News and event information for Williams Lake, BC - as it happens.

By LeRae Haynes

Esket’emc Chief Fred Robbins from Alkali Lake addressed City Council last night with an update on the First Nations Residential Schools Settlement from the federal government.

He described the update as an opportunity for reconciliation—a new chance for bringing municipalities and First Nations people together. “Our history has been retained through our elders--it's this history we must bring to this table--this is the basis for working toward a common goal,” he said.

The federal funding available through the settlement is for recognizing the importance of healing and reconciliation for survivors of residential schools, their families and their communities. This information was recently released by Sue Hendricks, Director of Aboriginal Programs and Relationships, Corrections Branch of the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General.

“I am a residential school survivor. I had no name for three years: only a number. I was number 85,” Chief Robbins explained. “We would like to work together with this council as leaders for a common goal—to recognize residential school survivors.”

Chief Robbins’ appeal to Council was two-fold, as explained by Mayor Cook: to generally move forward in the direction of sharing history and increased understanding and to explore collaborating in writing a proposal to apply for the funding.

“You may not know that 45% of the people in Williams Lake have moved here from somewhere else, and that 99% of them don't know that there are 15 First Nations bands in the surrounding area and they certainly don't know the history,” Chief Robbins said to Council.

(Video:  To listen to Chief Robbins' entire address to City Council, press play now.)

“We belong here: we were given the honour by the Creator to look after the land. We have survived chaos, treason, WWI and WWII and genocide and disease and the Korean conflict."

He said that self-determination and wealth has not been shared with First Nations people. “We sit on our porch and watch logging trucks driving past carrying our natural resources away,” he said. “First Nations are peaceful people but now is the time to act.

“My grandfather fought in WWII and was told that he would get 10 acres but at the end of the war they said you live on a reserve--you don't get the 10 acres,” he continued. “It's time that our history is recognized.

“Today I can never own my own home. I hear 'We're playing for your education with our tax dollars,' but I will pay rent on my home as long as I live but can never own it.

“We are a strong, proud people. Enough is enough--when is this going to change for us?”

He said that with the federal funding he wants to plan a heritage day, a ceremony and the bronzing of the formal residential school apology by Stephen Harper. He suggested hanging it in City Hall, or creating a centre for First Nations Heritage at the TDC.

His delegation was warmly received by Council. “In order to demolish a culture, demolish their history,” said Councillor Rather. “You can totally count on my support.”

Councillors Laurie Walters, Ivan Bonnell and Sue Zacharias agreed that in order to move forward people have to understand the past, and he received a round of applause from Mayor and Council.

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