Governance‘Your neighbours are your allies’
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10 Jun 2013
‘Shared territory’ or ‘overlap’ is often cited as a difficulty when it comes to modern treaty-making in BC. But for all the troubles that make the news, there are instances of First Nations sorting out their differences in a friendly fashion, more in keeping with time-honoured traditions. In the following condensed article, journalist Carly Wignes writes about how four Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council nations and others came to agreement during the negotiations for the Tla’amin Treaty at Sliammon First Nation. This is from a longer article that was part of a four-part series, published in late 2012.
The letter from the chief of Sechelt Indian Band warned members of the Tla'amin that the friendly relationship between the two Coast Salish First Nations neighbours would not extend onto the soccer field. When it was read aloud, laughter filled the room.
BC votes… will you?
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07 May 2013
“This year I will be voting for the second time. Prior, I refused to vote because I don't see myself as ‘Canadian’. I am First Nations and am governed by the commandments of my people, by the Chiefs of the land we've always occupied and cared for.”
That comment from Nicole Norris of Halalt First Nation on Vancouver Island is a good example of the attitudes on people both on and off reserves as voting days in the 40th BC general election nears; engaged, yet not engaged; interested but… not so much.
Then there was Paul-Wyse Seward, a Snuneymuxw councillor and canoe builder, who was at work on Monday when NDP candidate Doug Routley visited the reserve. Paul listened and then asked for two campaign signs.
Thomas tops Halalt chief vote
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19 Apr 2013
James Thomas of Halalt First Nation won a comfortable victory on April 18 in his community’s vote for chief and councillors. It was his sixth consecutive election win, having first been named chief in 2001.
He got 47 votes, 13 more than his nearest competitor and 36 votes more than the third-place candidate. He said he was heartened by the election results and was looking forward to more progress in his next term. He will be celebrating with the Halalt community the grand opening of the new community centre this spring.
