March 2014

Volume 8 . Issue 10

March 2014

E U R re T U u

t F R t Fea U O n

R m FO lop

e NG Dev I D c

IL omi U B n Ec

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urbansystems.ca

Coast Salish Development Corporation is developing Stz’uminus land Oyster Bay Development

YSTERBAY DEVELOPMENT

a master-planned community - a place to live work and play

Holland Creek

a new residential development

RCR Mining

developing a mine through a win-win partnership

www.coastsalishdevcorp.com

WELCOME

THE MONTH THAT FROGS SING “We want to partner up in forestry and aquaculture, for oysters and geoducks.”

Publisher: Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council Gary Reith, Chief Administrative Officer (604) 943-6712 1-888-382-7711 Salish Sea Publishing Editorial Inquiries: editor@salishseasentinel.ca (250) 246-3438 Advertising inquires: ads@salishseasentinel.ca (250) 510-9853 The Salish Sea Sentinel is published monthly, eleven times a year by the Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council. NmTC was incorporated as a nonprofit society in 1983 and is governed by a board of directors from each of our eleven member First Nations.

Our nations are located around the Salish Sea (see map on inside back cover). There are about 6,500 people who hold membership in our nations.

The word Naut’sa mawt means working together as one. The NmTC mission is to support and strengthen the capabilities of our Coast Salish member communities by developing skilled leadership, strong governance, resiliency and self-sufficiency.

NmTC is charged with providing advisory services in five delivery areas: • Economic Development • Financial Management • Community Planning • Technical Services and • Governance Cover photo: The Coast Salish Employment Training Society’s Bladerunners program provides construction training for those from 15-30 such as this group who worked building a storage facility at Halalt First Nation.

W

YOUR

COMMUNITY

www.salishseasentinel.ca

elcome to March. It is the time of the year when frogs begin to sing, marking an end to another dancing season and the arrival of Spring. Here come the herring roe, newly born fawns and seal pups, the return of the first salmon to the rivers as well the first edible shoots sprouting in the forest.

This time of changing seasons is a good moment to also talk about growth and renewal in our nations.

This month, on Pages 8-12, we feature some of the amazing economic development opportunities that are appearing in Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council nations.

From the thousands of jobs and steady revenue that is being created at Tsawwassen to the sawmill making lumber at Klahoose, there are some great things happening around the Salish Sea. And the striking thing is that nations are willing to share their experiences and expertise with others.

Chief John Elliott recently spoke about the partnerships Stz’uminus is forging with other nations.

Competitiveness has been set aside in favour of sharing. “There was always the fear that a bigger nation would try to take over things a smaller nation was doing,” he said. “But we have other nations sitting at the table with us now… We want to partner up in forestry and aquaculture, for oysters and geoducks.”

Tsawwassen is also helping other nations. Visitors from Sliammon, in the midst of treaty making, were welcomed to learn from Tsawwassen’s knowledge of law making and nation building.

Our nations small and large have specific knowledge they are willing to share with others. The tribal council often acts as a liaison for such partnerships. Our networking team meetings are a good example of the way First Nations are will to contribute and collaborate.

Write for us The Salish Sea Sentinel is looking for reporters from our 11 nations. We would like to include your words and photos in this new monthly magazine.

What kind of stories? Well, you will get a good idea by reading this issue. But what we would really like to see are stories about people, events and achievements from your nation that you think should be shared with our readers around the Salish Sea. We will work with you on your ideas, and your writing, if needed.

Our reporters will be paid for their submissions; not a lot, but it could lead to regular work in doing what we do best… storytelling about the wonderful things happening in Coast Salish country.

For more information, email info@salishseasentinel.ca.

SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 1

TRAINING

The Catalyst mill.

TRAINING SLIAMMON FOR PULP AND PAPER JOBS Adult Aboriginal learners transitioning back to school and to employment Students from Sliammon First Nation will be able to learn skills that will prepare them for jobs in the pulp and paper industry, thanks to a $154,290 grant to the Bridge To Success program.

