Khelsilem
@Khelsilem
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Tweeting live from Squamish Nation territory (Vancouver, BC). Tweets are my personal opinion - which is subject to change based on new information.
Vancouver, British Columbia
Joined April 2016
Don't wanna be here?
Send us removal request.
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On Missing Children and Burial Information, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission had six Calls-to-Action which have not yet been completed.
Here are the six:
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“What chafes critics, even those who might consider themselves progressive, is that they expect reconciliation to instead look like a kind of reversal, rewinding the tape of history to some museum-diorama past.”
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BREAKING: Squamish Nation demands immediate moratorium of old-growth logging in its territory
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People sometimes ask me why
@SquamishNation
controls zoning heights for development on our Sen̓áḵw lands and not the City of Vancouver.
For the same reason the City of Burnaby doesn’t control zoning in Coquitlam:
Different jurisdictions.
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My late grandmother, residential school survivor who spent 10 years in these death schools, told me stories of fellow students beaten by nuns and priests to never be seen again or talked about. She was 7 when was forced to attend.
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I’m really mad. Racism is alive and well in Canada, and again, very clearly alive in the Canadian justice system.
Dear white people, if you’re not mad, you’re not listening.
#JusticeForColtenBoushie
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This is a really touching answer from
@theJagmeetSingh
. As an Indigenous person, I’m acutely aware of his this country didn’t want me to exist and at times doesn’t care about my existence. He’s saying that’s not right any more. Bravo.
A real moment. Singh, pledging the $1.8B needed for clean water in First Nations communities, is asked if he’s writing a “blank cheque” for all indigenous people. His response is as measure and firm as we have come to expect of Jagmeet.
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The Kits Point Residents Association court challenge vs. City of Vancouver to try and stop the Sen̓áḵw Development by Squamish Nation was dismissed. No relief given. Case closed.
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Today we invited honoured guests to a groundbreaking ceremony on the start of construction on the largest Indigenous-led housing development in Canadian history at a place we call Sen̓áḵw.
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@IDoTheThinking
The
@SquamishNation
appreciates the acknowledgement! Our people are excited to have an impact on the region and use the opportunities we have to create positive impact on the lives of present and future Squamish People!
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If the news from the Kamloops Indian Residential School hit you in any way, I call on you to fight like hell to ensure the 94 Calls-to-Action are all completed in our lifetime.
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Implement the 94 Calls-to-Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
That’s it. That’s the tweet.
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How much do you support rezoning Vancouver’s West Side around Jericho Lands for Paris-style eight-storey neighbourhoods to help address our housing shortage?
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All I want for the National
#DayofTruthandReconciliation
is for everyone to care and commit to the dignity of Indigenous Peoples in Canada and across the world.
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2019 is the International Year of Indigenous Languages. Let it be a year we make massive gains in reversing the decline of Indigenous Languages!
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Proud to celebrate the development of Sen̓áḵw with our Squamish People and the unveiling of the official model for Sen̓áḵw.
It will be on display at Sen̓áḵw at the Museum of Vancouver for the next month.
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I just spent my entire lunch hour speaking my people’s language with sister at JJ Bean on Commercial Drive.
Take that, John A McDonald! 😂
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There is split opinions on this but I believe some Indian Residential Schools should remain standing and turned into museums. One survivor once said to me, “We need them to be here in 100 years or people might try to say it never happened”.
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If you are concerned about climate action, please be concerned about a city that decides 80% of its land should be used for housing that is inaccessible to 80% of people and fight like hell for more density in all our neighbourhoods.
#ClimateAction
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Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh are setting precedence on Indigenous-led City Building.
This project is a shining example of building new communities with the highest level of livability.
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Wab Kinew will become the first First Nations premier to lead a Canadian province!
A historic win for the Manitoba New Democratic Party!
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Non-Indigenous political leaders have no place in defining what is or what is not "reconciliation".
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It’s really really really really really really touching all the meaningful support coming from non-Indigneous people right now.
For many times in my life I truly believe this country doesn’t really want my Indigenous existence to exist.
Ya’ll are proving that wrong for me. ❤️
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Today is an emotional day for me. My parents, grandparents, great grandparents all went to Residential School.
I, like many Indigenous children still today, had a traumatic childhood from many behaviours that come from the treatment at the Residential Schools.
But we rise!
