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WSÁNEC project helps restore historic connections

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WSÁNEC project helps restore historic connections

BY TETÁCES REVITALIZATION PROJECT

Archaeological records establish Coast Salish cultural presence in the Southern Gulf Islands spanning more that 5,000 years. WSÁNEC traditional knowledge extends that span to time immemorial through protected creation stories. 

The WSÁNEC Leadership Council (WLC) and the WSÁNEC School Board (WSB), in partnership with the Southern Gulf Islands Community Resources Centre (CRC), have launched the TETÁCES Revitalization Project to help restore the WSÁNEC Peoples’ historic connection with the Southern Gulf Islands, known as TETÁCES in the SENCOTEN language.

WSÁNEC Leadership Council director of operations Gord Elliott observed: “The WSÁNEC people have been too long separated from the islands as a result of the oppressive impacts of colonization and the failure of the settler population to recognize our unceded inherent rights. This project supports the resurgence of the WSÁNEC people in our traditional homeland.”  

This project, supported by a $75,000 matching grant from the Real Estate Foundation of B.C., will provide a series of five educational videos highlighting WSÁNEC traditional knowledge and the role that TETÁCES plays as part of WSÁNEC homeland — ÁLENENEC. TETÁCES translates as “relatives of the deep” in the WSÁNEC creation story for the islands.

The videos will highlight excursions of WSÁNEC elders and youth to the three southernmost islands:- S,DÁYES/ Pender; S,KTAK/Mayne and TEKTEKSEN/Saturna on Raincoast Conservation Foundation’s 66-foot research vessel the Achiever. Each island will be the subject of a video providing a WSÁNEC perspective on that island.  

A central video of the project provides an historical perspective on WSÁNEC homeland, focusing on the question “Whose Land is It?” This video will be based on a recently published paper by assistant professor Nick Claxton and John Price, emeritus professor of history at the University of Victoria, titled “Whose Land Is It? Rethinking Sovereignty in British Columbia.

A fifth video will present the TETÁCES creation story in an animated video portraying the creation of the islands and emphasizing the “reciprocal stewardship” role  the WSÁNEC people have with these islands — their “relatives of the deep.”

These five videos will be owned by the WSÁNEC School Board and will be used in the tribal school curriculum to support the TETÁCES revitalization initiative. The videos will also serve as the basis for a community forum on each of three southern islands in 2022, focusing on the question “Whose Land Is It?” and exploring how the WSÁNEC reciprocal stewardship obligation can support sustainable land use and inform the Islands Trust’s “preserve and protect” mandate. 

Project co-coordinator and CRC director Peter Paré said, “The TETÁCES Revitalization Project is a community-to-community engagement with support from the WSÁNEC Leadership Council, the WSÁNEC School Board, Raincoast Conservation Foundation, UVic’s Living Lab Project, the SGI Community Resources Centre, the South Pender Historical Society and the Capital Regional District with matching funding from the Real Estate Foundation of B.C. The TETÁCES Revitalization Project builds on the very successful 2020 TETÁCES Climate Action Project.”

Elliott adds: “The islands, our relatives, have provided a way of life for our people for thousands of years and WSÁNEC law creates a reciprocal relationship of care and stewardship between WSÁNEC and TETÁCES. This responsibility is absolute; we are obligated to care for these islands, not only through our own actions but by protecting the islands against harmful actions by others. This project supports our exercise of this deep responsibility.” 

For more information on the project, people can contact its co-coordinators: Tye Swallow, WSÁNEC School Board – tye@saec.ca; and Peter Paré, Community Resources Centre – peter.pare@hli.ubc.ca – 250-222-0358.

Islanders voices matter in update of Trust Policy Statement

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Islanders voices matter in update of Trust Policy Statement

By LAURA PATRICK

The Trust Policy Statement is required by provincial legislation and is intended to be a general statement of the higher-level policies required to carry out the mandate of the Trust, which is to “. . . preserve and protect the Trust Area and its unique amenities and environment for the benefit of the residents of the Trust Area and of British Columbia generally, in cooperation with municipalities, regional districts, improvement districts, other persons and organizations and the government of British Columbia.”

The Trust Policy Statement (once adopted) applies to all of the member islands equally; however, each island still has its own official community plan. The Trust Policy Statement provides the over-arching vision and goals, the things we all need to be mindful of to meet our obligation of “preserve and protect” under the act, while allowing each island to uniquely shape its own community plan to address its specific needs.

