Reconciliation and regional prosperity

9- How do you plan to build upon recent reconciliation efforts like the pole raising to address historical wrongs, put resources towards resource cultural revitalization, and resolve the employment and income gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people?

Al Anderson

Reconciliation will be an ongoing effort for all Canadians for many years into the future. It is something for us all to do as individuals and all levels of government will have a role to play. If anything is to be accomplished it takes the efforts of individuals to learn the truth of our history and to connect in a meaningful way with those that lived another version that history. Too often we jump to the reconciliation and forget it's about TRUTh and Reconciliation. Truth discovered by listening with an open heart as well as an open mind. As council it is important to meet with our counterparts in surrounding indigenous communities an bring our communities together as much as possible.

Andrea McQuade

By listening, and acting in a manner commensurate with ideals of equity, inclusiveness, justice and respect. We go forward together, better.

Britt Chalmers

I think there needs to be continued dialogue with Tofino First Nations and working together in any way we can. From tourism opportunities to cultural education and policy making. If we continue to invite each other to the table we will be a stronger community for it. 

Chris Heisterman

Collaboration. There is a lot of opportunity to work together with neighbouring Indigenous communities. For example Esowista and Ty-Histanis do not have a fire department. There is opportunity for our local fire hall to train residents in our neighbouring communities, helping grow bonds and relations between communities.

Craig Heber

I run an #INM page and promote reconciliation and the TRC recommendations.  Reconciliation must mean more than token moves.  Resolving disparities between Colonizers and Indigenous Canadians is a problem bigger than Tofino Councillor can achieve as it will take a generation to achieve real reconciliation.  I plan on pushing Council to choose and take on recommendations in the TRC report in each of the next 4 years.

1st, Tofino needs to celebrate Orange Shirt Day Sept 30th, in public ceremony that includes educating residents and tourists on the real meaning of the day.  I'd suggest all Toficians read and pledge to embrace the report written by Judge Murray Sinclair and as individuals pick one recommendation to put their energy into.  In the long term the only way to fix the generations of income and employment disparities is for individual Canadians to facilitate change so these disparities become less and less over time.

Dorothy Baert

The Councils that I have been on have always been active in supporting on-going collaboration. These are evolving relationships based on Protocols between the District and TFN and the District and Ahousaht.

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I am currently Chairing the Community Economic Advisory Committee and membership includes our regional FN neighbours to ensure that their needs and aspirations are part of the development of economic sustainability and resilience. I am committed to actions that support reconciliation. 

Duncan McMaster

Collectively we need to embrace the 94-point Call to Action Plan from the Truth & Reconciliation committee. Education is key for all ages, I would support locally held reconciliation dialogues and social gatherings at the Community Hall. The collaboration on the Tonquin Trail should be celebrated annually.

Eric Kingsley

I make no claims of understanding the full gravity of historical wrongs delivered to the indigenous people of this land nor do I know the adversity they face every day. If elected to council I would make it a point to organize meetings and talks with every neighbouring indigenous community. I want all people here to feel able to participate in what happens in our home. I would do everything I can to help the process of reconciliation and encourage the revitalization of the local cultures. However I am not knowledgeable in these maters. I sincerely ask for help from anyone who is willing to teach.

Jarmo Venalainen

None of us chose our collective history, rather our forefathers had the privilege of determining it without any input from us, as we now have the privilege of handing down our legacy to our descendants. What we hand down, in its simplest sense will be status of amicability or of tension.  How this will be established is through our actions and inactions with regards issues which make us feel connected and respected or segregated and disrespected.

Jason Brown

I would continue to respectful of the fact that this land has been inhabited long before our town Tofino and continue to listen and talk with as many people as I can.

Josie Osborne

Reconciliation is not done by governments, it is done by people – but our elected leaders can set the right tone with open minds and open hearts. As a Council, we must continue with the relationship-building that began long before this particular election by meeting regularly at the elected and the staff levels, listening and learning, but also having the patience and courage to “do our business a better way.” This means our formal business, like municipal service agreements, by also it means our daily business as community members that live and work together. Our responsibility to ‘do business differently’ is significant, and fulfilling this responsibility is transformational for our communities, our economies, and our shared future. For guidance, I look to the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as well as the TRC Calls to Action, and even more so to the wisdom and knowledge that lies within us, the kuus (indigenous people) and mamulthnii (non-indigenous people) who live here.

Stephanie Hugues

I plan to continue to listen.  The Nuu-chah-nulth Nations will guide the conversation on ways forward as Native and Non-Native communities living together in the Nuu-chah-nulth homeland and territories.  It is so important to connect on initiatives that support healthy communities.  I recognize the recent good work that the Hereditary Chiefs, Chiefs and Council, and Mayor and Council have done together and will support and encourage respectful governance.  Gaps such as the income and employment ones raised in the question need to be identified and prioritized so that Hereditary Chiefs, Chiefs and Council, Mayor and Council, community organizations, and members of all communities can support initiatives that make a difference here in Clayoquot Sound.

Stephen Ashton

The pole raising was a very powerful event.  I would like to see a 1st Nations permanent exhibit in Tofino.

Tom Stere

The most important contribution we can make is to listen.  Often “solutions” are generated with little to no active listening and engagement with our First Nations Neighbours.  Our First Nations Communities are very competent in creating solutions to the issues facing their communities.  Collaboration on regional projects through regular meetings with Tla-o-qui-aht, Ahousaht and Hesquit elected councils are an important first step.