Kla-how’-ya is an Indigenous-led project designed to educate and raise awareness about the benefits and opportunities of electric vehicle (EV) adoption among Indigenous communities on Vancouver Island. Our initiative will focus on both urban Indigenous populations, First Nation reserve communities and Indigenous student associations, aiming to promote sustainable transportation solutions, reduce carbon footprints, and enhance environmental stewardship…
Kla-how’-ya is a Chinook word that translates to English as a salutation, or an acknowledgement of another’s arrival or departure. It can mean hello, how are you and/or goodbye. We believe this is a reflection of the project, an exchange of ideas and information, a meeting or conversation between community members, with the intent of raising awareness of electric vehicles to the Indigenous community.
We chose the Chinook language because it was developed as a trading language between non Indigenous and the various Indigenous language groups throughout western Canada and the Pacific northwest.
First Nations – as many First Nation communities on Vancouver Island as possible. A minimum of 40 is our goal.
Urban Indigenous Organizations – we want to visit a minimum of 15 cities on Vancouver Island and the many great urban organizations that are working with and supporting Indigenous community members.
Metis Nations – there are several Metis Nations on Vancouver Island who host community events, monthly family nights and large cultural celebrations. We will reach out to all Metis Nations to make them aware of our project and look for opportunities to work together.
Post-secondary Indigenous student Associations – we are committed to joining you on campus at a time that works for you. We will be reaching out to staff at various schools to find the right time to visit and will let you know well in advance. If you’re hosting an event on campus and think we would be a good fit, please let us know.
Indigenous Community Events – we know our communities are great host and there are many days of celebration, remembrance and focus on culture. National Indigenous Peoples Day, Orange Shirt Day, various powwows and tribal journey. We’ll look for those events and contact the organizers to see if we can attend, but please feel free to also reach out to us and invite us to your event. Thank you.
Look for our Ford 150 Lightening truck all over Vancouver Island! It is an all-electric, zero emission vehicle, uniquely covered in original Indigenous artwork by Noel Brown (Snuneymuxw).
The 150 Lightening (Lariat model) is a 5-passenger pickup with plenty of interior storage for everybody’s stuff. The front trunk holds over 400L of lockable, easy-to-clean storage with multiple power outlets for your gear. While it has the same look and feel of the regular 150, the Lightening has 775 lb-ft of torque that provides enough acceleration to get your heart racing. The Lariat model is available in 7 colours and has a maximum conventional towing capacity of 10,000 lbs. When fully charged, the Lariat model has an estimated range of 515 kms (distance from Port Hardy to Victoria is 498 kms).
The original artwork that is on the project vehicle is the creation of Noel Brown, a renowned artist and proud member of the Snuneymuxw First Nation. We appreciate and applaud Noel’s participation in our project.
More information about Noel can be found at his facebook page
Kla-how’-ya received a Contribution Agreement through the Indigenous-led Awareness and Education Projects at the Transportation and Fuels Decarbonization Programs Branch within the Department of Natural Resources Canada (Government of Canada).
In addition, we are grateful for the support and significant sponsorship provided by Steve Marshall Ford in Nanaimo. Steve Marshall Ford has a few dealerships on Vancouver Island and are happy to answer any questions you might have about their selection of electric vehicles, including the 150 Lightening truck. We also thank the sponsors, NISA and WaveMaker Press for their contribution to the success of our project.
The project aims to educate Indigenous communities on Vancouver Island about electric vehicles through demonstrations (test drives), community discussions and the distribution of information pamphlets designed specifically for the local Indigenous communities.
© 2025 Kla-How’-Ya. All Rights Reserved
Kla-How’-Ya is located on the Traditional Territory of Snuneymuxw First Nation.