Updated April 10 2018, 10 a.m., with comment from Don Tom, chief of Tsartlip First Nation
Soon, Central Saanich council meetings will begin with an acknowledgment of traditional lands they reside on. Central Saanich is on the traditional territory of the Tsartlip and Tsawout First Nations.
In a council meeting last Tuesday, a motion by Councillor Carl Jensen passed unanimously.
Jensen said the idea came about when he saw a tweet from a Saanich councillor referencing a March 2018 Black Press story about Island municipalities that acknowledge territory before meetings. He did not realize other municipalities did this,and noticed Central Saanich was not on the list of municipalities that did.
“It has become commonplace when I go to any public event: conference openings, training sessions, how it’s become a regular tradition there…It had me asking, well, why aren’t we doing it in Central Saanich and especially because we have two First Nations as part of our community, it seemed especially appropriate,” said Jensen. “I realized we should be on that list of municipalities that’s actually doing this.”
Jensen emailed the chiefs of Tsartlip and Tsawout to see if they had feedback for him. He heard through Mayor Ryan Windsor that Tsartlip chief Don Tom was on board, and Tsawout council members said the same.
In an email to the Peninsula News Review, Tsawout councillor Mavis Underwood said the Tsawout “felt that this important historical gesture was well overdue.”
She said the municipality had been working to improve relationships even before the Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission were published in 2015. The Tsawout First Nation’s Lands Department has been collaborating with Central Saanich on protecting sensitive ecosystems, including creeks and watershed areas, and protecting the salmon habitat. The District also provides technical advice at times.
Central Saanich declared 2017 as a “Year of Reconciliation,” but Jensen said it was important that it was not limited to 2017. “For me, the true reconciliation is what we continue to do now in 2018 and beyond.”
Jensen said there are Community to Community (C2C) forums, sponsored by the Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM), where First Nations and municipalities could apply for funding and discuss higher-level issues. Sometimes these take the form of community meals followed by council to council meetings.
“Of late we have had opportunities to come together to dialogue to continue to develop areas of common interest and to share history; we have appreciated the opportunity to share,” said Underwood.
Jensen said the wording of the acknowledgment is still in progress. While it has not been finalized, the chair of the meeting (usually the mayor) would likely offer the acknowledgment.
“It is the hope of Tsawout First Nation that we can continue to work in important ways with all levels of government to continue to improve the future for the children and youth who make up the greatest proportion of our population,” said Underwood. “They need a world that is free of oppression, racism, and poverty. They need encouragement, support and positive opportunities to develop full potential for themselves and generations to come.”
In an email to the Peninsula News Review, Tsartlip Chief Don Tom said they are “excited with the acknowledgement” made by Central Saanich. They have requested the acknowledgement be done in the W̱SÁNEĆ language, SENĆOŦEN, and Tom said Central Saanich has accepted this request. “This is a true step towards reconciliation,” said Tom.