The most recent Trust Policy Statement was prepared decades ago. It is being updated because it doesn’t speak to our responsibilities around reconciliation, climate change or affordable housing.  

The current Salt Spring Island Official Community Plan and land use bylaws continue to govern our decisions on land use as they always have. There are no immediate impacts to our decision-making considerations. However, when the day comes that we need to update our OCP, the update must align with the vision and goals of the Trust Policy Statement.

What I have been hearing from Salt Spring Islanders:

• Please write the policy statement in plain language! The Trust Policy Statement should be simple to understand, goal driven and inspirational.  

• Remove the prohibition on new docks! Most islanders I have spoken with understand and accept the current policies and regulations that limit the location and scale of new private docks. These minimize impacts on sensitive marine ecosystems and aquatic species at risk, including eelgrass, kelp, and clam beds, forage fish spawning areas, as well as First Nations’ cultural, archaeological and traditional harvesting sites.

• Agriculture and local food production are vital to the character of the islands! Not only are these vital to island character, they are “important contributors to the preservation of land and economic vitality, and entirely compatible with important goals of enhanced attention to reconciliation and climate change,” as stated by the Salt Spring Island Agricultural Alliance in its June 22, 2021 letter to the Islands Trust Council. A great example of helpful and specific suggestions for improving the draft Policy Statement has come from the Agricultural Alliance, which has specifically requested that the following two current policies be carried forward into the updated policy statement:

“It is Trust Council’s policy that agriculture is a valuable activity that contributes to the islands’ rural character and that local food production can play a positive role in protecting land and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

“Trust Council shall encourage the Provincial Agricultural Land Commission to approve applications from property owners for inclusion of their land with potential for agriculture in the Agricultural Land Reserve.”

• Remove the prohibition on desalination plants! I have heard that, instead, the new policy should regulate potential negative impacts of desalination plants without prohibiting them.

• Why wasn’t I consulted? Some people are just hearing about these issues now and are concerned their voices will not be heard. The Trust, and I as one of your local trustees, do intend to engage the community further and hear your thoughts about the draft Policy Statement. 

Next Steps

Trust Council’s Executive Committee (of which I am a member) has been tasked with developing the final phase of public engagement, to take place between September and December this year. Here’s what I will be seeking to achieve at the upcoming meeting: 

• Provide staff with direction to seek external advice on the design of this upcoming phase of engagement. We cannot repeat the tactics used in previous rounds of engagement. This phase requires something deeper and more accessible.

• Recognize that participative democracy is a best practice method of public engagement and likely the most suitable for building trust and reducing polarization across the Trust Area at this juncture. This may include facilitated group discussions that provide participants the opportunity to consider issues in depth, hear about and challenge each other’s opinions, and co-develop a set of informed recommendations to the Trust Council.

• Ensure that public input plays an integral part in the next draft of the Trust Policy Statement.

I want to hear your ideas for this next phase of public engagement. Please email me at lpatrick@islandstrust.bc.ca.

In the meantime, if you already have comments and thoughts about the current draft of the policy statement, we’d love to hear from you. Specific recommendations are the most useful, like the Agricultural Alliance provided (above), and a show of support for the public engagement noted above would be beneficial.  

The draft new Policy Statement and background information can be viewed at https://islandstrust.bc.ca/programs/islands-2050/.  

Please send your comments to Islands2050@islandstrust.bc.ca.

The writer is a Salt Spring Local Trust Committee member and a member of the Islands Trust Executive Committee.

BEAUMONT, Art

Driftwood Obituary
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BEAUMONT, Art

ART BEAUMONT

Art passed away peacefully on July 23, 2021 at the age of 78.  

A devoted father to Jason and Justin, he extended his love and guidance to his step sons Alex, James and Connor. In addition to his sons Art is survived by his wife Rhonda, his brother Mike and his sisters Betty, Pat, and Brenda.  

Art will be missed for his willingness to help others no matter how big or small the issue. He enjoyed nothing more than a gathering of friends and family where he could share old stories, have a laugh, and make new memories.

Rhonda would like to thank everyone who supported Art in his final months, especially the staff at Lady Minto Hospital who made his final days comfortable.

