Your Fraser Valley city and reconciliation

Eight years ago, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada delivered a sobering report on the residential school system, along with 94 calls to action to start repairing its damaging legacy.

Of those calls to action, three specifically called for action by municipal governments. Ahead of this year’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we asked Fraser Valley city governments what, if anything, they have done to address those calls to action.

Some governments said they were mostly following the lead of the provincial government and that their hands were tied. But others were able to point to concrete actions taken relating to the calls to action.

• You can read their responses below

• You can read all the calls to action here.

• You can also start reading the summary of the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. The report contains detailed, factual evidence of what occurred in Canada’s residential schools

Of the three calls to action, two of them revolve around policies and attitudes related to how municipalities consider their relationship to the land they administer, and the Stó:lō people who lived on and used that land long before any modern city governments were created.

Mission and the Fraser Valley Regional District said they were incorporating the calls for action and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in their everyday work and pointed to specific actions taken in cooperation with local First Nations governments.

Mission’s response pointed to the adoption of reconciliation principals that include the acknowledgment that “Local governments are crucial to the implementation of UNDRIP and the TRC calls to action.” And the FVRD responded to our questions by writing that “The principles of UNDRIP provide a framework that can be incorporated into the FVRD’s work.”

Other municipalities, though, provided vaguer responses.

Abbotsford pointed to a provincial memorandum of understanding and wrote that “Indigenous governments and local governments are all working together in several ways to support reconciliation” but did not provide any specifics about how that is being achieved. But its response declared that its actions were limited by, and would follow, provincial legislation.

Other differing approaches could also be seen in reference to Call to Action 47, which urges governments to “reform those laws, government policies, and litigation strategies that continue to rely” on the Doctrine of Discovery and other colonial policies.

While the City of Mission cited an agreement that returned land to local First Nations (albeit land that had been owned by the Province, not the city), and the FVRD cited adjustments to engagement policies in ways that acknowledged lands were taken without consent, the City of Langley simply pointed to its land acknowledgment.

You can read the full responses below.

UNDRIP

Call to Action 43: We call upon federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to fully adopt and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as the framework for reconciliation.

We asked: Has your municipality done this? If not, why not?

They answered: 

Langley Township: The Township did not answer our questions individually. Instead, it provided the following statement: The Township acknowledges the traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples and in particular acknowledges our relationships with the Kwantlen, Katzie, Matsqui, and Semiahmoo First Nations.

We respect these First Nations by acknowledging them at every Council meeting, partnering with them on cultural facilities like salishan Place by the River, collaborating on Indigenous art installations around the Township, inviting them to actively participate in important community events, and recognizing important dates such as the upcoming National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Since 2022, the Township of Langley has also introduced Indigenous Cultural Awareness and Safety training for staff.

We continue to build our relationships with these First Nations and are continuously looking for opportunities to further act on the Calls to Action.

Langley City: “While the City of Langley has not fully adopted and implemented the UNDRIP, we continue to work towards that goal and rely on the senior levels of government to address many of the Calls to Action. “

Abbotsford: The Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) and the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation have signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) affirming local government’s role in fostering relationships built on honesty, respect and undertaking reconciliation at the community level. The parties to the MOU are the Province of BC represented by the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, and, UBCM representing all municipalities and regional districts of British Columbia.

The MOU guides the relationship between the Province of BC, UBCM and local governments with respect to reconciliation, agreements and initiatives with Indigenous peoples and partners. It updates and replaces previously signed MOUs between the Province of BC and UBCM relating to local government participation in negotiations and other Indigenous initiatives. Through this MOU, as well as the Provincial Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) the B.C. government, Indigenous governments and local governments are all working together in several ways to support reconciliation.

As the City of Abbotsford, in accordance with Council’s Proclamation Policy C002-08, (which has been in place since 1996) does not issue proclamations, we follow the guidance and direction that the MOU and provincial legislation have provided in this regard.

Mission: On April 19, 2021, Council adopted the nine principles of reconciliation, as Mission moves forward to becoming a City of Reconciliation.

1. Reconciliation occurs through the development of government to government relationships based on the recognition of indigenous rights.

2. Local governments are crucial to the implementation of UNDRIP and the TRC calls to action. Advancement of this work can occur while recognizing the sovereign to sovereign (or Crown to Nation) relationships that occur between Federal, Provincial and First Nations governments.

