Tsleil-Waututh Nation and Metro Vancouver sign historic park agreement
Credit to Author: Nick Eagland| Date: Tue, 18 Feb 2020 13:00:04 +0000
Long before it was called Belcarra Regional Park, it was Tum-tumay-whueton, a wintertime gathering place for the Tsleil-Waututh people, who left it for the north shore of Burrard Inlet after they were devastated by smallpox in the mid-1800s.
“In our language that means ‘biggest place for the people,’ ” said Chief Leah George-Wilson. “Everybody lived there and we all lived in cedar-plank, shed style longhouses.”
On Tuesday, the Tsleil-Waututh Nation celebrates a return to the land after the signing of a historic cultural planning and co-operation deal with Metro Vancouver. It formalizes years of collaboration between the First Nation and the regional district, recognizing one’s ancestral ties to the land and the other’s operation of it as a public park.
The two parties will identify common interests in the park and share ideas on how they can work together to protect, preserve and enhance the land for generations to come, according to Metro.
The agreement is the first of its kind for Metro, however the Tsleil-Waututh has signed two similar management deals, including the 2001 Cates Park/Whey-ah-Wichen agreement with the District of North Vancouver and the 2010 Say Nuth Khaw Yum/Indian Arm Provincial Park agreement with B.C. Parks.
George-Wilson said it’s another important step toward reconciliation.
“It’s part of the recognition that Tsleil-Waututh people live here, that this is part of the Tsleil-Waututh Peoples’ territory, that we have Aboriginal title over this land,” she said. “I think that that’s really important to our people. One of our late elders always said that’s what our job is, to put our face back on our territory because we’ve been invisible. We’re not invisible. We’re here and we’re participating.”
Metro chairman Sav Dhaliwal said it’s an historic moment for the regional district, which oversees 13,600 hectares of parkland and 23 regional parks.
“We have never done anything like this before, but we have always desired to have a lot more co-operation (with) First Nations, so this is the first opportunity we have and we’re looking forward to it,” Dhaliwal said.
Dhaliwal said the deal will help Metro learn even more from the Tsleil-Waututh and work closely with the First Nation, but also help Metro start such work with other Coast Salish Peoples.
Since 2016, the Tsleil-Waututh and Metro have worked together on various projects in the park, including plans for the Belcarra south picnic area. The park contains an archaeological site operated by Metro.
The new agreement won’t do away with any treaty rights, existing or asserted Aboriginal rights, titles or interests of the Tsleil-Waututh people, or applicable legislation, including Metro’s rights and powers, according to Metro.