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If we have “unbridled market economics”, why is my Nation building 6,050 new rental apartments on 10.5 acres of land without constraints of zoning, but nearby in Kits Point a set of apartments are being replaced by single detached houses?
Unbridled market economics caused the housing crisis and won't be able to fix it on their own. Non-market housing – including affordable, social, non-profit and cooperative housing – is required to relieve the crisis.
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BC NDP Minister Selina Robinson using First Nations as a metaphor for Israel and Palestine:
“If there was a conflict between the Tsleil-Waututh and the Squamish Nations over a piece of land, would we weigh in?”
Wow, there’s a lot of unpack in that statement. 😲
Since
#ResignSelinaRobinson
is trending, here’s more from that video where she implies that Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh aren’t regular people and that colonizers are
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Official spelling for Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-waututh as written in their language is:
✅ xʷməθkʷəy̓əm
✅ Sḵwx̱wú7mesh
✅ səlilwətaɬ
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For local reporters, and all:
Here is a a brief note on usage guidelines when using Squamish Language:
/1
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Canada has no treaty agreement with the Squamish People to use our lands.
We have never surrendered the title of our lands.
Canada issuing a license to use a tiny portion of our territory is giving back something which was always ours.
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I have to say — this is the kind of authentic message that only happens when we put racialized people into positions of prominence, like leader of a major political party. This was special for me.
An emotional message from Jagmeet Singh tonight to people who will see the image of Trudeau and feel a lot of pain. “You are loved ... together we can fight for a better society”
@CTVNews
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Today is
#CanadaDay
.
Canada is felt as a great place for many Canadians.
And if you feel Canada is a great place, work hard as hell to make it a great place for those who it has not been a great place.
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Did you know that the construction of nearly 6,000 new purpose-built rental apartments at Sen̓áḵw (with 20% at below-market rents) is underway in Vancouver?
@SquamishNation
leaders visited for a site tour day, and I recorded some updates for you:
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The Squamish People fought and struggled for decades to see our land returned.
We always set out to use some of our lands for highest and best use to generate longterm revenue to invest in our community.
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IMPORTANT:
If you're Indigenous and born in 2003 or earlier (18+) you can call now for a vaccine across the Province.
More info here:
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I can’t describe how happy it feels to be traveling the highway of my ancestors in a traditional canoe in the City.
#canoe
#coastsalish
#mst
#squamishnation
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We will use the wealth from our lands to build schools, affordable housing, health clinics, parks, fields, language schools, community centres, and more in our community.
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We need more Indigenous women in leadership.
We need more Indigenous women in public office.
We need to support Indigenous women when they step forward for public service.
#bcpoli
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71. We call upon all chief coroners and provincial vital
statistics agencies that have not provided to the Truth
and Reconciliation Commission of Canada their
records on the deaths of Aboriginal children in the
care of residential school authorities...
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BREAKING:
@SquamishNation
members approved by an overwhelming majority of votes the land designation on three sites for affordable housing for the Squamish People! Construction to begin on 94 units in fall 2021.
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Been three days, and I am still bothered by the news but even more bothered that this country still has so much to atone for.
How many children’s graves have to be found before institutions, leaders, and people in this country fight for the dignity of Indigenous Peoples?
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re: Gassy Jack Statue
Here is a statement from the
@SquamishNation
in response to the statue being torn down today.
Please share.
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Dear white folks tired of any folks talking about racism: We’re not going to stop. Not sorry.
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Today, the
@SquamishNation
,
@musqueam
, and
@tsleilwaututh
announced it has embarked on an Indigenous-led initiative to find answers about the children who attended the former St. Paul’s Indian Residential School but never made it home.
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I’m relieved to say we’ve begun vaccinations in my
@SquamishNation
community. My father received his first shot today, as will many elders aged 65+ and those with underlying health conditions.
So grateful today.
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I really don’t believe most in Canada understands the visceral heart break this revelation means for many survivors and descendants of survivors. I’m in tears right now thinking about the children who didn’t survive.
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NDP Leader
@theJagmeetSingh
acknowledges the territory of the Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, Musqueam and Kwikwitlam territory in Burnaby on national television in his election night speech.
#cndpoli
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Today is
#bisexualvisibilityday
! We’re here and queer, and I am so grateful for everything it took for others to build a better world for people like me.