3. Plans and strategies for the implementation of UNDRIP and the TRC Calls to Action will be ‘co-created’ with First Nations communities, namely Matsqui, Sema:th, Kwantlen, Katzie, Sq’ewlets, and Leq’a:mel through engagement and collaboration, including ‘Reconciliation Dialogues’ and ‘Community to Community Forums’.

4. Reconciliation promotes a mutually supportive climate for economic partnerships with regional First Nations communities.

5. Collaboration with First Nation communities will define how best to communicate and engage on economic and land development policy.

6. Continuous learning about indigenous peoples, cultural, traditions and laws is a requirement of reconciliation.

7. Cooperation and collaboration will guide the City’s approach to issues that impact First Nations.

8. Relationships take time, as does exploring what mutual commitment to reconciliation means; we will endeavour to engage our neighbouring First Nation communities to build those relationships around shared interests and common concerns.

9. Systemic racism exists and that there are many ways of understanding the world and ways in which societies create and implement laws and that valid laws existed here before Canada. The City will question assumptions and remain open when faced with different legal traditions and ways of knowing.

Chilliwack: Chilliwack City Council has identified truth and reconciliation as a strategic goal (under Strong Neighbourhoods). Council’s strategic goals provide a framework for the decisions made by Council and guide the City’s approach for delivering services to the community. As part of Council’s commitment to truth and reconciliation, the City of Chilliwack has implemented a land acknowledgement, which is included at the top of the Council agenda, said at the start of Council meetings, and used in staff email signatures. The City has also collaborated with Chief David Jimmie to add a Halq’eméylem greeting to Chilliwack’s highway welcome signs, and permanently changed the lights orange in the Coast Salish artwork in the Vedder Road roundabout to honour survivors of residential schools, along with their families and communities.

In terms of relationship building, the City consults with neighbouring First Nations on a wide range of projects and looks for opportunities to actively collaborate. Examples of recent collaboration include the completion of a new multi-use pathway on Chilliwack River Road from Promontory Road to Bailey Road, in partnership with Tzeachten First Nation, and the Town Dike project in partnership with Sqwá First Nation and Shxwhá:y Village. Once completed, the new dike realignment will include eight kilometres of new dikes, a few floodgate structures, and a new drainage pump station that will protect all three communities. In addition to receiving funding from other levels of government, the City of Chilliwack has committed $7 million towards this important project.

Kent: The District has not 'officially' adopted and implemented the United Nations Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples as the framework for reconciliation due to the ongoing policy changes with UNDRIP with the Provincial and Federal Governments. Rather we continue to work under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Cooperation and Communication that was signed in 2011 with our First Nations communities.

For background, this MOU includes the communities of Cheam First Nation, District of Kent, Sq'éwlets First Nation, Seabird Island Band, Stó:lo Tribal Council, Sts'ailes First Nation, and the Village of Harrison Hot Springs. The group, Lets'emot Community to Community, meets quarterly to discuss concerns and projects of mutual interest in the areas of economic development, education/training, environment, public safety, and tourism.

Harrison Hot Springs: Did not respond

Hope: Did not respond

FVRD: In 2015, the FVRD created a full-time position dedicated to Indigenous Relations initiatives. This role focuses on advancing policy, providing resources, strengthening relationships, and enhancing engagement on an organizational level.

• An organization-wide review of the FVRD’s ability to respond to the TRC’s 94 Calls to Action was conducted in 2016.

• In July 2023, the FVRD Board was updated on the context for recognizing the Rights of Indigenous Peoples related to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the importance of the Federal government passing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, and the Province adopting Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA).

• The principles of UNDRIP provide a framework that can be incorporated into the FVRD’s work. At the FVRD this work has taken on many different forms, including land acknowledgements, an online Indigenous based resource, an educational program, and collaborating on park signage. The FVRD also engages Indigenous communities through our emergency operations centre, future community planning initiatives, and infrastructure projects. With some new infrastructure projects, recommended actions such as archaeological impact assessments and chance find procedures have been undertaken to ensure Indigenous values are realized.

Doctrine of Discovery

Call to Action 47: We call upon federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to repudiate concepts used to justify European sovereignty over Indigenous peoples and lands, such as the Doctrine of Discovery and terra nullius, and to reform those laws, government policies, and litigation strategies that continue to rely on such concepts.

