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Jun 20, 2022 at 2:25 pm
City Councillor Mayor
Kamloops and District Labour Council asks:
What steps will you take to work towards action on Truth and Reconciliation?
Candidate Answers
It was only over the past year that I realized that while living in Cache Creek and attending Ashcroft Secondary, I was traversing between two great nations, the Secwepemc and the Nlaka'pamux. It saddened me to learn this so recently not ever having been taught about the people who lived in my area. I have worked with Indigenous business owners throughout BC and am grateful for the knowledge they have provided me as well and fully acknowledge I have so much to learn.
When I speak, regardless of whether the conversation is public or private, I express gratitude for the land I have been using since birth, having lived in Secwepemculew most of my life. On my website you will see my commitment to the 94 Calls to Action and I have learned a few phrases and plan to continue learning Secwepemctsin. Above all I look forward to working with Tk'emlups te Secwepemc having made many connections there already.
This council has established a strong relationship with TteS, one Senator Murray Sinclair has said should be a model for other communities. It is front and centre in what we do and it needs to continue.
As we have in the current city council, it is critical we continue to take the lead from our Indigenous neighbours on the appropriate steps towards action on Truth and Reconciliation. It's a passion of mine personally as well. I would also add we should take further steps to engage our Indigenous citizens living with Kamloops city limits. In the recent past, Council has taken Indigenous awareness training, has fully supported TteS with their stewardship of the missing Children, and continue to work well with TteS on a number of different initiatives.
The best answer I have is to promise to listen. To listen to hear, not to respond. To listen to understand. To listen to empower. As someone who was not directly impacted and yet benefits from enormous privilege it is important that I am an ally and take direction from those hurting the most. Creating space to bring stories to the forefront and pushing for accountability, acknowledgement and apology are of utmost importance in order to begin to move forward.
I can proudly say, this council and myself have personally heard from communities across our province and throughout Canada. We have a solid meaningful relationship between our Mayor and council and the Chief and council of TTS.
We have and will continue to build on these amazing relationships moving forward.
The announcement of the 215 was a gut punch to us all. So when our neighbouring community was hurting , we as good neighbours, stood with them and supported them in anyway they requested. That is something special to build upon.
The chief and council of TTS have publicly stated of how our two councils have a great working partnership.Recently we were jointly given an Provincial Award for that strong positive relationship. I am personally very proud of that accomplishment.
As a non-Indigenous person, it’s not my place to lead in this area, but to listen, learn, and enter with a spirit of humility and willingness.
I’m proud of the relationship that Kamloops and Tk’emlups te Secwepemc enjoy. It should be celebrated, never taken for granted, and needs to be fortified. Continuing the efforts of truth and reconciliation cannot happen without an honest understanding of our history and how Indigenous people have been intentionally disadvantaged through colonial systems. This learning should be promoted by the city through efforts like sharing circles and other educational opportunities in order that we decolonization both our thinking and our systems.
Furthermore, economic reconciliation is often misunderstood or ignored. Acknowledging that the Indian Act subjugated Indigenous people financially by removing them from our economy while squelching their own helps us move toward collaborative solutions.
Under the guidance of our neighbouring community, TteS, we can begin making these things right at the local level by offering innovative partnership opportunities on capital and infrastructure projects that benefit both peoples. Perhaps joint proposals at provincial/federal levels and a joint marketing approach that attracts economic opportunity through a unified strategy?
Tk’emlups, “where the rivers meet”; a great symbolism for how our two communities must come together and function as one.
I will continue to listen to and learn from the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc people. I'm proud of the relationship we've worked hard to develop. I've had the honour of working closely with TteS as a council representative on the joint Cultural and Heritage working group which was established as a means to find ways we can work collaboratively and respectfully to recognize our shared history and culture appropriately. I'm committed to continuing this important work and learning, under the guidance and leadership of TteS.
I have been privileged as someone from a settler background to be able to work closely with and learn from Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc staff and band members as we've collaborated on projects. My approach is humility and deep listening. I intend to reflect on the 94 calls to action and continue to build upon the relationship that the city has built up with TteS.
One area I see as a potential for future growth in this relationship is our work on the environment and planning. We've had a couple folks on Council express a notion that we're somehow in competition with TteS for an industrial tax base and during this term there was an unhelpful discussion that played out in the media over extending a hospital tax to Sun Rivers residents. I see our communities as intertwined and believe that social, economic, and environmental growth in one helps the other. Kamloops should also pay closer attention to TteS leadership when considering impactful projects like development at Kamloops Lake or the Ajax mine.
Firstly, I believe the City and Tk’emlups te Secwepemc should be congratulated on their early work towards reconciliation. Throughout my work career I have had the opportunity to work with numerous Indigenous communities and organizations. Over this time, I have learned that the first thing I need to do is listen. Through respectful dialogue, a path will emerge to continue to work towards reconciliation.
Kamloops has done significant work in fostering a meaningful relationship with Tk'emlups te Secwepemc, and it will be vital that we continue our relationship of ongoing reconciliation. We must be vigilant of Secwepemc culture, values, and history.
When I immigrated to Canada we were given a book about Canada. Sometimes that's the only time new Canadians will read about our first people. For somebody who didn't do his schooling in Canada, just like many other immigrants, I was not knowledgeable about the problems and tragedies our first people faced in the past. We need to promote education on this subject for new immigrants.
Rest has to come from our first people, it's their lived experience, we need to listen to them they should lead us on what they want when it comes to truth and reconciliation.
To me this is a journey that we will learn about, share and walk with those who need it, and be open finding mutual solutions to achieving goals we set. Respect, reflection, earned trust and time will get us there. I have and will continue to work on this topic.
This is a complex Issue and as Mayor i would take my Direction from Our Governments from Our Local Band to our Provincial and Federal Governments. Boren and raised in Kamloops i am more aware of the issues that our Local Kamloops Indian Band have endured , as my family has been in the Kamloops Valley for over 100 years and witnessed and experienced what our first Nations experienced. I am Happy to move our City forward to Truth and Reconciliation in a positive way for all.
I am pleased to say that SD73 is showing some of the best results in our province with respect to our Indigenous education.
Nevertheless, I am committed to continuting the ongoing dialouge with Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc and working to ensure we are doing our part for Truth and Reconciliation at the school board.
Truth and Reconciliation will take continuing the work and being aware of the 94 calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and what they mean. In addition to continuing to educate myself through participation in Truth and Reconciliation events and educational opportunities, I will continue to support student, staff and community members in participation and engagement in Truth and Reconciliation events and education. I will ensure that we are honouring and acknowledging the lands and territory we live in. In our School District, I support continuing to listen to and learn from the Indigenous voices in our communities. I support continuing the valuable work with the district Aboriginal Education Council members and our Aboriginal Education Workers as we work towards improved Aboriginal student graduation rates. I will seek to understand how was can support increased graduation rates for Aboriginal students in receiving a Dogwood certificate. I will continue to support the work to enhance cultural humility within our spaces and allowing all students to feel connected with a sense of belonging. I support working to ensure that our Aboriginal students can see themselves in their school environment.