Ka:'yu:'k't'h'/Che:k'tles7et'h' First Nations join SRD board
Cortes Currents
English - April 16, 2021 17:16 - 9 minutes - 22.5 MBNews cortes island discovery islands quadra food security energy indigenous nations Homepage Download Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - At its April 14th meeting, the Strathcona Regional District (SRD) Board. welcomed the first First Nation to the board.
The Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k’tles7et’h’ First Nations (KCFN) was one of the five First Nations that signed the Maa‑nulth First Nations Treaty in 2011 and the only one whose lands are within the SRD. ( The other Maa-nulth Nations are members of the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District.)
One of the directions mentioned in the treaty was that First Nations should interact and join should join their Regional Districts.
Recording starts 1:20
Joining the SRD Board
Kevin Jules is KCFN legislative vice chief and has attended SRD Board meetings as an associate member/observer since 2017. Wednesday was the first time he attended as a Director.
SRD Chair Brad Unger started the meeting by acknowledging that the SRD building stands on the traditional territory of the Wei Wai Kum First Nation.
“The SRD looks forward to building stronger relations with all ten First Nations in our region. We are committed to being … with our neighbours, consider common interests, and being mindful when making decisions that may impact them. Today we have the privilege of welcoming the Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k’tles7et’h’ First Nations (KCFN) as full members of the SRD Board,” he said.
Unger added that KCFN was the first indigenous nation to join the SRD Board and he hoped this leads the way for others.
“This is a long time coming and something we are very proud to be a part of,” Director Jules responded.