We asked: Has your municipality undertaken any specific actions in response to Call to Action 47? If so, please describe them. If not, why not?

They answered: 

Langley Township: The Township did not specifically answer our questions. Instead it provided the statement included in the section above.

Langley City: “We start each Council meeting with a statement that we acknowledge that the land on which we gather is the traditional unceded territory of the Katzie, Kwantlen, Matsqui, and Semiahmoo First Nations.”

Abbotsford: As you may know, municipal governments are a product of provincial statutes, and as such are limited to those powers granted to them through legislation enacted by the province and, therefore, remain creatures of provincial legislation. On March 30, 2022, the Province of BC released its Action Plan for implementing the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA). The overarching purpose of DRIPA is to implement the objectives of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (the UNDRIP), including to facilitate the alignment of provincial laws with UNDRIP. At this time, there have been no immediate changes to the Local Government Act or other guiding legislation for municipal governments.

As provincial legislation guiding the work of municipal governments is updated under the Action Plan, the City will be adapting our practices to align with the new directions.

Mission: One of our major examples of answering this call is The Í:xel Sq’eq’ó Agreement, which translates to English as “Together We Paddle. It was the first agreement of its kind to bring First Nations, local and provincial governments together in a meaningful act of Reconciliation. This historic agreement was signed on July 21, 2021 by the City of Mission, the LMS Society, and the Province, and returns 60 hectares of traditional lands to Leq’á:mel, Mathexwi, Semá:th to establish new public parklands and commercial and residential developments. More details.

We are working with local First Nations to support more of this work.

Chilliwack: 

As you know, municipalities fall under provincial legislation and are limited to powers granted through the province. In 2022, the provincial government released the Declaration Act Action Plan, which includes collectively identified goals and outcomes that form the long-term vision for implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in BC. As provincial legislation is updated, the City of Chilliwack will make changes to align with legislation relevant to municipal governments.

Kent: Local governments have no direct constitutional powers to create change without legislative structure of the Federal and Provincial Governments. Therefore, currently, local governments do not have any 'direct duties' other than to consult or engage with First Nations.

The Provincial Action Plan for implementing the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act is intended to include facilitating the alignment of provincial laws with UNDRIP. Local governments have been advised that Provincial laws will be brought into alignment over time, but there is no immediate legislative direction on local government.

Having referenced the official legal position of local governments, our municipality recognizes UNDRIP and the need for reconciliation and healing. Again, we have followed our MOU for well over a decade and have very positive relationships with our Community to Community partners. The District continues to share projects of mutual interest including the indoor regional pool. On Feb. 2, 2023, and after consulting with the community groups, the facility was aptly named the "Let'semot Regional Aquatic Centre".

Lets'emot is Halq'eméylem for "one heart, one mind" and it will be the guiding principle as we continue to work together with our partner communities on fundraising and promotion. The Lets'emot Regional Aquatic Centre will be a future hub for recreation and will promote accessibility, inclusion, and social connection, to ensure that everyone feels welcome to use the facility.

Harrison Hot Springs: Did not respond

Hope: Did not respond

FVRD: In 2016, the FVRD conducted a review and has since worked to adjust its policies accordingly.

The FVRD using the principles of free, prior, informed consent rather than “consult and accommodate” when undertaking engagement, highlighting our recognition that the lands on which the FVRD has jurisdiction were taken without consent.

In addition, the FVRD works with Indigenous communities when establishing place names to recognize and honour who the original stewards of the land are.

Civil-servant education

Call to Action 57: We call upon federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to provide education to public servants on the history of Aboriginal peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal–Crown relations. This will require skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism

We asked: Has your government undertaken any education actions in response to Call to Action 57? If so, please describe them. If not, why not?

They answered: 

Langley Township: The Township did not specifically answer our questions. Instead it provided the statement included in the section above.

Langley City: “The City offered City Council members and staff an opportunity to participate in a KAIROS Blanket Exercise led by an indigenous leader. The Blanket Exercise is based on using Indigenous methodologies, and the goal is to build an understanding about our shared history as Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada by walking through pre-contact, treaty-making, colonization, and resistance. Each participant is actively involved as they step onto blankets that represent the land and into the role of First Nations, Inuit, and later Métis peoples. By engaging emotionally and intellectually, the Blanket Exercise effectively educates and increases empathy.”