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72. We call upon the federal government to allocate
sufficient resources to the National Centre for Truth
and Reconciliation to allow it to develop and maintain
the National Residential School Student Death
Register established by the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission of Canada
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I’m safe to say as of today, I am out of isolation from having COVID-19.
It was, thankfully, a week of mild symptoms. But a year ago, my father spent 10 days in the hospital with COVID with breathing machines.
Please get vaccinated.
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We cannot change or heal what we do not acknowledge.
For generations, the Canadian public did not know about or understand what occurred at Canadian Indian Residential Schools.
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Critics of the
@SquamishNation
’s plans for our lands at Sen̓áḵw want to define reconciliation, but they unfortunately leave out many important facts.
We respond here:
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73. We call upon the federal government to work with
churches, Aboriginal communities, and former
residential school students to establish and maintain
an online registry of residential school cemeteries,
including, ...
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There are people who never had a chance to grow up, have families, have grandchildren, because our governments decided, by policy, to dehumanize and traumatize us to the point of death because of a folklore of race. It must never happen again.
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... to make these
documents available to the National Centre for Truth
and Reconciliation.
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where possible, plot maps showing the
location of deceased residential school children.
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74. We call upon the federal government to work with the
churches and Aboriginal community leaders to inform
the families of children who died at residential schools
of the child’s burial location, and to respond to families’
wishes for appropriate...
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Well, I feel happy.
I designed a new word in the Squamish Language to translate the word "climate": wa lh7kwayl.
One of our elder speakers confirmed she liked the new word!
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Welcome to Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh territory. Looking forward to meeting you on Friday!
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Learn more at !
The Squamish Nation owns many parcels around Vancouver exempt from local zoning. With 87% of the nation voting in favor, they're going to build 6,000 homes at Hong Kong-density, 90% less parking than required by law and beside single-family neighborhoods who cannot stop Senakw.
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1. There is no such thing as a “Coast Salish Nation”.
2. There is no “Grand Chief of the Coast Salish Nation” either!
Gah, this whole thing is getting more and more ridiculous.
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Best territorial welcoming I've seen:
A Coast Salish woman was invited up to the podium then on her way up grabbed a woman's purse from the front row in front of everyone and spent a few minutes on the mic acknowledging that the purse belonged to the woman. LOL
Do not know how to non-awkwardly tell people when their awkward land acknowledgement is not needed.
It is not like there are regulations for this but sometimes it’s so cheesy and unnecessary.
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In 1998, when BC’s current Minister of Indigenous Relations was a treaty negotiator, he wrote an internal memo that proposed that federal $$ for residential school survivors be withheld as a “sweetener” for Indian Bands entering the BC Treaty Commission Process after Delgamuukw.
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I’m very excited to announce I’m putting my name forward to be a board director for Vancity Credit Union in this year’s election.
This is a new way for me to be of service to the world and I hope many will consider voting for me.
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... commemoration ceremonies and markers, and reburial in home communities where requested.
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Vancouver City Council should absolutely support this modest tower on Commercial Drive.
It’s a non-profit affordable housing project for Indigenous households!
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I would genuinely love to see a statue commemorating the tearing down of a John A. McDonald Statue.
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2021 Territorial Acknowledgement Resolution:
"I recognize this as [name of Indigenous people(s)]' territory. I am committed to seeing their territory, including lands and waters, returned or compensated for."
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Big housing news coming!
“Starting June 16, we will be launching the 4th phase of public engagement for the Jericho Lands Planning Program. This phase will focus on the landowners’ revised site concept including details on land use & housing, density and building heights…”
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75. We call upon the federal government to work with
provincial, territorial, and municipal governments,
churches, Aboriginal communities, former residential
school students, and current landowners to develop
and implement strategies and procedures for...
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We are incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished so far, but we plan to accomplish even more.
Sen̓áḵw was always just the beginning.
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... the ongoing identification, documentation, maintenance, commemoration, and protection of residential school cemeteries or other sites at which residential school children were buried.
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A historic and monumental moment in the history of Vancouver and for the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples!
Onward and upward!
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Committee votes to do round 5 of questioning
@Puglaas
.
Don’t they know she comes from potlatch culture? She could do this till 6am in the morning!
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It's always odd to see media reports describe how projects like Sen̓áḵw or Jericho are "not popular" because a miniscule amount of people say they dislike it.
It's a type of bothsidesism that distorts how popular new housing is.
