TOUR GUIDE — Rima Chartrand

Rima Chartrand is a citizen of Kwakiutl Nation and currently lives in Port Hardy on Vancouver Island. She is the daughter of Alexander (H’aiagal’ath) Chartrand and a member of the Ugvalas family. Verna Hunt, Rima’s mother, gave her the name Kiy̓anayaxcisu, which translates “my life is carved out for someone of high importance.” Rima looks forward to spending more time in W’ui’kinuxv Village. She wishes to eventually move back and build herself a tiny home.

The peace and beauty of the Village are priceless to Rima. Seeing Grizzly Bears wandering past her father’s house is not uncommon. When Rima was 13 years old, she hiked to the top of Kvàmua Mountain with her father. She dreams of climbing the mountain a second time. Recalling the early years that she spent in W’ui’kinuxv Village, Rima has fond memories of the sunbeams coming into the smokehouse, processing salmon and working in the garden with her Grandmother Hilda Thompson.

Rima is an Indigenous Guardian and a proficient carpenter. She carries out estuary monitoring and eDNA sampling for the Kwakiutl Nation. Rima previously worked in the Kwakiutl Lands and Resources Department and spent over 10 years working for Instream Fisheries on the Keogh River as a fish technician. She also has Small Vessel Operation Proficiency (SVOP) training.

Rima invites guests to enjoy the Territory’s beauty, learn about W’ui’kinuxv culture, and taste rich traditional foods, especially t̓àlhus (thinly sliced smoked salmon).