The Sechelt Indian Government District renewed its self-government agreement with the provincial government Jan. 20, which would have reached its 20-year expiry date this year.
Chief Stan Dixon and Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Tom Christensen co-signed Bill 4 - the Sechelt Indian Government District Enabling Act from 1987 - in the Band's boardroom in front of local politicians, elders, Band council and staff and other invited guests. "I want to thank the Sechelt First Nation for the leadership they have shown in this province," Christensen said. The Sechelt Nation was the first in Canada to achieve self-government. "When you're first, you're first, and you can't take that away," Dixon said.
Bill 4, a distinct accompaniment to the federal government's Bill C-93 agreement, established an advisory council for non-aboriginal leaseholders living on Band lands. Self-government transferred land and government jurisdiction to the district council, and the advisory council gives leaseholders representation to council. Following the signing Friday morning, a celebration lunch was held at the community hall.
"We're here today to acknowledge and celebrate the extension of Sechelt self-government for the next 20 years," Christensen said. "I'm here on behalf of the province to ensure the continued success of the Sechelt First Nation."
Chief B.C. Treaty Com-missioner Steven Point from the Sto:lo First Nation also spoke.
"The canoe is a symbol of travel and what a distance you've come as a nation, what a distance you've travelled," Point said. "You've proven what the naysayers said you could not do, you've achieved self-government. Our aboriginal title to the land cannot be relinquished but it must be recognized. The premier of our province now recognizes our title to the land. You are truly leading the way for other nations to follow. This is a sacred day for you; you truly have something to celebrate. Self-government must continue as your nation must continue."
Following the lunch, Dixon and the Band council met with Christensen to discuss economic development, including expanding the gravel pit operations and moving the Dusty Road sewer treatment plant.
In an interview, Dixon said revenue from leaseholders pays for infrastructure services such as water, street lights, utilities and road paving, as well as building projects like the community hall or the future recreation centre. He acknowledged social problems among Band members - poverty and substance abuse - cannot be solved just with self-government.
"Social problems are personal problems." He said he tells Band members, "If we stop taking dope and stop drinking, we could be the most successful Band in B.C."
A mandate of council is to enhance education so Band members can cope with the educational requirements of getting employment, he said. He would like to see Band members own and run businesses on Nand lands, but if no one steps forward with the education and finances to run it, the Band takes it over.
