The provincial government was muted, almost conciliatory, in its response to the Sechelt Nation’s bold move to build a traditional longhouse and reclaim 12 hectares on Crown land that is designated as part of Garden Bay Marine Provincial Park.
When asked if any action would be taken, or whether the move would be accepted as naturally arising out of the Supreme Court’s Tsilhqot’in decision, the province said Tuesday that the status of the longhouse is expected to be part of reconciliation discussions with the Band. In the second part of its response, the province simply acknowledged the Sechelt Nation “has a long-standing title claim in the area,” which is a vast understatement.
The province has good reason to keep things low-key, because its failure to reach a meaningful agreement with Sechelt over Pender Harbour has forced the Band’s hand. As Chief Calvin Craigan said last Friday, Sechelt can’t wait for more empty promises from Premier Christy Clark: “She had made a promise three years ago this week that she gave direction to her ministers and deputy ministers to settle with Sechelt. And there was an offer to do a land swap and various other things. That never came into being.”
The Garden Bay longhouse site is the first of six that will be established this winter on Crown lands in the area. Craigan said the sites will not be used exclusively by Band members, but will be shared with the larger community.
“The province in their arrogance is ignoring the relationship that we have developed with the local government and the local community over the last 30 years,” he said.
Pender Harbour (kálpílín) holds a vitally important place in the history, lives and traditions of the Sechelt people, as historian Candace Campo related at last week’s longhouse ceremony. It was once a central hub of the Nation, where all four clans came together and held potlatches with neighbouring tribes. It was home to thousands of Sechelt people.
With the Supreme Court of Canada’s recent decision affirming Aboriginal title to Crown land within traditional territory, the Band’s legal case is so strong that it can move in and start operating in its territory without any say by the province, which nominally holds title to the real estate.
That’s exactly what happened last week in Pender Harbour.
The Sechelt Nation is ready to govern its land and has widespread local support. It’s time for the government of B.C. to recognize this reality and stop holding back progress on the Sunshine Coast.