Treasure Fair set to unfold online

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Treasure Fair set to unfold online

SUBMITTED BY ARTSPRING

It’s been a long time coming, but the wait is almost over! After the break in 2020, ArtSpring’s Treasure Fair team has been working tirelessly to reignite the loyal support it has always enjoyed from the Salt Spring community, and to bring the community an online fundraising event full of exciting and unique finds. 

The online-only events are certainly a new challenge to the team that has always thrived on turning the ArtSpring galleries into a shopper’s paradise. But, under the direction of coordinator Catherine Griffiths, that challenge has been met, and then some. The donation box was full to bursting well ahead of schedule, thanks not only to individuals but to business donors, who have all faced an incredibly tough 16 months. That’s the spirit of our community right there. 

So, what can people expect from this year’s events? The auction catalogues have already opened for preview, so why not take a peek and note now what you want to bid on. Some highlights? The three-night Yukon trip is this year’s centrepiece — a unique place in Canada to celebrate the resumption of inter-province travel. Or how about our “only on Salt Spring” items, including a whale skeleton articulator studio visit, a historical tour of Salt Spring, a recording session, and a forest and nature therapy walk. You could also learn something new, or brush up your skills, with a basketry, quilting or knitting class; get some expert gardening advice; or discover spectacular sea life swimming with the Salt Spring Seals. 

The live auction gala event has also moved online. ArtSpring board president Walter Stewart and previous president Deb Toole will be your effervescent hosts, taking you through the big-ticket items and keeping those bids coming in. To help the event go with a swing we have a limited number of party packs for you to enjoy at home. Each pack contains wine, Salt Spring Cheese products, Salt Spring Kitchen jam, and crackers, plus a ticket for the live auction gala. And one pack contains a special winning ticket.

At treasurefair.artspring.ca 

• From July 1 – preview catalogues, register to bid, buy a Zoom live auction gala ticket, and party pack.

• July 14, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on July 18: bid high and bid often on silent auction items.

• July 17, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.: Zoom live auction gala. Bidding is from 6 to 8 p.m. (ticket not required if you aren’t attending the Zoom gala). 

Staff shortage closes Lady Minto Hospital admissions

Elizabeth Nolan
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Staff shortage closes Lady Minto Hospital admissions

Patients diverted to Saanich until July 13

Salt Spring’s Lady Minto Hospital is not currently admitting patients to its regular beds due to a staffing situation that is expected to last until Tuesday, July 13 at the earliest. 

Island Health confirmed Friday that most patients are being diverted to Saanich Peninsula Hospital, although Salt Spring’s emergency department remains open. 

“We are continuing to actively look for staff who can cover these temporary staff shortages and if this occurs, the diversion will be lifted,” Island Health told the Driftwood. 

“Staff shortages occur from time to time due to a variety of factors, for example, personal issues such as unexpected illness or vacation. Diversion is a last resort; we try our very best to cover shifts, but there are times despite these efforts, that these temporary shortages occur.

“It is unfortunate but diversions occur from time to time in hospitals across Canada. It’s something we try to avoid doing as we recognize it is not ideal for patients and their families.”

Island Health added the local system is fortunate to have strong support from Saanich Peninsula Hospital.

Anyone who needs to be admitted to Saanich Peninsula Hospital will be transferred via the Provincial Patient Transfer Network and not charged the cost.

Anyone who is experiencing a medical emergency on Salt Spring should call 9-1-1 or go straight to the emergency room.

Trust Council puts hold on first reading of policy statement bylaw

Elizabeth Nolan
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Trust Council puts hold on first reading of policy statement bylaw

Islands Trust Council has decided to defer consideration of first reading of its Trust Policy Statement update until December following calls for a pause in the process from all across the Trust area and a petition signed by 700 people. 

“If we go ahead with the first reading, the perception from islanders that I’m getting is we’re not listening at all,” said North Pender trustee Ben McConchie, summing up the position of many who spoke against a motion to advance first reading Thursday as planned.

“I think by bringing this to first reading right now, we disrespect so many of the constituents that have spoken out,” agreed Saturna trustee Paul Brent. 

The policy statement contains the principles and policies that guide how Islands Trust Council interprets and implements its provincial mandate “to preserve and protect the unique amenities and environment of the Islands Trust Area.” It also guides how individual island communities develop their official community plans and land-use bylaws. 

With the most recent policy statement created in 1994, the Trust’s programs committee has been working to update the document with specific goals of addressing the climate crisis and the Trust’s commitment to reconciliation with local First Nations, and to better manage housing needs.