There will be 12 students in the 18-weeks program that is funded by the B.C. government. Learning will take place at Sliammon, at Vancouver Island University’s Powell River campus and at the Cata-

lyst pulp and paper mill at Powell River.

The Ministry of Advanced Education announced two other programs. The Coastal First Nations stewardship training program will be delivered in partnership with VIU to 16 participants in communities. The program will provide participants with the skills, knowledge and experience for careers in stewardship and in further post-secondary education and training.

And VIU, Camosun College, Co-

wichan Tribes and Tsawout First Nation are partnering in a First Nations culinary arts program. Participants will acquire knowledge and skills to find employment working in the food and hospitality industry. The program will be delivered in a manner and learning environment that is both culturally sensitive and supportive to adult Aboriginal learners transitioning back to school and to employment.

SALISH SEA TRADER GORDON BLACKETT PHOTOGRAPHY With a unique understanding and passion for capturing the personal and business photography requirements of aboriginal people, Gordon Blackett Photography offers a range of quality photographic services that include individual and group portrait/ studio sessions; weddings; private/ corporate parties and events; on-loca-

tion shoots and photo booth rentals.

Your memories… preserved with passion. Visit gordonblackettphoto graphy.com NAME THAT BUSINESS! Klahoose First Nation is looking for a name for its new eco-tourism venture. The winning entry will get a prize of four seats on a tour date of your choice with a value of $2,000. Deadline for submissions is March 5. Submit ideas to: mmckellar@klahoose.org or jamesdelorme@klahoose.org

MALAHAT GALA The 2014 Gala Fundraiser will be bigger and better than ever. To avoid disappointment, get on our waiting list for early bird tickets. Contact Sharon at 250-743-3231 or sharon. marshall@malahatnation.com SALISH SEA COLLEGE The new Salish Sea College is looking for a logo and the winning artist from Snuneymuxw will receive $2,500. See the latest SFN newsletter for details or contact nancys@

snuneymuxw.ca before the March 17 deadline.

BATTLEFIELD FIGHTS Eli Wyse of Snuneymuxw returns to the octagon on March 29 to meet Achilles Estremadura as the Battlefield Fight League returns to the Hard Rock Casino in Coquitlam. More info at http://battle fieldfight.com/bfl29

Advertise in the Salish Sea Trader. Email info@salishseasentinel.com by March 15 for the April issue.

2 • SALISH SEA SENTINEL

ENVIRONMENT

COAST SALISH JOIN PIPELINE OPPOSITION “Every kind of pollution ends up in the Salish Sea. We have decided no more and we are stepping forward.”

Tsleil-Waututh Nation is getting support from Coast Salish relations in its campaign against Kinder Morgan’s proposed expanded Trans Mountain pipeline.

The deadline for intervention in the National Energy Board’s hearings into the proposal was in early February. By that date, Coast Salish intervenors included not only Tsleil-Waututh, but also the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, Tulalip Tribes, Lummi Nation and Suquamish Tribe in Washington State as well as T’Sou-ke, Musqueam and Squamish nations from BC. That move followed a resolution last year when the 57 Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians opposed the transport and export of coal and oil to proposed ports after evaluating risks to treaty and indigenous rights, sacred lands and way of life.

“Over the last 100 years, our most sa-

Brian Cladoosby.

cred site, the Salish Sea, has been deeply impacted by our pollution-based economy,” said Swinomish chairman Brian Cladoosby who last October was elected president of the National Congress of American Indians.

“Every kind of pollution ends up in the Salish Sea,” Cladoosby said. “We have decided no more and we are stepping

forward. It is up to this generation and future generations to restore and protect the precious waters of the Salish Sea.” Meanwhile, Tsleil-Waututh Chief Maureen Thomas said: “Our people are bound together by our deep connection to Burrard Inlet and the Salish Sea. We are the ‘People of the Inlet’ and we are united in our resolve to protect our land, water and air from this risky project. We will use all lawful means to oppose it. This is why we have applied to intervene in the NEB hearing process.”

