Editor: Re: Land could be lost to First Nations, Oct. 18 What land lost? The true headline, which Delta needs to hear, is "Land was lost by First Nations."
The first sentence of the article is more accurate as "Tsawwassen First Nation's valuable land was lost to Delta's development which came also from outside the municipality from Canada and British Columbia."
When I saw this headline, my heart felt broken by the continuing blindness to the history and people of this land. For 12 years I was a member of the Delta Treaty Advisory Commission meeting every month to try to reconcile Delta with the ongoing Tsawwassen treaty.
During that time of treaty negotiations there was broad public access and information to the history of Tsawwassen First Nation on this land for the past thousands of years. When the treaty was achieved in 2007, the success seemed to be shared with a significant public sector who saw the treaty as a new beginning for First Nations people as partners and neighbours in Delta, B.C. and Canada.
This headline shows that lots of talking between Delta and Tsawwassen First Nation is urgently needed now to solve the many current changes and challenges in land use and legislation.
Some good news: There are signs of new communications between Delta and TFN. I applaud Mayor Lois Jackson and Chief Bryce Williams for beginning to speak out to clarify and search for new solutions to the old colonial disputes of winners and losers.
I have confidence and faith that our communities of Delta and Tsawwassen First Nation have the capacity, goodwill and leadership to find a new path of prosperity, justice and safety for all if we work together with heart. All it really takes is heart.
Carol Vignale
