For the third day, chains and padlocks have sealed up two of shíshálh Nation’s administrative buildings in the House of héwhíwus complex in Sechelt, blocking chief, council and much of the band’s support staff from entering their offices.
The lockdown happened Tuesday morning following a general meeting the night before attended by about 30 band members, who vented their concerns to Chief Calvin Craigan and council. By all accounts, the meeting did not go well.
In a newsletter to band members posted Wednesday on the shíshálh Nation website (www.shishalh.com), Craigan said many of the issues and concerns raised at the general meeting “were personal in nature or informed by misinformation and rumours.” He and council, he said, had been the target of “lateral violence and verbal assaults” at the meeting.
The dissidents, responding on a newly launched website of their own (thepeopleofshishalh.wordpress.com), claimed their concerns were ignored by the leadership and accused Craigan of talking down to them and showing a lack of respect during the meeting. In an unsigned post, the dissidents also claim to be representing “the silent majority” of band members. They acknowledge the disruption in services caused by the lockdown is unfortunate, but point out they have left the health and social development building open to receive all emergency phone calls regarding travel, medication and other needs.
There is no question that the band is in the midst of a serious crisis. A meeting between the dissidents and Coun. Garry Feschuk on Wednesday was a hopeful sign, but Thursday morning the locks and chains were still on the doors and the dissidents had regrouped in the interior parking lot for another day’s vigil. The impasse continues.
Chief Craigan is calling for the community to strive “to set aside personal differences and ill feelings” and the dissidents say they are only seeking “reasonable, fair, honest answers from our leadership for people.” It sounds like there is enough common ground to find a resolution to this crisis, as long as there is a will. We urge both sides to hear each other and respond in good faith.
Band members need a strong, functioning shíshálh Nation, and so does the whole Sunshine Coast.
