On behalf of the City of Powell River, I want to celebrate National Indigenous History Month with our friends and neighbours of the Tla’amin Nation.
Our values as a community are based on the acknowledgement that we reside on the lands of the Tla’amin people. It is set in the Community Accord, a unique document between our two communities first agreed to in 2003 and renewed in 2018.
This month is a wonderful opportunity to remind ourselves of the bonds we share and the work that remains in strengthening our unique relationship.
This year, Tla’amin celebrated the fifth anniversary of self-government. It was also a year of resiliency in response to a COVID-19 outbreak, the tragedy of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and the shock that rocked the country with the revelations at the Kamloops Residential School and the Marieval Indian Residential School in Saskatchewan.
June is when we are reminded to continue to celebrate the connection and collaboration we share with Indigenous Peoples of this and neighbouring regions.
We look forward to maintaining the spirit of reconciliation between our communities. Join me in the celebration of the cultures, art, heritage and diverse influence of Indigenous Peoples across Canada.
David J. Formosa, mayor
