The cumulative impact of the decisions made by local governments – such as zoning and land use decisions, bylaw promulgation, and regulations affecting significant natural areas, hunting grounds, and the overall health of the lands and waters – have significant impacts on W̱SÁNEĆ Territory, rights, and interests. Despite this, local government bodies have little obligation to consult with or consider W̱SÁNEĆ when making decisions.
That’s why the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council (WLC) is engaging with the local governments that operate in and make decisions over W̱SÁNEĆ Territory – not because there is a desire for W̱SÁNEĆ to become more like municipalities and regional districts, but because it’s time their decision-making processes consider W̱SÁNEĆ interests. By establishing Memoranda of Understanding with local governments, including District of Saanich, District of Central Saanich, Town of Sidney, District of Highlands, the Capital Regional District, and others, WLC is working to ensure that W̱SÁNEĆ interests are considered in local government decision-making processes.
This blog is the third in a multi-part series exploring this opportunity for collaboration. The first part addressed local governments’ current lack of consultation requirements in depth. The second part explored UNDRIP as an avenue for local governments to consider and collaborate with W̱SÁNEĆ, including the opportunity for local governments to adopt UNDRIP directly. This blog explores a parallel opportunity for local governments: enactment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action are the result of inquiry into the impacts of the residential school system, which directly harmed 150,000 Indigenous youth and caused extensive, multi-generational impacts for countless others. The Calls to Action implore colonial government bodies to take 94 specific steps to address this harm. They include categories such as child welfare, education, health, language and culture, justice, equity in the legal system, and reconciliation education.
Both the federal government and BC are working to implement the Calls to Action, and there is potential for local governments to do the same. While some of the Calls to Action are beyond the jurisdiction of local governments, several speak directly to municipalities and local governments can adapt others to align with what is possible under their jurisdiction.
An excellent example of what is possible when a local government adopts the Calls to Action is illustrated by the City of Vancouver. Realizing that their failure to recognize Indigenous rights and title and to adequately reflect xʷməθkʷəy̓əm Musqueam, Sḵwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw Squamish Nation, and səlilwətaɬ Tsleil-Waututh Nation in their planning processes and civil facilities contributes to the “erasure and discrimination” of these communities, Vancouver committed to enacting 27 of the 94 Calls to Action through 41 initiatives.
Vancouver presented their work in an organized way, mapping possible actions within the city’s jurisdiction alongside their corresponding Call to Action. For example, in response to Call to Action #5, which calls “upon the federal, provincial, territorial, and Aboriginal governments to develop culturally appropriate parenting programs for Aboriginal families,” Vancouver committed to providing “annual grants to Aboriginal organizations and organizations that focus on Aboriginal communities” and implementing “the commitment with the Joint Child Care Council to discuss the availability of Aboriginal child care.” This line-by-line action plan provides a framework that can ease the process for other local governments seeking to adopt the Calls to Action.
Implementation of the Calls to Action by local governments has benefits for both W̱SÁNEĆ and the local governments. For local governments, it provides an opportunity to be a leader and a model in action-based reconciliation. For W̱SÁNEĆ it supports the process of healing from the violence of colonization, including that caused by the residential school system. For both parties, enacting the Calls to Action strengthens the government-to-government relationship between W̱SÁNEĆ and the local government, making it possible to collaboratively create a future better than either could on its own. In the words of Vancouver officials:
Vancouver is a young place in comparison to the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations who have cared for these lands and waters since time immemorial. It is time that this City recognize how much greater it could be by the acknowledgment of these Nations – important work that is already underway through our growing relations and aspirations with reconciliation.
W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council (WLC) in partnership with Tsartlip and Tseycum First Nations is committed to establishing collaborative relationships that promote the interests of W̱SÁNEĆ and looks forward to working with local governments to adopt the Calls to Action.
While enactment of the Calls to Action by local governments provides a powerful opportunity for reconciliation, it is just one of many ways local governments and W̱SÁNEĆ can work together to create a new paradigm that reduces harm to W̱SÁNEĆ, furthers W̱SÁNEĆ interests, and creates a healthier future for all. WLC will continue releasing blogs exploring these opportunities for collaboration over the coming months, with the intention of receiving feedback from the community and, ultimately, fostering real-world collaborations that make a big impact for W̱SÁNEĆ.
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