Editor:
Let’s offer a bigger, creative and cooperative vision as a community for the well-crafted longhouses the Sechelt Band is erecting.
Envision each longhouse as a watchman, as in Gwaii Haanas National Park. From this place we become the stewards of the Salish Sea, using our collective eyes, ears, hands and expertise to monitor the health of this ecosystem.
Imagine recording birds, large mammal sightings, reporting washed up debris, temperature changes and exchanging historical notes from elders and old timers from watchmen stations. Imagine bringing hands-on marine biology activities for our youth from these gathering places.
If we spend time squabbling over longhouses and their environmental impact, will we have time to act to prevent the far greater impacts, for example, of the proposed transportation of coal to Texada Island? What would Francis Point look like after coal dust starts to settle with its heavy metals into the filtration system of mussels and clams? The band has already taken a strong stance against coal shipments. They need our support.
Let us be known as the starting point where healing between cultures and earth stewardship came together and created something new and unique for generations to come.
Denise Birklein-Lagasse, Halfmoon Bay
