola Legal Advocacy Program has provided services to the 2 separate, distinct and remote communities of Bella Coola and Anahim Lake. Likewise, our Board of Directors was split between the 2 communities with Directors from Nuxalk, Ulkatcho, Metis, and Caucasian community members.  We did this to promote knowledge sharing, accountability and transparency. We continue to do this. Our work has always been about relationships and humility.

Every 3 months the Legal Advocate attended the 3 day Circuit Court in Anahim Lake. This was requested by Ulkatcho service providers because the communities there had no Native Court Worker. Elder Leona Tony was already doing this and quickly became our friend and teacher at the Court. We assisted with legal information and advocacy as needed, we drove court users through ice cold and snowy winters hot buggy summers to the little trailer at the edge of town that hosted the BC Provincial Court (otherwise unstaffed).

We saw clients at the Ulkatcho Band Office and hosted plain language workshops at the Elders Lounge.

We were always available by phone or email and assisted Anahim Lake folks remotely. We continue this work to today.

Next up: the beginnings of Outreach to Bella Bella.