Editor:
I wish to correct accusations made by shíshálh Nation lhe hiwus (Chief) Lenora Joe, and express my dismay that Coast Reporter published a story about the Nation’s position without conducting even a cursory investigation into the allegations.
Shame on both of you for suggesting that opposition to the shíshálh swiya Dock Management Plan is racist, inflammatory, confrontational, and based on untrue comments in the Facebook group, Pender Harbour Uncut, which I monitor daily as admin. Misinformed comments are corrected or removed, and the rule against bigotry of any kind, including racism, is strictly enforced.
Criticism of the dock management Plan is not directed at the shíshálh Nation.
Our objections are directed at the plan itself, which is rationalized with – to our estimation – dodgy engineering and environmental studies, is distressingly unclear, and which threatens our water-based industries and residents’ ability to get to their water-access homes. Secondary industries will be diminished, property values will plummet, and our struggling economy will be further gutted.
Our objections are directed at the BC Government, who adopted the plan without including the SCRD and seemed deaf to our many, thoughtful, rational, and respectfully submitted comments, and indifferent to the plan’s effect on our community.
lhe hiwus Joe’s suggestion that our objections are racist would be laughable if it wasn’t such a hateful term with which to brand our community, and if there weren’t shíshálh community members sharing and expressing these objections.
Myrtle Winchester
Pender Harbour