Chairman Timothy Ballew III of the Lummi Nation added his voice to the opposition. “I am a fisherman, a father and a member of the great Lummi Nation. We are the stewards the Salish Sea and will not allow the Kinder Morgan proposal along our waterways that will threaten our harvesting areas and further the detrimental impacts to the environment and natural resources.”

NMTC WORKSHOP: LOANS TO OWN YOUR HOUSE The subject was housing when 16 people from Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council nations, as well as Cowichan Tribes and Quatsino First Nation, gathered in Nanaimo on Feb. 19 for another of NmTC’s popular networking team workshops.

Topping the agenda was an explanation of the First Nations Market Housing Fund by Earl Commanda and Ruth Deatcher from FNMHF. Also on tap was a progress report and lively discussion about the Policy Development Tool-Kit for on-reserve rental housing led by advisor Eric Blueschke. Gary Reith, NmTC’s chief administrative officer, also gave an update on technical services funding from Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada.

Commanda introduced the fund concept to the gathering. Developed out of

the 2005 Kelowna Accord, Canada’s government created the $300 million fund to facilitate and broaden the range of housing options for residents of First Nations communities. The vision was that community members could have similar housing choices and opportunities as in non-native communities.

“A well managed housing program is key,” Commanda said of the 121 First Nations who have applied to the FNMHF. “They realize that ‘free’ housing for members is not sustainable.”

He explained that a major barrier to market-based housing is the lack of access to financing for on-reserve housing because of Indian Act provisions that limit seizure of property. The fund help individuals on-reserve and on other settlement lands to obtain loans if their First Nation

meets criteria such as the ability to manage their finances, loans and housing.

Once a First Nation qualifies, it arranges with a bank, credit union or other lenders to allow its members to obtain housing loans with the nation guaranteeing those loans. FNMHF provides partial financial backing to the lender who can access the fund if a borrower fails to repay the loan and the nation does not honour its obligation A big part of the fund’s involvement with nations, Commanda said, is supporting eligible First Nations throughout the process through its capacity development program.

There will be a full report in the April edition of The Sentinel about the Policy Development Tool-Kit for on-reserve rental housing.

More information at http://fnmhf.ca.

SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 3

NEWS

Crowd applauds treaty at an early signing.

SAVE THE DATE MARCH 15 “We are strengthened by the growing numbers of our youth who see treaty as essential to their futures.”

March 15… Circle that date on your calendar. Sliammon First Nation members certainly will.

That Saturday is when representatives of the Government of Canada visit the Salish Centre to formally sign the Tla’amin Treaty along with representatives from BC and the nation’s leaders. It has been a long time coming with plenty of twists and turns along the way.

Sliammon got involved in the treaty process in 1994. It took 16 years of discussions within the community and hard talking to negotiators from Canada and BC before the three parties completed an agreement in June 2010.

Even before that, Sliammon members were preparing for nationhood. In 2009 almost 70 per cent of voters said ‘Yes’ to adopting the Constitution of the Tla’Amin Nation.

But when Chief Clint Williams talked about the long road to treaty in 2010, he had no idea that four more years would be needed: “It has been a long journey for us since we entered stage one of the BC treaty process… Sadly, we have lost several of our key elders during the process, but we are strengthened by the growing numbers of our youth who see treaty as 4 • SALISH SEA SENTINEL

Voting for treaty.

essential to their futures.”

Those four years saw the Sliammon community working on fine-tuning governance, taxation and other elements of their nation building. That also included a 2012 vote on final treaty agreement by community members. The ballot had to be delayed for weeks as a handful of antitreaty protesters blocked the way to voting booths. But the eventual July 10 vote was decidedly in favour of the treaty with 318 community members voting yes and 235 against.

