Make and chill

Simple banana bran muffins

• 3/4 cup whole-wheat flour
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup wheat bran
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup golden raisins (optional)
• 2 large eggs at room temperature
• ⅔ cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 cup mashed bananas (2-3 small)
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1/3 cup melted butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a muffin pan with paper liners. In a large bowl, combine whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, wheat bran, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon & salt. Whisk together. Stir in raisins. In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, brown sugar, bananas, buttermilk, butter and vanilla. Create a well in the dry ingredients. Add egg mixture and stir just until combined. Do not overmix. Bake 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.

With your delicious snack in hand it's time to tour the Internet!

FREE film. This week we remember Norman Tait (May 20, 1941 – May 21, 2016), a proud Nisga’a artist dedicated to his culture.

Norman's interest in Nisga'a art was sparked through the family traditions and oral histories that he experienced as a boy. He was the son of acclaimed carver Josiah Tait, and was the brother of Chief Alver Tait, who is also a celebrated Nisga'a carver. Norman went to a Residential School in Edmonton, AB, completed high school in Prince Rupert, BC, and then had a brief career as a millwright. In 1973, he established himself as a wood carver with the production and raising of the first Nisga'a pole in over fifty years, which he carved with his father. From that time, he carved a pole for the Field Museum in Chicago, IL, in 1982, a pole for Britain's royal family that stands in Bushy Park in London, and numerous poles around Vancouver. In 2012, Norman was given the British Columbia Creative Lifetime Achievement Award in Aboriginal Art. In addition to being a carver in metals and woods, Norman was also an expert on Nisga'a art and culture. From the mid 1970s, Norman travelled throughout BC and around the world in order to research Nisga'a art and history.

Check out this great video by the BC Achievement Foundation to hear Norman speak about his art and life.

Listen to a Podcast. There have been many great Indigenous podcasts to come out over the years. Check out “All My Relations” or “Still Here Still Healing” on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Podcasts. Wonderful podcasts lead by strong Indigenous womxn!

Check out Indigenous reads! Recently, the Nisga’a peoples celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Nisga’a Final Agreement. Read the Final Agreement or the article referenced below through the CMTN library.

Our Treaty, Our Inherent Right to Self-Government: An Overview of the Nisga'a Final Agreement by Edward Allen. This article provides an overview of the Nisga'a Final Agreement (the Treaty), which is the first comprehensive claims agreement to include recognition of the inherent right of self-government and constitutional protection of this right.

Your weekly meme

Student support

Are you facing challenges with lack of equipment or support? Contact your local FNAC and ask about the Indigenous Wellness Assistance Fund.

Did you receive emergency financial aid from a First Nations Access Coordinator (FNAC) this year? We would love to hear from you! Letters of support for your FNACs are due in the next couple of weeks. The letters of support help us access funding to keep the FNACs here for you and supports our cultural events. Thank you to those who have submitted already! Contact your local FNAC with any questions.

Mental Health Check-in

Check out this article on Self-care during COVID-19.

Foundry BC is now offering virtual drop-in counselling for young people ages 12-24 and their families. To access this service, call 1-833-FØUNDRY (yes, that’s FØUNDRY with a zero! or 1-833-308-6379) to book an appointment. Sessions available through chat, voice-only calls or video calls.

Here2Talk connects students with mental health support when they need it. Through this program, all students currently registered in a B.C. post-secondary institution have access to FREE, confidential counselling and community referral services, conveniently available 24/7 via app, phone and web.

The Keep Me Safe program is available 24/7 through multiple formats (call, chat, email and videoconference) for you! Go to coastmountaincollege.ca/counselling for more info.

Other resources you can reach out to:

Youth Online Chat at crisis-centre.ca or text 250.564.8336 or call 1.888.564.8336. A confidential, anonymous peer support service operated by trained youth answering calls from other youth. Available 24/7.

Northern BC Crisis Line A safe, confidential and non-judgmental crisis line to discuss anything troubling you available 24/7. Call 1.888.562.1214.

BC Suicide Line 1.800.SUICIDE or 1.800.784.2433. If you are considering suicide or are concerned about someone who may, please call! Available 24/7.

The Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line is available 24-hours a day for anyone experiencing pain or distress as a result of their Residential school experience. Call 1.866.925.4419.

COVID-19 updates & FAQs

At Coast Mountain College we continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation very closely and are guided by the Provincial Health Officer as we work with the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training. For updates and FAQs please visit our website here.

Have something you want to contribute for next month's issue?

Feedback, story ideas or pictures to share? Contact us:

jstephens@coastmountaincollege.ca

vwaechter@coastmountaincollege.ca

knyce@coastmountaincollege.ca

khumphrey@coastmountaincollege.ca

soskey@coastmountaincollege.ca