Watters, who calls herself an “unapologetic lefty” and “grateful uninvited guest” in Lekwungen territory on Twitter, said she is honouring the wishes of what she called the Four Houses the Songhees Nation, Esquimalt Nation, Métis and urban Indigenous community who have asked her to resign. “I hope my resignation, demonstrates my commitment to reconciliation & to healing the relationships between the district & the Indigenous communities we serve,” she wrote. She said the past year has been “very challenging on many levels,” and the board has had to face some “hard truths” when it comes to its commitment to reconciliation with local Indigenous peoples.
VICTORIA The pandemic has had a major impact on tourism in every corner of the country, leaving many who rely on tourism barely hanging on. One sector, in particular, has been dealt another blow. The future of First Nations tourism is in doubt after a drastic drop in funding for a non-profit organization that helps develop and promote the industry across Canada. The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) says it is close to insolvency after receiving only $2.4 million of the $68.3 million it was asking for in the recent 2021 federal budget. “The budget itself had some important investments, but for Indigenous tourism, what the budget didn’t have was a clear and properly funded Indigenous-led tourism strategy,” said Keith Henry, president and CEO of ITAC.
VICTORIA A local First Nations community has received funding to embark on a new adventure to promote cultural and tourism opportunities in and around the Victoria area. The Songhess First Nations received over $600,000 to develop the Songhees Marine Trail, which will highlight a network of 12 significant cultural and recreational sites along the shorelines of Lekwungen Territory. The trail ranges from Esquimalt Harbour to Victoria’s Inner Harbour, through Oak Bay and Cadboro Bay, and includes Tl’ches Islands (also known as Chatam and Discovery Islands). The Songhees Nation recognises tourism as a key economic driver for its community and an opportunity to increase its presence on Lekwungen territory in a meaningful way.
“The return of our land will be a significant step in reconciliation and provides an opportunity to work constructively with other levels of government to create a healthy and prosperous future for our community,” Esquimalt Nation Chief Robert Thomas said Monday.
Murray Rankin, B.C.’s minister of Indigenous relations and reconciliation, said the Thetis Cove property presented a unique opportunity for the province to advance reconciliation with the Esquimalt Nation and support treaty discussions with the Songhees Nation.
“While we are at the beginning of our discussions with Esquimalt Nation and the broader community about the land, we see its significant potential for supporting Esquimalt Nation to thrive and prosper, which benefits everyone who lives in the region,” Rankin said.
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Victoria and surrounding municipalities are no longer dumping untreated sewage into the ocean.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, who has a house on Bainbridge Island, is among those welcoming news that, after four years of construction, the Capital Regional Districtâs $775-million wastewater treatment project has begun treating sewage at the McLoughlin Point plant.
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Try refreshing your browser, or I was wondering why the water looked so clean : Victoriaâs sewage treatment plant in operation Back to video
âI was wondering why the water looked so clean in front of my house in Bainbridge here,â Inslee quipped in a recorded video call with Premier John Horgan, released by the District on Tuesday.