Galiano trustee Tahirih Rockafella raised the failed motion to advance first reading, arguing issues like climate change, the housing crisis and First Nations reconciliation cannot wait. 

“People are asking for a pause in the process and I think many of those people possibly are not fully aware of the process, and I don’t fault them for it because it’s not an exciting process to go through. However, I do believe that as trustees we can walk our communities through this process and fully engage, especially since now we have these people at the table and they’re very excited to fully participate,” Rockafella said. 

Salt Spring trustees Laura Patrick and Peter Grove both spoke earlier in the day about the clear preference on their island to wait for first reading. Patrick further noted in discussion of the motion to proceed a power outage the evening before had prevented many southern Gulf Island residents from speaking at a town hall session scheduled on Zoom. She also wanted to propose amendments to the draft.

“I can’t support giving first reading — I would support waiting until December,” Patrick said.

South Pender trustee Cameron Thorn asserted his belief that by listening to islanders now, the Islands Trust will potentially gain more buy-in and a far smoother pathway to final adoption of a new policy statement later on. 

“Rushing this will just divide communities and alienate people who might otherwise be part of this process,” agreed Bowen trustee Michael Kaile.

Trust Programs Committee chair Deb Morrison introduced several alternative possible motions during council’s morning session to defer first reading until December and to circulate a working draft to the public and to referral agencies in the meantime, while local Trust committees support more public engagement in their own communities. 

Debate on the project timeline and consultation methods continued during the afternoon session. 

TUTTLE, Marion Eleanor

Driftwood Obituary
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TUTTLE, Marion Eleanor

Marion Eleanor Tuttle
(Nee: DEMPSEY)
Marion was born in Stratford Ontario, on November 3rd 1925 to parents Earrol John Dempsey and Eleanor Dempsey (nee Strudley). Marion moved to Calgary in 1953 where she met and married Graeme Tuttle where they lived happily until Graeme passed in 1991. In 1996 Marion moved further west to South Surrey BC, then moved to James Bay Victoria (2010 to 2014), then to Saltspring Island (until late in 2017). She died peacefully at a nursing home in Sidney BC on July 9th 2021, with both of her sons by her side. Marion is survived by her children (Brian, Hugh), her grandchildren (Shannon, Greg, Kristin, Kyla, Amber) and her great-grandchildren (Ollie, Jessica), nieces and nephews, cousins and many many good friends.
Marion lived a good life and she lived it well. We love her, and she will be missed by all.

Water district appeals for more water conservation

Driftwood Staff
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Water district appeals for more water conservation

The North Salt Spring Waterworks District is asking its customers to make extra efforts to conserve water in order to avoid facing higher restrictions sooner than necessary. 

“Your diligence will help delay the implementation of Stage 4 Watering Restrictions for as long as possible during this dry summer,” a July 7 NSSWD news release states.

At the current Stage 3 level, all water uses are authorized, although some have day and time limits — such as watering of gardens — while in Stage 4 activities such as washing vehicles, topping up pools and hot tubs, and watering playing fields and parks are not permitted. The northsaltspringwaterworks.ca website details the regulations of each stage. 

The district explains that a lack of rainfall this spring has prompted the call for extra conservation.

“Other than the first few weeks in June, the spring of 2021 has provided unusually low precipitation, resulting in record low lake levels. NSSWD’s source water reservoirs, St. Mary Lake and Maxwell Lake, are both showing declining levels that are on pace with the drought we experienced in 2015.”

For more details, see the NSSWD website. 

Shellfish farm collapse frustrates resident

Elizabeth Nolan
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Shellfish farm collapse frustrates resident

A Salt Spring resident is calling attention to a faulty management regime when it comes to oversight of shellfish harvesting tenures after watching one such operation seemingly fall apart before his eyes over a period of two years.

Jeremy Sicherman lives near Baker Beach, where pieces of wood, metal and plastic belonging to the Evening Cove Oysters farm have been appearing after periods of strong winds and waves. He’s made multiple complaints to the federal fisheries department about the situation. Sicherman said Evening Cove’s former owner and current operator Andrew Dryden has been consistently friendly and helpful every time there is an incident, sending staff to clean up whatever has broken off and washed up to shore. The problem is that pieces have continued to come apart and repairs appear temporary at best, so Sicherman continues to send file complaints along with photo evidence every time another event occurs.