Following the positive community, Sliammon began to establish the legal base for self-government. Several committees and working groups were in-

volved in the process.

Early in 2013, many Sliammon members travelled to Victoria where the treaty was tabled in the BC Legislature.

But since then, the nation has waited for Canada to sign off on the treaty.

The wait prompted a letter to MP John Weston that said: “Sliammon has had to make very difficult sacrifices in order to survive the unexplained delay… We have lost very valuable team members and operating costs have been reduced to life support levels while we await confirmation from Canada… The successful ratification of the final agreement will require a full team effort and we cannot afford the losses we are experiencing.”

But all the waiting will be put to rest on March 15. Then there will be just one more wait.

“The next milestone for Sliammon will be Effective Date… the day that the treaty will come to life,” said the nation’s head negotiator Roy Francis. “It is the day that legal title of lands formally transfer to Sliammon. It is the day that the financial components of the treaty begin to flow. It is the day that Sliammon law-making authorities come into effect. It is the day we will be out from under the Indian Act.”

NEWS

Another big hurdle overcome

Sliammon Lands & Resources The following is a summary of lands and resources that will be under the jurisdiction of Sliammon First Nation once treaty comes into effect.

• Tla’amin Reserve Lands (1,917 hectares / 4,217 acres) – Six locations at Sliammon, Harwood Island, Cortes Island, Theodosia, Okeover and Grace Harbour.

• Tla’amin Treaty Settlement Lands (6,360 hectares / 13,992 acres) – Nine locations at Theodosia/Thor Hill, Okeover Inlet North and South including the Mermaid oyster plant, Lund Parcels, Hurtado Point, Sliam-

mon Lake North, Schmarge Bay, Wilde Creek, Westview, Wharf Street Parcel and Pocahontas Bay. • Tla’amin Community Forest Tenure (over 50,000 cubic metres annual allowable cut) – located in Bunster Range and north of Haslam Lake.

Tla’amin Woodlot Tenure (over 3,000 cubic metres annual allowable cut) – located south of Sliammon Lake.

Tla’amin Aquaculture Tenures (eight foreshore tenures and three deepwater tenures) – located in Okeover, Lancelot and Theodosia Inlets.

Another big hurdle, essential to treaty, was crossed when Sliammon recently received its financial performance certificate from the First Nations Financial Management Board.

The certification means that the nation will be able to get financing at low interest rates for key infrastructure projects including housing and the proposed new administration building.

Dillon Johnson, a Sliammon councillor, told community members that access to borrowing funds was not the only benefit from certification. “It is a signal to all stakeholders (Sliammon members, investors, other governments, etc) that the nation is managing its affairs in a responsible and transparent manner.”

Much of the work in gaining certification came from the Sliammon finance community working group.

It is now seeking expert advice on how to manage assets that will be transferred to Sliammon under treaty.

“We’ll be holding community information sessions and looking for input from membership over the coming months in order to get an idea of the community’s preferences in structuring and managing the financial benefits that come with the treaty,” Johnson said.

SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 5

BUILDING OUR FUTURE

Build for OUR

6 • SALISH SEA SENTINEL

BUILDING OUR FUTURE

ding R future

SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 7

NEWS

Left: Hands were raised in welcome to the guests; Right: Tsawwassen First Nation Chief Bryce Williams (right).

TSAWWASSEN CELEBRATES AS CENTRE OF TRADE “We don’t travel as much in our canoes as in the old days, but we still remain at the centre of a great trade route” The first cheques for 99-year-leases were banked as a huge shopping project begins.

The tradition of Tsawwassen First Nation being great trade people was called to mind when Chief Bryce Williams spoke at an event that marked the start of construction of the Lower Mainland’s largest shopping centres on Jan. 24.

“I want you to picture this place as it was 200 years ago,” he told the crowd, recalling great salmon runs “on our doorstep” as well as the multitude of plants and other wildlife, the ceremonial potlatches and other cultural events.

