EAGLE VALLEY
NEWS
School trustee numbers remain status quo Page 3
Event brings magic kingdom to community Page 12
Wednesday, June 25, 2014 PM40008236
Vol. 59 No. 26 Sicamous, B.C., • 1.25 (GST included) • www.eaglevalleynews.com
Moving ahead together: Splatsin Couns. George William, Reno Lee, Daniel Joe, Jean Brown and Chief Wayne Christian sign a protocol agreement with the District of Sicamous, represented by Mayor Darrell Trouton and Couns. Suzanne Carpenter, Charlotte Hutchinson and Fred Busch. Photo by Lachlan Labere
Sicamous and Splatsin councils enter new partnership
Protocol agreement: Governments approve process for sharing information and opportunities. By Lachlan Labere Eagle Valley News
The distance between the District of Sicamous and Splatsin governments became a lot shorter last week. On Friday, Sicamous Mayor Darrell Trouton and Couns. Suzanne Carpenter, Charlotte Hutchinson and Fred Busch gathered at the Splatsin arbour in Enderby to sign a protocol agreement with Chief Wayne Christian and Couns. Jean Brown, Daniel Joe, Reno Lee and George William. The signing was part of the band’s early Aboriginal Day celebrations, and was marked with speeches, song and dancing. “It’s a very important event because it really does formalize the relationship that we’re working on developing with them,” band administrator Loretta Eustache com-
mented while welcoming both governments to the table. “It’s significant for both parties – to work together and look at opportunities to support each othBut it’s more of an open er. And everybody knows from discussion now of what’s Splatsin, Sicamous is a very happening, and where we might important area to our commufit in with what the band is nity historically, and continues doing. It’s crazy that we’re so to be today.” close and we don’t do that. Before getting down to Darrell Trouton business, Christian and Trouton shared some words with the crowd gathered for the occant in many ways because it was casion. Christian noted how the a gateway for our people into the Splatsin once had a community in Rocky Mountains. Our people Sicamous that was displaced by travelled up and down the Eagle the federal government, and that Valley and fished and hunted all the signing represents a return. the way into Revelstoke… until “We’re going to be working they closed the Columbia River with the townspeople there to re- off. Sicamous is a really important build that area, because it’s an area area and, in our spiritual world, it’s that’s important to our people,” one of our sacred areas… It’s very said Christian. “It’s very signifi- significant to the Secwepemc Na-
tion as a whole.” Trouton emphasized the importance of understanding and recognizing Sicamous’ heritage, and working together with the band in a more formal way. The agreement establishes effective communication between the two governments, with shared objectives including the collaborative pursuit of economic development opportunities; long-term servicing strategies for water; sewer and fire protection; a policy concerning the protection of cultural and archeological resources; and “developing shared principles in areas of mutual concern respecting environmental stewardship and sustainable communities.” The agreement would not replace legal consultation requirements, nor does it extinguish, abro-
gate or diminish aboriginal rights or title. After the signing, Trouton explained that the agreement represents a formal approach to moving forward with the Splatsin, both culturally and economically. “We’re all in this together and we’re trying to do the best we can with what we have, and whenever we can make things easier, and more efficient and effective, then that’s what we need to do. And you go a lot further working together than working against each other or apart,” said Trouton. “We always respect that we do want to consult back and forth. But it’s more of an open discussion now of what’s happening, and where we might fit in with what the band is doing… and opportunities for learning from each other. It’s crazy that See Chief and mayor on page 2