District of Sechelt Mayor Bruce Milne drew rounds of applause during his inaugural speech by calling for “genuine reconciliation” with Sechelt First Nation and “a different kind of reconciliation within our own community.”
Addressing about 300 people who packed the theatre at Chatelech Secondary School on Dec. 3, Milne said recognizing Sechelt Nation’s unceded Aboriginal title to its traditional territory was important for one simple reason.
“Sechelt’s traditional territory, and the Aboriginal title embedded in that territory, is the foundation on which everything else rests: Crown title, fee simple ownership, our economy — everything,” he said. “If we do not recognize the foundation of Aboriginal title and then reconcile what we have with that foundation, what we have built on that foundation is completely at risk.”
With Sechelt Nation Chief Calvin Craigan sitting in one of the front rows, Milne told the audience they had been fortunate that evening to hear the Welcome Song, performed by hereditary chief Andy Johnson, “because it is Sechelt’s right to welcome us, not our right to be welcomed.”
Historically, he said, Sechelt Nation had welcomed newcomers despite the shoddy treatment that included the reserve system, residential schools and “any number of small day-to-day hurts and acts of shame,” while asking only to be treated honourably and recognized for who they are.
“Once we recognize Sechelt as Sechelt, we must take the next step and find a genuine reconciliation of who they are and who we are. That is our future,” Milne said. “The future of Sechelt depends upon the past, the present and the future of the Sechelt Nation. Our future depends on them. It is not the other way around.
“A few decades ago, even a few years ago, I would not have said that.”
A formal “Act of Recognition” passed by the previous council in October, while long overdue, “should have been a larger, more significant event in our community,” Milne added. “It should have been a community-wide event — if not a celebration, at least an evening of speeches and gifts and formal ceremonies.”
The Nov. 15 election, he said, showed there was also a need for reconciliation within the District itself and a need “to manage differences without anger, intimidation or dismissal.”
The vicious circle of secrecy and hostility will take some time to overcome, he said.
“Trust is a complex and fragile currency in any community. It has been tarnished and devalued in Sechelt.”
Milne said he was committed to leading a council that would be open and listen with care.
“There are no naysayers in my world and there will be no other name calling. You will be able to hold us accountable, and while we may squirm, we will not lash out. There will be no rants,” he said to extended applause.
Milne also drew heavy applause after he thanked defeated incumbent mayor John Henderson, defeated incumbent councillor Tom Lamb and outgoing councillors Doug Hockley and Chris Moore for serving on council. Neither Hockley nor Moore ran for second terms.
“I want to personally acknowledge and recognize that all members of council offered their best efforts to the task of governing our community and they deserve our thanks for doing so,” Milne said.
Earlier in his speech, Milne had described the election as “a minor revolution, a community uprising in a sense,” though it had been entirely peaceful.
“When the most threatening political act that a candidate fears,” he said, “is a letter to the editor or an avalanche of bumper stickers, rather than an avalanche of bullets, we can count our blessings for the peace, order and good government that is our heritage in Canada.”
Milne’s address followed a swearing-in ceremony for the new council conducted by provincial court Justice Steven Merrick.
