The Land Conservancy (TLC) of British Columbia, located in Victoria, is a charitable land trust working to save native flora, old growth forests, and endangered species. TLC also helps landowners ensure the long-term protection of their properties (via conservation covenants) and works to preserve critically imperiled Coastal Douglas fir (CDF) ecosystems and at-risk heritage homes and gardens.
In February, TLC announced a landmark partnership agreement to transfer title of SISȻENEM (Colonial name: Halibut Island), a 3.91-hectare island off the east coast of Sidney Island, to the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council (WLC) as an act of reconciliation.
TLC Executive Director Cathy Armstrong offers an intimate look into the land transfer and the significance of the island’s name, SISȻENEM (pronounced cease quin em), which means the place that you go to bask in the sunlight.
TLC’s board had created a three-year plan with an overarching strategic direction focusing on reconciliation, responding to the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and what that means for a land trust.
The concept the board could agree on as a group was that they would always look through that lens of reconciliation and how to apply it to each project. They would determine what that means and how they would honour the Commission’s recommendations.
“When SISȻENEM came along, we’re going through our strategic plan and the opportunity falls out of the sky and feels so easy and right,” says Armstrong.
As it happened, Dr. Tara Martin, a UBC research scientist working in the Salish Sea with her eye on SIS?ENEM, approached TLC. The previous owners, who had the land for 50 years had just put it up for sale. Dr. Martin wanted to find a buyer who would respect the scientific and First Nations aspects of protecting the land.
When Dr. Martin asked Armstrong what they could do, she replied,
“Well, we need to go first to the W̱SÁNEĆ . This is the other part of how TLC operates, it must be right from the beginning.”
After approaching the W̱SÁNEĆ, Martin was granted a presentation to the leadership committee where she offered evidence supporting why the land is significant for both First Nations and for scientific research.
Because no deer live on the island, the flora can mature naturally resulting in superior flowering plants compared with those in surrounding areas. Scientists, like Martin, use these flowers and plants as a baseline for restoration work in previously damaged areas.
As Armstrong recalls, “Dr. Martin brought SISȻENEM to us. She brought it to the W̱SÁNEĆ , but she also cames with people she knew from spending so much time researching the Salish Sea, who might be donors to the project. It ended up being just one American couple who funded the acquisition 100 per cent.”
“This all went quickly,” says Armstrong. “We made the offer in October with a closing very soon afterwards and it was all signed, sealed, delivered and we had the property in December.”
When Armstrong knew this was really happening, she did a search to see if transferring land back to First Nations people was previously done in Canada. Although she couldn’t find an example, there was a case in the US, but of course legally that would be handled quite differently.
TLC spent months checking and cross-checking all legal requirements before entering into a partnership agreement with the W̱SÁNEĆ.
To celebrate, the W̱SÁNEĆ performed a virtual welcoming dance and drumming ceremony for TLC.
“It gives me goosebumps as I reflect on it,” says Armstrong. “Tsartlip First Nation Chief Don Tom said that this land transfer was a true act of reconciliation. That’s where the goosebumps came for me.”
For more information about TLC, visit: conservancy.bc.ca
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