In the age of the internet and cellphones, Michael Hood, a Nuxalk grandfather in Bella Coola, B.C., says it’s important to teach his 10-year-old grandson to get outside and give back to his community.

“Even if let’s say I won $1 million, I’d be well set but I’d still be working, still beautifying our reserve in Bella Coola,” said Hood.

That’s part of the reason why Hood, a landscaper for the Nuxalk Nation, clears snowy driveways on his rez about 430 kilometres north of Vancouver with his side-by-side for those who need help, free of charge.

“Sometimes they come out and they say, ‘Oh, I’ll give you some gas money,’ and so they’ll give you, like, anyway, from five to $20 for gas, and that’s about it,” said Hood.

“I don’t look for pay. I just go do it to help them out because that’s a lot of shovelling.”

‘Where’s all the snow?’

Marina Schooner, who works at Nuslhiixwta Place of Treasures, a family development centre in the community, said she woke up Monday morning after a couple weeks of snowfall to find her driveway miraculously cleared.

Schooner, who is close to retirement, said she hasn’t been able to shovel her driveway which is around 20 metres long in part because of a disability.

“When I looked in my driveway was like, ‘What?’ I said, ‘Where’s all the snow?’ I didn’t know what to think,” said Schooner.

She wrote a thank-you message on social media.

The small act of kindness symbolized respect, said Schooner.

“Coming from a stranger, that really hit my heart,” she said.

“Growing up, as a child, everyone was there for each other. Everyone.”

Hood said he uses Nuslhiixwta Place of Treasures because he is the guardian for his grandson, who he has cared for since he was three, and overheard Schooner needed some help.

“Whether they’re a single person…  if they’re elderly or something, I go out and just do it. Because I can do it,” said Hood.

“You need to, you know, help out people and that. That’s all I believe. And I’ve been teaching my grandson that.”

Hood said he also wants to show his grandson and others that there is lots to do in Bella Coola if you put your mind to it.

“You can probably make a list of, you know, 100-200 [things] that you can do,” said Hood.

Hood said he loves working for his people, and so he sees no reason why he can’t continue to do it off-season, even when he’s not working his job for the First Nation.

“I love doing it,” said Hood.

“When you do something good, something will come back.”