“We entered into our treaty in 2009 firm in our belief we would stand strong again as a wealthy and generous self-governing people, welcoming many to our lands.”

Tsawwassen nation’s modern day wealth came in the form of a first cheque that was received the day before for lease of the lands from developers of the Tsawwassen Mills and Tsawwassen Commons 8 • SALISH SEA SENTINEL

We are in historic times and it’s a great honour to be involved in such a monumental project. retail complexes. Ivanhoe Cambridge and the Property Development Group (PDG) leased the lands for 99 years, following community members voting 97 per cent in favour last year.

“We don’t travel as much in our canoes as in the old days, but we still remain at the centre of a great trade route,” Chief Williams said, referring to the ferry terminal, Deltaport, Highway 17 and the newly constructed perimeter road along the south shores of the Fraser River. “We are in historic times and it’s a great honour to be involved in such a monumental project.

“Combined with our complementary agricultural, residential, and industrial

activities, this development is a significant move forward in creating a truly sustainable community for our members.”

As speeches were made inside a tent near the newly constructed interchange at 48th Street and Highway 17, cranes and trucks were at work laying foundations for the gigantic regional shopping complex that are due to open two years from now. ‘Gigantic’ was a word that certainly came to mind as numbers were announced inside the tent.

Ivanhoe Cambridge said that the first tenant of its Tsawwassen Mills project, that will cover 1.2 million-square-feet, is Bass Bro Shops hunting and fishing retailer. Meanwhile, PDG’s Tsawwassen Commons will cover about half as much space and will include a Wal-Mart super store as well as Rona. Up to 7,000 jobs are expected to be created during construction with several thousand permanent retail jobs created in 2016 when all the stores open for business.

NEWS

Commons developer says the go-slow approach pays off Lawrence Rank sees patience not only as a virtue.

It is also a major benefit in doing business.

“We’ll adopt whatever reasonable patience is necessary,” the chair and founding partner of Property Development Group said after the groundbreaking for the huge retail projects at Tsawwassen First Nation.

“This is not a business where impatience is a benefit,” Rank said of retail developments generally.

And, he said, the take-it-slow approach pays off especially when dealing with First Nations who may not have the experience of municipalities or private landowners.

PDG recently collaborated with Tsawout First Nation on a $150-million town centre project on the Saanich Peninsula. The development will be built on land leased from Tsawout members for 99 years. It is due to open in late 2015. It has also opened the first phase of its Okanagan Lake development in Kelowna, a partnership with Westbank First Nation.

‘Location, location, location…’ is a byword for all developers and this was no truer than the prime Tsawwassen Lands that the nation gained in its 2009 treaty. “Finding good quality real estate opportunities is difficult,” Rank said. “There is not a lot of good sites available… We always knew there was a market opportunity in that region. There is so much agricultural land and a pent up demand for retail.

The treaty lands were perfect!”

“Once there was the Tsawwassen treaty, it frankly it put a good market opportunity officially into play,” he said. Months after treaty came into being, Rank met Chris Hartman who is CEO of the TFN Economic Development Corporation and negotiations began.

“We expected a long arduous road and were aware of a tremendous number of hurdles. We had to do a lot of homework to convince the TFN government.

Thankfully, the membership was overwhelmingly supportive.”

While Rank admitted that the patient approach can be an expensive process in terms of money, time and effort, it is “heightened somewhat by First Nations. If they do not have experience, we will take a little longer… We prefer to present options and alternatives and not try to push a decision earlier than the comfort level.

“It is all about trust and confidence,” he said.

Lots of networking took place at the Career Opportunities Fair.

CAREERS APLENTY AT TFN More than 60 Tsawwassen First Nation members turned out for the first Career Opportunities Fair and discovered that hundreds and thousands of jobs in the pipeline as work starts on two large shopping centres on the nation’s treaty lands.

