Sechelt councillors are ready to throw the district’s support behind a community reconciliation project, a move that will help the project access more funding.
After hearing last month from former shíshálh Nation chief and councillor Garry Feschuk and former Sechelt mayor Cam Reid, co-chairs of the group leading the project, councillors at an April 11 committee meeting discussed how the district should participate.
The reconciliation project will involve carving a reconciliation pole and weaving friendship blankets with community participation. The blankets would hang in local government offices and the RCMP detachment and the pole would be erected in Sechelt.
Having the municipality on board will allow the group to access grant money from a wider set of funders and offer tax receipts to donors.
There was support around the table for the project, but uncertainty about whether a formal agreement between the district and the community group is necessary.
“I don’t want to get into the bureaucratic nitpicking that we could do on this,” said Coun. Noel Muller. “I think we should just move ahead and allow staff to make it work behind the scenes, but very clearly come out as a council and say, ‘Yes, we support this.’”
Mayor Bruce Milne said he expects the arrangement will work much like the one used for the Davis Bay Wharf project, which also took advantage of the district’s ability to offer tax receipts and access grants. “It’s not dissimilar in the sense that the initiative came from the community… I think we can use that as a model,” he said.
The committee is recommending council confirm it is “in agreement with the shíshálh Nation and the community reconciliation working group to complete the reconciliation project.” Council was scheduled to vote on the recommendation April 18.
The day after the Sechelt committee meeting, Feschuk and Reid appeared before Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) directors to ask for their support.
“I want to move it forward so we can help ease the pain of the people who are still suffering the effects of the residential school,” Feschuk said.
Reid said the intention is to “make this a community project rather than a small interest group project.” They also plan to approach the RCMP.
“It’s not insignificant that it’s these two gentlemen who are leading this,” said Milne, a Sechelt director and board chair at the SCRD. “Their history goes back a long ways.”
Milne pointed out that Reid used to be a staff sergeant with the RCMP. “The reconciliation that takes place with the history of these two individuals is a significant point of leadership for our community,” he said.
Directors on the planning and community development committee offered support and requested staff explore how the SCRD can assist them.
A fundraising launch will be held at the shíshálh Nation Longhouse on April 25, at 5 p.m. It will start with a potluck feast and a presentation on the project followed by cultural songs, dances, stories and drumming.
A donation of $20 at the door is being suggested. Space is limited and people are asked to preregister by contacting Nancy or John Denham at 604-885-7373 or 604-740-6400.
– With files from Sophie Woodrooffe
