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Thursday, March 26, 2015
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The Agassiz Y Harrison
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Lorene Keitch/ The Observer
Sts'ailes Chief Harvey Paul and FVRD Chair Sharon Gaetz sign the four-page Memorandum of Understanding Thursday, March 19. The MOU makes formal a relationship between the two governing parties.
Sts'ailes and FVRD sign MOU
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Lorene Keitch
Agreement opens avenue for expanded co-operation
THE OBSERVER
Sts'ailes First Nations and the Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen and formalize the relationship between the two governing bodies. The MOU was made official at Sts’ailes Lhawathet Lalem last Thursday, March 19, with Chief Harvey Paul (Steq oye Kul) and FVRD Chair Sharon Gaetz signing in a ceremony steeped with Sts'ailes tradition. "With the Memorandum of Understanding we just signed, we signed an agreement to work together on a number of things,"
said Gaetz to the assembled officials. She listed plans for growth, economic development, land use, emergency services and transit / transportation as key issues between the two groups. Gaetz was respectful of the people and the environment around her, acknowledging and paying respect to the representatives from Sts'ailes and their families as well as regional and provincial government officials in attendance. "It's a pleasure and an honour to stand here on sacred ground," she remarked. Chief Paul welcomed the delegates to his community and stated the MOU was a recognition of Sts'ailes territory, which traditionally covers roughly a quarter of the Fraser
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an Intergovernmental Relations Protocol. Its purpose is to establish relationships and clear expectations for collaboration on issues that are of mutual interest including land use, waste management, economic development, run of the river projects, transportation, recreation sites, emergency preparedness, Regional Growth Strategy and Geographical Information Systems. "One of the key strategic goals of the FVRD is to develop collaborative partnerships with our neighbours," Gaetz noted in a press release. "The MOU with Sts'ailes is a signifiant step toward ensuring the positive and healthy growth and development of our region."
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Valley Regional District including 35 ancient village sites identified surrounding Harrison and Chehalis lakes as well as Harrison and Chehalis rivers. "It's an assertion of the Sts'ailes territory. We're not saying we want to kick you out of here, but to work with you," he said at the ceremony. "And we want our fair due, even with economic development." He cited forestry as an example, with the current model of Sts'ailes receiving only three per cent of logging rights and the need for a new, more equitable arrangement. By signing the MOU, both Sts'ailes and the FVRD are demonstrating a commitment to work closely together to develop
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