Their lands, villages, cultural and spiritual sites were flooded by the creation of the Nechako reservoir
Yesterday (April 17th) was an
important day in righting a wrong, as Scott Fraser, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, announced:
“Reconciliation
demands we reckon with the truth of our shared history and address the past.
The devastation experienced by the Cheslatta people 67 years ago continues to
this day.”
The Nechako Reserviour |
More than 65 years after their lands were
flooded to make way for the creation of the Nechako
Reservoir, the Cheslatta Carrier Nation have signed agreements with the
Province of British Columbia that provide restitution and redress for impacts
suffered by their community and their peoples.
One individual who
worked on this file in the previous government, was Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad. John spoke to me on the topic saying, “I worked for many years to get
this agreement done. We almost had it completed, and I’m happy to see the NDP
kept it going”.
He continued,
“Back when the dam was originally built, the engagement with
the Cheslatta people went something like this: someone went around knocking on
doors telling them the dam was being built and they had two weeks to move
before the flood came. Their homes were destroyed after they left”.
In 1952, the Cheslatta Nation peoples were
evicted from their homes on two weeks’ notice and forcibly resettled outside
their traditional lands. Their lands, villages, cultural and spiritual sites
were then flooded as the newly built Kenney Dam filled what is now known as the
Nechako Reservoir.
At a private ceremony in Victoria, Chief
Corrina Leween and Councillors Ted Jack and Hazel Burt of Cheslatta Nation,
along with Scott Fraser, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation,
signed a Settlement Agreement and an Interim Reconciliation Agreement.
Together, these agreements will provide the Cheslatta Nation with funding and
lands to create a base for future community, social and economic development.
I was honoured to attend the private
signing ceremony in Victoria at Cheslatta’s request. It was very emotional to
witness this historic event”, Rustad commented.
“The Cheslatta people have been very
patient looking for long term reconciliation. They want to engage economically
and work hard to find ways forward.”
And those words were literally echoed by Corrina Leween, Cheslatta Carrier Nation Chief:
“For 67
years, the Cheslatta people have worked tirelessly to achieve resolution and
reconciliation to this historic wrong. This agreement honours the justice our ancestors
and previous leadership spent their lives fighting for”.
“Now,
we are positioned to begin the healing process and to advance the social and
economic standing of our people for generations to come.”
Community support for a final settlement was strong,
with unanimous endorsement of the Settlement Agreement by Cheslatta voters. On March 14, 2019, the Cheslatta held a vote
for all members. With a sixty percent turn-out, 100% voted yes to the
Settlement Agreement.
“We are committed to
doing what we can to redress this wrong. The Settlement Agreements provide the
Cheslatta community with lands, funding and support for community healing”, remarked Minister
Fraser.
Cheslatta Nation has requested that terms of
the agreement remain confidential for one year pending their negotiations with
other parties.
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