The Snuneymuxw First Nation has weighed in on efforts to form a new governance of Nanaimo Harbour.
The First Nation issued a press release Friday stating its chief and council had unanimously passed a resolution Thursday to join with the city and the Nanaimo Marina Association “to seek to craft a new approach to governance of the harbour and marine areas around Nanaimo.”
The press release said the Snuneymuxw have been excluded from decision-making and benefits from Nanaimo Harbour by the Nanaimo Port Authority and its predecessor, the Nanaimo Harbour Commission.
Snuneymuxw Chief John Wesley said in the press release the harbour’s waters and fisheries, since the Douglas Treaty of 1854, have been systematically displaced by settlers in ways inconsistent with Snuneymuxw rights and the First Nation has not been compensated for those losses.
“It’s been a challenge over the years to have the kind of relationship, with respect to the Nanaimo Port Authority, that’s necessary for respectful implementation and recognition of our treaty rights … I’ve always been clear with the port authority that they’re either the entity we need them to be, in terms of respectful co-governance of Nanaimo Harbour waters or we have to consider alternatives, so this is the first time that there’s a real possibility that there could be a discussion about creating an alternative to Nanaimo Port Authority,” said Douglas White III, Snuneymuxw councillor and former chief.
There has been movement in recent months to form a new governing body for Nanaimo Harbour that has been driven, in part, by the Nanaimo Marina Association, which has been in dispute with the port authority over the rising costs of foreshore lease rates.
“As members of the marine industry, we are committed to working in partnership with SFN and the City of Nanaimo to ensure we have a sustainable, economically viable harbour that respects Douglas Treaty rights and creates economic benefits for industry and the community at large,” Odai Sirri, Nanaimo Marina Association president, said in the press release.
Bernie Dumas, Nanaimo Port Authority president and chief executive officer, said Monday, Transport Canada representatives are coming from Ottawa for meetings with stakeholder groups and the port authority Wednesday (April 12).
“We’re disturbed about it. We’re disappointed,” Dumas said. “Both our partners are important to us. … We are just the landlords here so I needed direction from them. … We want to find solutions, it’s just that we need to sit down and talk and so we’ll see what happens over the next few weeks.”