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This is why I can’t get behind the "Just Recovery" framing. This is the opportunity for a new normal.
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iii. Aboriginal protocols shall be respected before
any potentially invasive technical inspection and
investigation of a cemetery site.
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Surprise — I am queer! It’s
#InternationalComingOutDay
and I finally came out last year because I needed to be my own role model. Gender and sexuality are fluid. Love is love. And I’m grateful for all the queer kin and community I’ve gained in the past year and half.
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This is my first Vancouver Pride as an out queer Indigenous man and I’m loving it already.
Many who aren’t LGBTQ2+ might not realize how much doubt, fear, and guilt can show up for being something intrinsic to your identity. /1
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THRILLED to announce I plan to produce a first ever documentary done entirely in the Squamish Language with the wonderful Love Intersections as a part of the Telus Storyhive Documentary Program:
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i. The Aboriginal community most affected shall lead
the development of such strategies.
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This is to include the provision of appropriate memorial ceremonies and commemorative markers to honour the deceased children.
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76. We call upon the parties engaged in the work of
documenting, maintaining, commemorating, and
protecting residential school cemeteries to adopt
strategies in accordance with the following principles:
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Celebrating with my people and our partners with a small private ground blessing ceremony at Sen̓áḵw before construction is set to begin on 6,000 new rental homes for Vancouver.
A larger community celebration is being planned for the fall!
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Reconciliation was easy when it was all safe walks on the Georgia Viaduct or a workshop with a trainer or listening to a spoken word...
... but much harder when the suffering of status quo is finally unbearable and drastic change is required. Are you helping or hurting the call?
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I was thinking about this after I RTd it.
Our bighouses and longhouses were burned down by the government and outlawed for decades.
Reconciliation should be govt funds to help reconstruct these cultural spaces along the coast.
The Big House in Wuikinuxv Village is one of the most gorgeous buildings on the coast.
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ii. Information shall be sought from residential school Survivors and other Knowledge Keepers in the development of such strategies.
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Anti-black racism exists in Canada and needs to dismantled and removed.
We watch what is happening in the US because of the death of George Lloyd but I see it important to also look inwards to our own communities and institutions too.
Black lives matter.
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85% of the original Sen̓áḵw lands allocated to my people were later confiscated without our consent.
However, the federal govt recently supported our ask for access to 1 acre of adjacent lands they control to use for transportation & infrastructure for the Sen̓áḵw Development.
Some people living in Vancouver's Kitsilano neighbourhood are upset a strip of Vanier Park will be used to build a road to access Squamish Nation's future development in the area.
@juliadfoy
hears from both sides of the community.
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This message is so offensive.
It undermines the years of struggle our past elders went through to be able to have a platform in an era where our existence was outright denied by all institutions.
Acknowledging Indigenous territory is not meaningless.
"[Land acknowledgments] don't improve the living conditions of a single Indigenous person. So, it's sort of an empty gesture," says
@lyyperr
. At 8/11pm with Margaret MacMillan,
@kenscoates
, Paul Wells,
@AkaashMaharaj
,
@dbernhardCAN
&
@spaikin
| Producer:
@wodekszemberg
#cdnpoli
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Canadian federal, provincial, and local governments have made (and will continue to make) hundreds of billions from our lands.
We will make a tiny fraction of the wealth that’s possible to support our community to improve their quality of life.
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Federal and Provincial lands enjoy similar privileges, they just have to negotiate service agreements to provide municipal-like services to those lands.
They have often opted into following the City’s rules, but they don’t legally have to.
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We had to invent a word for Coyotes in the Squamish Language because they’re an invasive species to our territory.
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Dear
@jjhorgan
:
Clean up your own house and release records your government is holding from Sisters of St. Ann.
"First Nations Leadership Council calls on Premier Horgan to release Catholic Archives hosted by British Columbia".
#215children
#reconcilication
#bcpoli
#Kamloops
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I will say -- one of the weirdest "critiques" of the Sen̓áḵw Project is that we’re only doing it to make money.
That’s kind of the whole point.
Another option is we wait for the Canadian gov’t to raise spending to address all the socio-economic disparity in my community! 🙄
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Expanding and building civic infrastructure around Sen̓áḵw is a goal we support, and we’ve had high level conversations with other levels of govt on how we could help.
But people need to remember some of those issues are Provincial responsibility.
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