In addition to mall developers Ivanhoe Cambridge and Property Development Group, there were 19 other businesses and organizations with booths at the fair.

TFN members also pitched in to make sure the first, but not the last, careers fair was a success. They included Chief Bryce Williams who gave an opening speech along with drumming and a song. Ruth Adams gave an opening prayer.

Tim Lorenz and Andrew Bak set up the event while Laura Cassidy helped with the fish donation. Vince Cassidy assisted with the facility while Merle Williams, Alice Montjoy and Jessica Adams did catering. Tyler Schadow raised $185 during the fair for the Pulling Together canoe journey.

Above: TFN members got a ‘passport’ from Andrea Jacobs and Tyler Schadow.

Below: Ruth Adams thought she might become a truck driver.

SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 9

BUILDING OUR FUTURE

prenticeships last year. The built their own houses and attended courses at Vancouver Island University while also taking time for evening upgrading courses in math and other subjects. And they have been putting in more hours working on getting Kwunew Kwasun finished by April that even involved work on a high, slippery roof over the Christmas holidays.

Meanwhile, the pair has become role models for many in the Malahat community. “We always talk to kids about how important it is for them to stay in school.

We tell them that you have to work hard to get to where you want to be.”

Sowing the seeds Above: Matt and George Harry; Top right: A breakfast meeting of the board.

BROTHERLY BUILDERS WALK ‘THE MALAHAT WAY’ Brothers Matt and George Harry are helping to build Malahat First Nation in more ways than one.

There are the two houses the brothers built last year along Jesken Road while they were taking construction apprentice courses. And from the windows of their new homes, they can see the new Kwunew Kwasun cultural resource centre that is nearing completion.

The brothers also sit on the board of directors for Malahat Economic Development Ltd that is creating some exciting opportunities for both the nation and its neighbours in Mill Bay. 10 • SALISH SEA SENTINEL

“These two guys are the future heads of the Malahat construction company,” administrator Lawrence Lewis said while praising their achievements for themselves and for the nation. The brothers also typify and ‘The Malahat Way’ of thinking about the community that was best shown in the hugely successful gala that was held for the learning centres in early November.

“Make things happen every day and we can change the world,” is one of Lawrence’s definitions of ‘The Malahat Way’.

Matt and George certainly have made things happen since they start their ap-

The Malahat Economic Development Ltd board members and its trustees met for a breakfast meeting in mid-February to get a construction update on Kwunew Kwasun and to do a bit of brainstorming a the many opportunities in the pipeline.

Retailer Shae Clutesi and mortgage broker Cory McCaw along with Matt and George Harry make up the independent company’s board of directors.

The Malahat Way Malahat Nation Road Map… the Malahat Way is the name given to a new way of doing things that started in 2013.

It involves program and service development, design, implementation, budgeting and delivery. The Malahat Way involves collaborative strategic planning between chief and council, Malahat administration and membership.

BUILDING OUR FUTURE

Rick Underwood lifts another support for the structure.

BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY AT T’SOU-KE ‘Sustainability’ is a word often used when T’Sou-ke First Nation discusses economic development.

The nation defines sustainable living in terms of energy autonomy, food security, a cultural renaissance and economic self-sufficiency.

“Everything is connected,” Chief Gordon Planes says. “It is so true… that’s what we have to do, to know that Mother Earth has a way of taking care of itself. Our Elders say if we don’t take care of it, Mother Earth will do it for you.

That is a big reason behind the great T’Sou-ke solar energy project. Having energy independence is a powerful thing, not only for the electric power fed back into the BC Hydro grid or for the hot water supplied to many homes.

It is also a big step toward economic sustainability for the nation.

And it something in which First Nations can take a leadership role. “We’re

the new warriors… eco-warriors,” Chief Planes says. “As a collective, First Nations can make positive change together and we can do something that will help everyone.

By supporting new skills, technologies and investments, “The region becomes a focus for suppliers of new technologies, skills training and contractors who can implement the program.”

