BC Ferries signs protocol agreement with Tsartlip First Nation on Vancouver Island

On Friday, BC Ferries signed a protocol agreement with the Tsartlip First Nation of Vancouver Island, clearing a way for reconciliation.
The agreement will establish a framework on areas of mutual interest as the corporation operates 11 terminals within the territory of the Tsartlip people.
The agreement was signed by Chief Don Tom and interim BC Ferries president and CEO Jill Sharland, after a ceremony led by elder Tom Sampson was held in the Tsartlip Health Office building.
"When you’re operating within our territories I think it requires a degree of acknowledgement, and to agree to work with the First Nations," said Tom.
"This is a relationship we’ve been striving for. We’re happy we’re able to sit here with BC Ferries and sign this protocol agreement today," he said.
BC Ferries operates within the territories of 80 First Nations in the province and signed its first protocol agreement with Snuneymuxw First Nation in July.
"We are open to any other agreements that any First Nations wants to work with us on," said Sharland.
"We want to work to together for the best of everybody and we’re very positive on the work we’ve done so far," she said.
Tom agrees this is a positive step forward between the Tsartlip Frist Nation and BC Ferries, following what he describes as a strained relationship.
He said he is looking to address BC Ferries' racist past when the organization prevented Indigenous passengers from being on the upper deck of vessels.
"We want to have discussions about this and we want to reconcile this," said Tom.
The agreement has a several shared goals and initial topics to be addressed:
- Impacts of ferry operations on W̱JOȽEȽP (Tsartlip)’s aboriginal and treaty rights.
- Cultural recognition, employment and economic opportunities.
- The process for securing Tsartlip’s free, prior and informed consent for BC Ferries projects within W̱JOȽEȽP territory.
- Fostering a sustainable, long-term and respectful relationship.
"It’s important for BC Ferries, and really for all of Canada, to work on reconciliation opportunities for us to move in a positive way forward," said Sharland.
"Working together is this way, we can actually reconcile and move our organization and the country forward in a positive way," she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Tyre Nichols' brutal beating by police shown on video
Memphis authorities released video footage Friday showing Tyre Nichols being beaten by police officers who held the Black motorist down and repeatedly struck him with their fists, boots and batons as he screamed for his mother and pleaded, ''I'm just trying to go home.'

CRA head says it 'wouldn't be worth the effort' to review all ineligible pandemic payments
The head of the Canada Revenue Agency says it 'wouldn't be worth the effort' to fully review $15.5 billion in potentially ineligible pandemic wage benefit payments flagged by Canada's Auditor General.
Lifelong Toronto Maple Leafs fan fulfils dream of seeing first game, passes away next day
Mike Davy always dreamed of going to a Toronto Maple Leafs game, and once it finally happened, he passed away the night after.
'This is too much': B.C. mom records police handcuffing 12-year-old in hospital
A review has been launched after police officers were recorded restraining a handcuffed Indigenous child on the floor of a Vancouver hospital – an incident the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs has denounced as "horrendous."
WHO decision on COVID-19 emergency won't affect Canada's response: Tam
The World Health Organization will announce Monday whether it thinks COVID-19 still represents a global health emergency but Canada's top doctor says regardless of what the international body decides, Canada's response to the coronavirus will not change.
Canadian university faculty getting older, more female compared to 50 years ago: StatCan
Canadian university professors are mostly older and increasingly more female compared to 50 years ago, a new report from Statistics Canada has found.
Canadian Hyundai vehicles unaffected by theft issue in the U.S., company says
Hyundai cars in Canada don't have the same anti-theft issue compared to those in the United States, a company spokesperson says, following reports that two American auto insurers are refusing to write policies for older models.
Grizzlies, other NBA teams speak out on Tyre Nichols' death
The outrage, frustration, sadness and anger was evident around the NBA on Friday, the day that video was released showing how Nichols, a 29-year-old father, was killed by five Memphis police officers. Several teams released statements of support for the family, as did the National Basketball Players Association.
Video shows struggle for hammer during Pelosi attack
Video released publicly Friday shows the husband of former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi struggling with his assailant for control of a hammer moments before he was struck in the head during a brutal attack in the couple's San Francisco home last year.