“I don’t know what else to do,” Sicherman said. “I feel like if I stop, I’ll feel like a schmuck when somebody steps on a nail — especially if it’s my kid or my dog.” 

His most recent find was a series of large plastic trays. The aquaculture farm has not been producing stock during the lengthy federal process around ownership transition, so those trays have been floating off when they detach instead of sinking.

Dryden told the Driftwood he has also been frustrated by the breakages. He’s frequently given up weekends with his kids to drive to Salt Spring from Nanaimo to take a tray or other item off the beach.

“I just have to grin and to be as responsive as I can, and to try to be a good steward of the environment there,” Dryden said. 

He added he believes the aquaculture rafts and materials are now secure and will be until the new owner comes on in the fall. 

“It’s been unfortunate and I’ve tried to do my absolute best with the upland owners,” Dryden said.

Sicherman believes the materials Evening Cove used to make repairs and secure items are too flimsy, but an equally concerning issue is the seeming inability of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) to govern its jurisdiction. 

DFO told the Driftwood the federal government “recognizes that marine debris, particularly plastic debris, is a serious environmental concern and that it is important that we remove debris from marine environments.” 

DFO’s conditions of licence for shellfish aquaculture state that farm operators shall not introduce aquaculture refuse — including infrastructure, equipment and materials — into the environment. DFO recently addressed concerns related to debris with new language in the April 1, 2021 shellfish conditions of licence.

“DFO works with the shellfish aquaculture industry and individual facility operators to ensure gear and infrastructure are securely anchored or attached. Despite this, sometimes materials become loose, particularly during stormy weather,” the department stated. 

It added it conducts ongoing site inspections of shellfish aquaculture facilities. When equipment deficiencies are found DFO directs cleanup or repair by the facility operator.

In regard to Evening Cove, DFO said it is aware of the issues with the tenure.

Fishery officers from the Conservation and Protection Aquaculture Unit initiated a site investigation in Booth Bay in May 2021 in response to a complaint, and requested records from the company. 

“Following this site visit, and discussions between DFO’s Aquaculture Program and the operators of the facility, significant improvements have been made to comply with the conditions of licence.”

A subsequent site visit by fishery officers noted improvements to secure the aquaculture equipment had resulted in no new reports of debris from the site. The complaint file was closed in early June.

DFO asks the public to forward information on issues of this nature or any contravention of the Fisheries Act and regulations. Anyone with information can call the violation reporting line at 1-800-465-4336, or email the details to DFO.ORR-ONS.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

Finding Home: Rental situation keeps manager on the move

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Finding Home: Rental situation keeps manager on the move

Editor’s note: The following is the first in a Finding Home series of profiles of islanders who are impacted by the lack of affordable housing, compiled by Aina Yasué of the local group Salt Spring Solutions. 

By AINA YASUÉ

Salt Spring Solutions 

Sarah Hyams has been the manager of Artcraft at the Salt Spring Arts Council for the past two years, but she isn’t sure how long she can keep the job she loves due to her housing uncertainty. 

Drawn to the beauty of nature and the arts community of Salt Spring Island, Sarah moved here with her son three years ago. Despite feeling initially uneasy due to the stories she heard of the difficulty of finding rental housing here, she kept a positive attitude and settled in. However, in the three years she has been on the island, she has been forced to move to a different rental home six times — that works out to twice a year. 

“Finding a permanent place to rent is like finding gold,” says Sarah, due to the lack of availability of long-term rental homes. 

The upheaval of moving every few months while working full-time, as well as the stress of housing uncertainty and security, can take its toll.

“It’s part of the culture here,” she says. “It’s almost a given that if you rent you have to kind of slog it out. I think some people just tire of it and leave.” 

The federal and provincial governments have stated that in order for housing to be affordable it should take up no more than 30 per cent of a person’s income. Right now, Sarah is paying nearly 50 per cent of her income on rent every month. 

She notes, “the salaries available on the island and rental housing costs don’t match up.” Hyams has also worked as a cleaner, and has noticed many living spaces on the island sit empty most of the time, noting the stark difference in the reality of life between that of home-owners and those who rent.

Sarah is looking for a one-bedroom cabin with a sofa-bed her 18-year-old son can sleep on when he visits. She must leave her current place by the end of September. If nothing turns up she will have to leave Salt Spring and Artcraft will lose a dedicated employee.

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