Towards Net Zero

Growing wasabi

Chief Planes recently told a Vancouver conference that the lessons learned during T’Sou-ke First Nation’s great solar energy project that could turn out to be a major job creation scheme for all of south Vancouver Island.

He talked about T’Sou-ke’s energy planning model called ‘Towards Net Zero’. At the heart of the scheme are the Rs of energy use in the home – Reduce, Re-use and Renewables.

“If ‘Towards Net Zero’ improvements for a house costs $20,000, a 100,000-house program would create a $2 Billion local industry with thousands of local jobs,” he said.

Much the same type of sustainability thinking was behind the new wasabigrowing project at T’Sou-ke.

Three greenhouses will support growing crops of wasabi, a plant best known as a spicy condiment for sushi, through a franchise agreement with Pacific Coast Wasabi. Within a year, T’Sou-ke will be supplying sushi lovers with wasabi as well as the herbal dietary supplement and biomedical markets.

The 35-by-150-foot structures began to go up in early February and the first plants will begin to grow this spring, ready for the initial harvest in about a year.

SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 11

NEWS

COMMUNICATING A MESSAGE AND A VISION “The vote proved that the community understands the direction we will be taking in the next 10-15 years” A year-long effort to discuss the future of Stz’uminus First Nation with its members is paying off, big time!

Communications is at the heart of any activity in a nation. That is why a celebration and a feast took place in early February with two-dozen Stz’uminus First Nation members.

The community’s communications team, and their partners, sat down with Chief John Elliott and the head of the nation’s Coast Salish Development Corporation Ray Gauthier. They were honoured for being instrumental in the 96 per cent favourable vote in December for First Nation Land Management (FNLM).

“I want to thank the communications team for helping to tell our story,” Chief Elliott said. “The communications team has been very helpful… There are so many in the community who really believe in what we’re doing now.”

What Stz’uminus is doing is becoming a major player in economic development on central Vancouver Island in real estate, energy and forestry. Five years ago, the nation’s main revenue source was its Husky gas station and the attached A&W restaurant.

Since then, Stz’uminus has made significant progress under its Coast Salish Development Corp. Achievements include: • A partnership in the Fortis BC liquefied natural gas project at Mt. Hayes; • Harvests of high value timber from wood lots and reserve lands by Thuthiqut Resources Ltd, the CSDC forestry business; • Partnering with RCR Mining in a project that could see extraction of copper, zinc and other ores; • A joint venture in the Holland Creek project in Ladysmith that will see 529 homes built starting later this year; 12 • SALISH SEA SENTINEL

A night out for the Stz’uminus communcations team.

• A water and sewer infrastructure agreement with the Town of Ladysmith to bring services to the area around the Husky station, on both sides of the Trans Canada Highway; and • Starting work on the huge Oyster Bay Development, a planned community including residential and commercial opportunities including assisted living.

The key to many of these projects was passage of FNLM by Stz’uminus voters.

And that is where the communications team sparkled, taking chief and council’s vision into the community. Over the past year the held large community meetings and visited families individually to get the message across.

Meanwhile, councillor Kevin Frenchy said numbers was the best gauge of the

We’re going to do the right thing for the community and the nation.

communication team’s success. “Our community dinners used to have maybe 50 people, but since the communications team started its work, we’ve had 300-500 people out.”

Chief Elliott credited the team for understanding the direction council was taking and passing the information on to members in such an effective way.

“The vote proved that the community understands the direction we will be taking in the next 10-15 years. And the Stz’uminus leadership is very proud of everything that has been done.

“We (the leadership) are going, going, going and doing things, having meetings, but we have to come back to where it started. I think it started around this council table, making tough decisions, that we have to spend money to make money, to move forward.

“We’re going to do the right thing for the community and the nation. I commend the leadership table for making those tough decisions and making the decision to be successful. That’s where we are today.”

SALISH SEA SENTINEL • 13

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