Giid Tlljuus

Balance Media

Mission and Values Based on Haida Ideology

  • Ad Kyanang tlaagang/.ahl kyáan áng tláagang

    To ask first means that respectful use of our lands and waters needs to be brought to the forefront. It seems clear that the citizens are upset about the use of the lands and the lack of asking first. I believe that we should be implementing already existing resolutions that would enforce the use of our lands through monitoring and orientation, creating a presence and knowledge foundation that will become the future of Haida Enforcement. Through this method of marketing and promotion of respect for our lands we as the representatives of the land and waters of Haida Gwaii are asking our visitors to be respectful on behalf of Haida Gwaii

  • Giid Tlljuus - Gina 'wáadluwan dámaan tl' Kinggang

    Balance is essential to the proper flow and function of the people, the land, and the waters of Haida Gwaii. Currently our systems are out of balance in all these aspects. We need to re-align our islands with consideration, collaboration and compassion to ensure ecologic and economic success for nature and all the citizens of Haida Gwaii.

  • Isda ad dii gii isda/Isda isgyaan diigaa isdii

    Reciprocity encourages respect through giving and receiving, we have many guests that utilize our lands and waters even utilizing respectful practices, can inadvertently cause damage. By implementing fees, surcharges, and/or taxes on guests to our islands we can assist and subsidize sectors like tourism. This is a multi teared approach to reciprocity, which has also been coined 'Stakeholder Capitalism', where everyone benefits in some way.

    -RESOLUTION BACKED

  • Gina 'waadluxan gud ad kwaagid/Ginn 'wáadluwan gud.ahl kwaagiidang

    Everything depends on everything else guides us through the connections that intertwine our Haida ways of being. It is the webbing that weaves these idealogies together. Within an organizational aspect it is crucial to understanding that all aspects of an organization are required to have a proper flow of information. This in turn will provide citizens with the knowledge necessary for determining what our islands future will look like. With a strong organizational understanding I intend to infuse this understanding and rebuild our nations capacity

  • Yahguudang/Yahgudáng

    Respect for all living things enforces balance and brings stability and harmony to the ecosystems and communities of our islands. An economy based around respect for what nature is able to produce will enforce balance in the system, creating an economy from nature that governs our export value vs having it determined for us, will help to restore balance to our islands.

    -RESOLUTION BACKED; CARBON SUBSIDIZED

  • Gud ah hlGang.gulxa/Gud ahl hlGángguláang

    Collaboration utilizes respect and reciprocity which in turn instills those qualities within ourselves. I believe that a collaborative approach is the best approach, to accomplishing monumental achievements for our nation. Utilizing each other’s minds will ensure a balanced methodology is utilized, when discussing important issues like forestry. A grass roots approach will bring the people back to the top of the information pyramid, allowing for proper well-informed decisions to be made.

  • Gina k’aadang.nga gii uu k’anguudang / Gin ‘k’aaydangga giiy uu tl’a k’anguudangs

    Seek Wise Counsel

  • ‘Laa guu ga kanhllins/Gin ‘láa isdaa.uu

    Responsibility

  • Tll Yahda

    Making Things Right

Founder

  • 2024 CHN Presidential Candidate and Balance Media Coordinator on the subject of attaining Title over Haida Gwaii.

    "We've always owned this land, now we're acquiring the deed that holds value in their colonial world. This provides us the ability to fight in their arena, with their weapons.."

Hltaaxwii

Close Friend or Cousin

Born in Daajiing Giids hospital, descendant of the K’aadas Kiigawaay clan, adopted by the Yahgulaanas clan of massett and a close friend or cousin to many.

My lifes focus has been on the betterment of my nation for as long as I can remember. I’ve lived and worked in many facets with the understanding of Interconnectedness, and that many aspects of life depend on one another to exist.

I’ve utilized this knowledge and grown both career wise and personally through Civil Engineering programs, Leadership Academy’s, Haida based Leadership programs, and a vast network of many experienced minds in many various organizational realms.

I began my career with the CHN July 21st, 2003 as one of the first two Haida Mapping Trainees that were hired to begin the program. I spent the rest of my career in this genre of GIS (Geographic Information Systems/Mapping). I became the manager of Haida Mapping and the Protected Area Departments in 2009, building my knowledge and organizational prowess for approximately 7 years when I stepped down to provide a more focused effort in the GIS/mapping realm.

The vision to create an information centric CHN with the ability to disperse the information accordingly, was my intention, by utilizing an internally collaborative approach and combining information based departments like Mapping, Communications, and IT together I saw a nation that was well informed and thus exponentially more powerful. Considering the current state of the CHN, I can see an avenue in which this is still possible to create.

Not only did I provide many years of service in office and through the boardroom, while building a substantive resume, I also worked in the field and closely with field staff to build key relationships. I understand having a good flow of communication from field staff to office staff is crucial as there is important data transferred between them. I also have a unique perspective of all staffing aspects through field work, office work, and managerial work.

Over the years it was not necessarily my place in the political arena, but at times I was thrust into the role by necessity and knowledge. I eventually developed a proper understanding of what it means to be a representative of my people. I took a keen interest in politics for the sake of providing proper information to the people. So, although I have not previously been voted into a representative role, I feel I have gone above and beyond the requirements of those roles for many years, simply fuelled by the passion of supporting my people.

With this information at hand I intend to deliver my vision of what our nation could be as we venture into the new stages of owning colonial ‘Title‘ over Haida Gwaii.

Andre Hypolite

My first memory is pressing play on a cassette deck. The one that looked like a black shoebox, with a handle, and a grainy sounding speaker. I grew up with music, radio, tvee/movies, books, and imagination. Media is my generation.

1980, born and raised in Alberta, my home is Masset, Haida Gwaii, where I am raising twins and building lasting bonds . I am of Trinidadian descent, Hypolite is my mother’s family name.

After establishing a skillset in and out of kitchens, and recently completing a five year employment in the local school district, I am excited to explore, and be educated about, the many facets of Masset -with Balance Media Foundation. My main interests include audio and music production. I have a background in performance poetry, recording, and events planning.

My passion is creating spaces for people to gather and engage.

During the pandemic, radio and podcasting resonated with me as formats for people to connect to one another, despite barriers and restrictions. It was not out of a nostalgic view of olden days, but a reclamation from social media, which dominate(s)d how even news and information on a local level is viewed and shared. It felt right to return to stories, to sharing knowledge, and learning from the diverse experiences within our community. These ideas stayed with me since and are what drew me to the concept of Balance Media Foundation- a direct and accessible platform for citizens to have discussion and exchange ideas, to ask questions and challenge the status quo.

Balance, Reciprocity, Interconnectedness

andre.hypolite@balancemediafoundation.com