It was a historic moment of reconciliation for Chawathil First Nation (CFN) and the District of Hope who met Thursday evening (May 16) to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU).
The agreement is the first of its kind between the district and a First Nation government. According to both CFN and the district, the MOU acknowledges the partnership that the communities intend to form with one another and provides a “framework for ongoing collaboration and progress.”
Notable figures from both CFN and the district were present for the momentous event which took place at the Hope & Area Recreation Centre’s Conference Room. Starting at 5 p.m., both CFN Chief Norman Florence and Hope Mayor Victor Smith were front and centre to give speeches and sign the documents with their chief administrative officers (CAO).
The documents respect both local governments’ authority, autonomy, and their intentions to work together. This includes fostering better community ties with one another, developing stronger channels of communication (especially with regards to emergency preparedness and emergency management), and working together on future projects.
These projects range from culture to regional development and environmental stewardship. The agreement also highlights “provisions for economic development, land use planning, provision of services, and dispute resolution mechanisms.”
“Coming in and carrying that connection of working together, it’s a good starting point,” said CFN Chief Norman Florence. “It’s been years, it’s been generations, for our community and the community of Hope. And working together, I think that’s an important step tonight. I think it’s the first of many and I feel that we can grow together.
“We do have a lot of members that utilize the town (of Hope) as well. We are a part of Hope, as well as Hope is a part of the nation’s (CFN) territory.”
A part of the Fraser Valley for thousands of years, CFN are people of the Stó:lō nation and are located in the Hope area. Of its 666 members, 301 live on-reserve “thriving through a blend of tradition and innovation, leveraging natural resources and collaborating with local organizations to enhance their community’s quality of life.
Meanwhile, Hope was first established in 1848 as a trading post before becoming a village on April 6, 1929. It later became a town on Jan. 1, 1965, before finally being reincorporated as a district municipality on Dec. 7, 1992. Currently, it has a population of over 6,686 people.
During his speech, Florence acknowledged the importance of the MOU signing as a first step towards reconciliation and a step towards positively shaping the next generation’s future. Florence, who first became a part of the CFN council in 2013, also said that it is the first time that the district and CFN council have “really come together.”
He also praised the work of CFN Coun. Aaron Pete and Chawathil CAO Heather Fader, for “taking the initiative” to get communication between the communities started again. And he thanked CFN council for also being part of the process towards the signing.
In addition to Florence, speeches were also heard from: CFN Grand Chief Ron John (who formerly served as Chief for 30 years) and his wife, CFN Elder Patricia John; Chawathil councillors Kelsey John, Rhoda Peters, Audrey George, and Pete; Fader; Hope CAO John Fortoloczky; MP Brad Vis; and Mayor Smith.
“Today we’re here to witness the leadership here (Hope) and from Chawathil, as we join together to make a better community for all of us,” Smith said. “We shall move forward in a better direction for the future. Not just for us, but for everyone who will eventually take over from us. We’re only here for a short time and we hope the next generation will do better than us.
“This is the first chapter in the book (for Chawathil and Hope). And we hope this will be a very large book. And by working together in a spirit of trust and goodwill, we pave the way for a brighter, more prosperous future for all our communities.”
According to Smith, the MOU is part of the district’s long and continuous process of reconciliation. It is also the district’s intention to eventually develop similar partnerships with other Indigenous communities in the area. During his speech Smith thanked Fire Chief Thomas Cameron for the work he’s done with emergency management. He also thanked Fortoloczky, as well as the district’s council, for the work they’ve done to make the signing possible.
After the signing was done, both communities exchanged gifts with one another before continuing to a catered dinner.
READ MORE: Chawathil First Nation repairs 22 homes thanks to funding from federal government
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