A stoic new watchman is now standing guard over the watershed Coast residents rely on for clean drinking water.
On Oct. 15, the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) joined Sechelt Indian Band (SIB) council, elders and dancers for a dedication ceremony for the totem pole that stands outside the SCRD's Field Road office. The totem commemorates the signing of the Joint Watershed Management Agreement between the SCRD and SIB in 2005.
"Every day when I walk into the office, it's a reminder," said SCRD board chair Donna Shugar. "It stands here, this beautiful pole, and reminds us of the great responsibility we share with the Sechelt Indian Band council to protect and preserve the Chapman and Grey Creek watersheds for the benefit and health of all of our people."
During the ceremony, the totem's artist Tony Paul explained its meaning: "The chief and council wanted me to design a pole that would represent the Sechelt Nation, that would be a protection pole for the Sechelt Nation within our traditional territories and also sharing with the people on the Sunshine Coast," he said.
At the base of the pole is a grizzly bear signifying protection on the land. Above the bear is an eagle, signifying protection from the air. The eagle's wings are semi-wrapped around a frog, which Paul said carries double significance.
"My father-in-law Gilbert told me the frog represents unity, bringing people together, all you people working together for a common purpose, the watershed," he said. "The wings semi-wrapped around the frog are protecting that unity we have among each and every one of us, our friendship."
Out of the 2005 agreement has come a committee made up of three members of the SCRD and SIB council, which meets twice per year to "pursue, assume and exercise" control over activities in the watershed. The agreement has no provincial recognition at this time so Shugar said the committee must work to find ways to advance common goals without the province. The best route forward, Shugar said, is an agreed upon course of action for the two governments.
"At our last meeting, we agreed that we should develop a strategic plan as to how we are going to implement this agreement. That is something we are going to be working on together," she said.
Shugar said, despite the process being slow, it is moving forward. The committee is scheduled to convene again in December when it will meet with the Sunshine Coast Community Forest's board and staff.
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