The City of Delta is showing its support for a plan by the Musqueam Indian Band and Fraser River Discovery Centre to develop a Place of Learning About Indigenous History of the Fraser River.
In a letter to the two parties, Mayor George Harvie wrote that he congratulates them on signing a memorandum of understanding to develop the initiative.
“The Fraser River is fundamental to Musqueam Indian Band's culture, economy and sustenance, and we support efforts to educate the public about this historic Indigenous relationship. The City of Delta has a keen interest in your learning initiative and would like to offer a letter of support when you are ready to move forward with requests for funding and assistance from senior levels of government,” Harvie stated.
Still needing funding from the provincial and federal governments, the initiative is to allow a more formal working partnership in order to educate the public and present the stories of the Fraser River and their contribution to the life, history and future of B.C.
A key aspect of this new partnership includes expanding the role of the FRDC in New Westminster as a place of learning for the understanding of Indigenous heritage and its ongoing connection to the river.
The Discovery Centre also notes the initiative will also build on existing First Nations exhibits and programing at the FRDC, as well as its role as “Voice of the Fraser.”
“The goal is a permanent exhibit and programming at the FRDC, but what it includes and how it is presented will need to be developed between the MIB, the FRDC and other partners in the community that come on board. Key to this will be ensuring that whatever is developed is consistent with the MIB’s “learn/teach/share” approach and that the stories are told from a First Nations’ perspective.”