Abbotsford: Yes, the City of Abbotsford has provided our employees with several opportunities to attend specific training courses and Indigenous learning experiences over the past few years including:

• Indigenous Cultural Landscape Bus Tour & Lunch- guided tour of the cultural landscape of Abbotsford’s traditional Stó:lo territory with Naxaxalhts'i

• LGMA Indigenous Awareness Training (provide by Indigenous Corporate Training); LGMA Indigenous Relations Training (provide by Indigenous Corporate Training)

• Indigenous Canada | Courser

• Transcending Settler Colonialism an Building Genuine Reconciliation (Dr. Keith Carlson), the closing keynote speak at the City of Abbotsford’s Involve Abbotsford Conference

• Toward Collaborative Governance & Shared Innovation

• Considering Legal and Governance Principles: Perspectives on Civic and Indigenous Relationship Building by the University of the Fraser Valley

• Ó:XWEST KW’E SHXWELÍ LÁ YE MESTIYEXW (GIVING SPIRIT TO THE PEOPLE) presented by The Reach Gallery

• SEMÁ:TH XO:TSA GREAT-GRAMMA’S LAKE, parking activity presented during Culture Days at the Reach Gallery and was done in partnership with the City of Abbotsford

• SEMÁ:TH XO:TSA GREAT-GRAMMA’S LAKE, story walk presented by Culture Days at the Fraser Valley Regional Library and was done in partnership with the City of Abbotsford

• Wac'ipi C'ante Was'te Yuhapi - With a Good Heart Pow Wow at Semá:th

• The River People and the Land: Living with S’ÓLH TÉMÉXW EXHIBIT presented by Heritage Abbotsford Society

• University of the Fraser Valley’s Virtual Event Peace Talk by UFV’s Peace and Reconciliation Centre.

• Abbotsford School District’s Virtual Assembly Truth and Reconciliation

• Reflect on and Engage with reconciliation – Fraser Valley Regional Library Reading List

• Reconciliation Canada; Truth and Reconciliation Commission Reports; First Nations Health Authority; UFV’s Indigenous Affairs Resources; Government of Canada resources about First Nations, Inuit, and Metis Peoples Across Canada; Government of Canada Learning catalogue (csps-efpc.gc.ca) – Indigenous Learnings options; Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.’s 21 Important Indigenous People to Celebrate; Abbotsford School District’s videos on words in Halq’eméylem, one of the languages of the Coast Salish Peoples.

The City of Abbotsford currently has the following upcoming activities for staff participation:

• Stetis imexstowx - Walk Beside Use in honour of the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation Day on Sept 30 at the Civic Precinct. This is a partnership between the City of Abbotsford, Abbotsford’s Children’s Theatre, Abbotsford Police Department, Abbotsford School District, Clearbrook Library, Literacy Matters Abbotsford, The Reach Gallery Museum, Tourism Abbotsford and the University of the Fraser Valley’s Peace and Reconciliation Centre.

• Indigenous Cultural Landscape Bus Tour & Lunch (x2)

• Culture Days: Orange Shirt Beading Workshop with Rebekah Brackett (Sept 24, 2023)

• Culture Days: Cedar Cuff Weaving with Leonard Tiger Williams (Oct 14, 2023)

Mission: Training opportunities for staff and Council on skills development related to learning aboutintercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism are available through our professional development programs. We have hosted city-wide learning events to support anti-racism and discrimination education, supported individual courses that include curriculum about Indigenous ways of knowing, and regularly share articles and links to resources in internal newsletters. For example, last week during the Xyólhmet ye Syéwiqwélh (Taking Care of Our Children) team’s Phase 1 knowledge sharing, staff received updates about the public announcement and were invited to learn about the project to support reconciliation. Department Heads also have a standing item on their agenda to share updates and education about our work with First Nations and Indigenous Peoples.

