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

By LeRae Haynes

A celebration of partnership and collaboration took place this week at the Williams Lake Indian Band community hall when a ground-breaking partnership agreement was signed between the Williams Lake Band and Imperial Metals.

(Photo:  Aaron Higginbottom - WLIB Natural Resource Manager, JoAnne Moiese - WLIB Councillor, Vern Michel - WLIB Councillor, Heather McKenzie - WLIB Education Manager, Robin Gilbert - Recreation Manager for WLIB, Ann Louie - Chief, Kirk Dressler - WLIB Public Relations/Communications Coordinator, Richard Sellers Sr. - WLIB Councillor, Byron Louie - Community Economic Developer Worker with WLIB.)

The historic agreement addresses issues relating to WLIB’s assertion of title and rights, employment, contracting, training and education, and will include funding contributed by Imperial Metals for First Nations scholarships, bursaries and community projects.  

The ceremony including lively drumming and singing, a lunch served to guests and dignitaries and speeches by Chief Ann Louie, Imperial Metals president Brian Kynoch, Mayor Kerry Cook, MLAs Donna Barnett and Bob Simpson and BC Ministers Ida Chong, Steve Thomson and Pat Bell.

(VIDEO: Hear from Chief Ann Louie and the president of Imperial Metals during the celebration.)

“We do not resist economic development, but if you want to work with and respect First Nations in whose territories you want to operate, it can be beneficial to you both,” Chief Louie said. “The land is the economy of First Nations—we live off the land---and it must be fully protected. Money is important, but it cannot sustain us.”

“This agreement has not been an easy process and has taken many years. We are the first to reach an agreement between an active mine and First Nations,” she continued. “It is our hope that this agreement will set the stage for anyone who wants to do business on our land.”  Imperial Metals president Brian Kynoch said that the week leading up to the signing of the agreement was a very emotional one, with the loss of Mt. Polley Environmental Superintendant Ron Martell, who was ‘key’ to the project. “His heart and soul was in how we can mine responsibly for the environment. We may not be able to put it back exactly the way it was before, but we can put it back as close as possible,” Brian said.

“This agreement is his legacy and I really want to make it work. I want to make this something that we can all look back on as a really good deal for both parties.”

(Photo:  President of Imperial Metals Brian Kynock and Williams Lake Indian Band Chief Ann Louie signing the Agreement.)

Mayor Cook said that the significance of this agreement may not be fully realized until farther down the road. “Mt. Polley and WLIB are setting an example for others to follow now and in the future,” she said.  

“You have set a standard and an example for the province,” stated Minister Pat Bell. “You have forged a new future for your children and for the whole region.”

“It is my hope that the leadership shown here can demonstrate around the province that other alternatives besides legal action, protests and negating titles and lands exist,” said MLA Bob Simpson. “This is one of those wonderful alternatives and an example to others.” Williams Lake Indian Band elder Charlie Gilbert provided a closing prayer at the event, which happened to fall on his birthday. He noted that he wasn’t surprised that Chief Ann Louie’s leadership was a key component in the successful agreement. “She’s a pretty ‘heady’ girl,” he said. “Chief and Council show courage and stand out among other First Nations bands with this kind of initiative, and that’s what we should remember from today.”

After an exchange of gifts between WLIB Council member Donna MacKenzie and Mt. Polley General Manger Tim Fish, Charlie Gilbert said a closing prayer, followed by drumming and singing that included a lively ‘Lahal’ song of celebration. 

Charlie Gilbert quoted Billy Graham in his prayer: ‘“You gotta give it to the Native people: they always knew that there was something special at the end of the trail,’” he said. “The Creator will always be at the head of our tables and guiding the hands of our chiefs.”

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