Prince George City Council is supportive of the Lheidli T’enneh’s request to add two locations within the city to their reserve.
At tonight’s (Wednesday) meeting, Council voted in favour of providing a letter of support for the Lheidli T’enneh’s Add to Reserve application.
The two locations in question are the downtown office located on Brunswick Street, and the House of Ancestors.
According to a letter received by the City from Indigenous Services Canada, local governments are encouraged to work with the requesting First Nation, using a “good neighbour” approach.
“I think this is where we make a decision on rubber and road,” said Councillor Garth Frizzell.
“We talk the talk on reconciliation, now this is just a bit of a no-brainer.”
Councillor Kyle Sampson suggested putting off the decision on providing a letter of support until after a meeting with the Lheidli T’enneh to learn more about the request.
“The intent of my motion is to engage in meaningful reconciliation, if we simply just get something in front of us and we just give it a thumbs up without understanding it, I don’t think that’s meaningful, I don’t think that’s impactful, and I don’t think that’s intentional,” Sampson explained.
“What I’m suggesting is we pause, not delay, pause, postpone this decision, to have a chance to meet council to council, to understand the intent of the goals, the plans with these applications so that we can move forward meaningfully with our support.”
It was noted by City staff that Indigenous Services Canada is looking for comment from the City later this month.
The motion to postpone was defeated.
“I’m challenged, I feel if I vote no, it could be characterized as not supportive overall, but that’s not the case,” Sampson said in response.
“I’m going to state my opinion that I’m supportive generally, but I don’t feel like I have all of the information. I want to engage in the dialogue with Lheidli, and understand this and work through those, and if we’re calling this reconciliation, I think that’s great, but is it meaningful if we don’t understand or engage?”
Sampson was the lone Councillor opposed to sending the letter of support.
Other items discussed tonight included the City’s Snow and Ice Control policy, and a review of the City’s on-street parking downtown and near UHNBC.
Something going on in the Prince George area you think people should know about?
Send us a news tip by emailing [email protected].