Chilliwack: Yes, the City of Chilliwack has implemented training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution and anti-racism for staff and Council. Over the last few years, the following training has been provided:

• Historical Impacts Training through Stó:lō Nation

• Indigenous Cultural Safety Training

• Disability Justice Training

• Stó:lō Tourism Bus Tour of Cultus Lake and Chilliwack River Valley with Cultural Historian, Sonny McHalsie

• Anti-racism training

• An Indigenous authors library has been established for City staff that wish to continue their learning journey

• The City of Chilliwack also coordinates Chilliwack Healthier Community (CHC) and through this organization, the following educational opportunities have been offered to CHC members and City staff:

• Information and networking event in partnership with Sqwá First Nation. Attendees learned about various initiatives offered by local organizations for Indigenous communities.

• Indigenous Homelessness training through the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness that focused on the history of Indigenous people, colonization, systemic racism, and the multiple oppressions that continue to influence day-to-day realities, while also highlighting the resiliency, strength and beauty of Indigenous peoples.

• Indigenous Culture and Knowledge Event at The'í:tselíya - S.A.Y Health & Community Building, in partnership with CHC, the City of Chilliwack, Stó:lō Service Agency, Chilliwack Community Services, Chilliwack Métis Association, Starbucks, and The'í:tselíya - S.A.Y. Health & Community Centre.

• CHC’s Opening Doors Task Team continues to provide opportunities for service providers and community members to learn and share about the history of First Nations, Métis and Inuit people, and Truth and Reconciliation work. Accomplishments to date include:

• The development of an Indigenous Health & Wellness Resource Card

• An Indigenous Culture & Experience Event

• The creation of a Ts’elxwéyeqw Ancestral Home Territorial Map

Kent: In 2021, the District of Kent celebrated its 125th anniversary of incorporation. As part of this recognition, Council included commissioning artwork in Pioneer Park to represent the value of relationships and working together in shaping the community from the past to the present and into the future.

The successful team of artists included local artist Mike Edwards and Stó:lō artist Zack McNeil-Bobb. Their creation titled "Squaring the Circle" included from the base, ancient glacier-polished stones on up, with the sculpture as a tribute to the Fraser Valley long before the Fraser Valley ever had its colloquially known name.

Quarterly at the Lets'emot Community to Community meetings, district attendees are provided with ongoing exposure and on the ground learning in relation to First Nations communities. Council recognizes the importance and value of ongoing education/ training, and encourages themselves, as well as staff, to look for opportunities such as specific training related to understanding the history of Aboriginal peoples and learning ways to improve these relationships.

An Accessibility Advisory Select Committee was formed as required by the Accessible British Columbia Act for the purposes of developing an accessibility plan. Membership on this Committee includes a representative from the Lets'emot Community to Community. This Committee is helping the District develop an accessibility plan by identifying barriers to individuals in the organization or interacting with it. A recommendation in this plan may include organizational skills-based training related to Call to Action 57.

It is evident that as the closest level of government to First Nations communities, it is important for the District to continue to engage and collaborate in positive ways that advance reconciliation in a substantive way. However, as local governments are created by statute, we do not have the 'legal duty' to consult directly with First Nations in relation to Aboriginal rights and titles.

The District of Kent continues to work on shared initiatives and joint projects in the areas of economic development, environment, infrastructure, and public safety that support the meaning of Lets'emot in our area.

Harrison Hot Springs: Did not respond

Hope: Did not respond

FVRD: The FVRD has established an “Indigenous Reads” staff library and an online Community, Education, Data and Resources network to connect staff and elected officials with critical resources to support learning and effective engagement.

The FVRD distributes a monthly FVRD Connections eNewsletter which features Indigenous Relations news stories to keep staff and elected officials up-to-date with current issues.

The FVRD has an intranet software that connects staff to a vast range of educational resources.

Training and education programs established for staff and elected officials through “FVRD Learns” program, and in partnership with other organizations. Learning opportunities have included: foundations in Indigenous/settler relations, the history and legacy of residential schools, selected topics in intercultural competency, Aboriginal Rights and Title, treaties, privilege and systemic oppression, UNDRIP, the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, archaeology and heritage.

The FVRD begins Board and Elected official meetings with proclamations recognizing whose territory on which the meeting is taking place.

Other

We also asked each municipality if they could point to other actions related to the calls to action.

Abbotsford: The City of Abbotsford greatly values our long lasting and positive relationships with our local First Nation governments. Through our strong local relationships, we continue to work collaboratively with our First Nation government neighbours on the issues, concerns, agreements and perspectives that they as individual nations and governments consider most important.