Did you know that southern island First Nations in modern treaty negotiations have the ability to negotiate a seat at the Capital Regional District’s (CRD) Board of Directors table? In recent years, the BC Government and CRD have expressed interest in having all First Nations participate as voting members at the regional district board table. This is one of the specific actions within the province’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) Action Plan and one of the facets in their broader goal of advancing “inclusive regional governance”.
But this begs the question: Is this what First Nations want?
Although the CRD has made seats available to First Nations on their Board and Board Committees, these seats often remain empty. Last year, with grant funding from the province, the CRD moved ahead with an engagement process with First Nations to gather input on the best paths forward for inclusive regional governance. Exactly one year ago today, the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council (W̱LC) hosted a forum with southern island Nations to discuss this important topic.
This full-day forum was held at the Brentwood Bay Resort and was attended by 14 representatives from five Nations: Xʷsepsəm (Kosapsum) Nation, W̱JOȽEȽP (Tsartlip) First Nation, W̱SIḴEM (Tseycum) First Nation, SȾÁUTW̱ (Tsawout) First Nation, and Malahat Nation. This coming together of Nations was facilitated by three representatives from the Jody Wilson-Raybould (JWR) Group, along with Joni Olsen from the W̱LC.
JWR Group started the day by presenting on local government authorities, the complexities of First Nations authorities in these spaces, and different ways that First Nations have addressed these complexities. Discussions were then held on the topics of inclusive regional governance, including the Crown’s specific proposal for First Nations leadership to sit at regional district board tables.
Overall, a clear interest was expressed for a government-to-government model of interaction, rather than First Nations being absorbed into the existing regional district structure. This was due to several reasons, including the distinct governance systems of southern island First Nations not fitting within the current regional governance system and the potential for the powers of the First Nations to be diluted in working within the regional district structure. Furthermore, there were concerns that working within the regional district could risk removing First Nations’ direct access to the provincial government, moving responsibility and discussion away from the province and to the regional district tables. There was also discussion about whether the population of a First Nation or the number of First Nations would receive adequate representation in the regional district, and concerns about having First Nations outnumbered at the table.
Suggestions were made to find alternative methods for First Nations to have a voice in the CRD.
Beyond the issue of whether Nations would take a seat at the Table, the Forum provided an opportunity to discuss a variety of other matters and challenges in working with local governments, including a significant lack of consultation with First Nations generally, a lack of understanding and awareness of First Nations’ powers, and the limited availability of land within the territories of the First Nations, and local government’s continued acquisition of said land,
which is a matter of serious contention.
The resounding conclusion of the Forum was that, although it is imperative that southern island Nations improve relationships with the CRD and the province, that must happen through a government-to-government model that does not simply absorb First Nations into the existing regional district system. One idea presented to achieve this type of government-to-government framework is the establishment of a Reconciliation Task Force of Southern Island Nations.
This feedback has been provided directly to the CRD, who will subsequently share it with the Province.
With busy schedules, a high volume of work underway, and many places to be, bringing together leadership and representatives from multiple Nations is no small feat.
Furthermore, since this forum was held, W̱JOȽEȽP (Tsartlip) First Nation and W̱SIḴEM (Tseycum) First Nation, via the W̱LC, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Capital Regional District, formalizing their government-to-government relationship. Under this new agreement, monthly meetings are held to advance shared priorities, such as increasing W̱SÁNEĆ visibility on W̱SÁNEĆ territory through art, Place Names, and public education. In addition to the MOU with the CRD, the W̱LC is also working towards obtaining similar agreements with the other local governments that operate in and make decisions over W̱SÁNEĆ territory, including the Town of Sidney, the District of Central Saanich, the Islands Trust, the District of North Saanich, and others.
The W̱LC is proud to play a role in creating spaces for these important discussions and will continue to push local governments to walk side-by-side with First Nations to make meaningful progress on reconciliation.
To stay up-to-date on W̱LC’s work with local governments, be sure to read our Local Government Series and subscribe to the WLC newsletter.
