shíshálh Nation will now be more accurately represented in provincial legislation.
Following new legislative amendments that recognize the traditional and legal shíshálh names in existing provincial acts, said the April 26 provincial release.
Six acts and 14 regulations have been amended and will replace "Sechelt" with "shíshálh" and "Indian Band" with "Nation" to maintain consistency with federal legislation.
"We are pleased that provincial legislation is being updated to reflect our proper name," said lhe hiwus yalxwemult (Chief Lenora Joe) in the release. "The name 'Sechelt Indian Band' is one that was imposed on us through colonization and removing that name is just one of many important steps on the path of reconciliation. We would like to thank the Province for working with us to make this important change to recognize who we have always been."
Murray Rankin, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation said these updates to provincial legislation were required to ensure the name of shíshálh Nation is properly reflected and consistent between federal and provincial legislation.
“The Province was pleased to collaborate with shíshálh Nation to remove past colonial language from provincial acts and to reflect and respect traditional shíshálh Indigenous names. While there is still much work to do together to support communities in their work to restore their languages, this is one of the many important steps in reconciliation that we are taking together.”
In 2022 the amendments to the self-governing agreement between the shíshálh Nation and Canada brought several changes including allowing the Nation to amend its own constitution without federal approval and updating the legal name of the Sechelt Indian Band to shíshálh Nation following years of work.
The Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act was introduced in the B.C. legislative assembly on March 11 and received royal assent on April 25.
The amended acts are the shíshálh Nation Government District Enabling Act, the Cannabis Control and Licensing Act, the Environmental Management Act, the Land Owner Transparency Act, the shíshálh Nation Government District Home Owner Grant Act and the Speculation and Vacancy Tax Act.
The release states that Section 7 of the shíshálh Nation Government District Enabling Act has also been repealed, ensuring the continuation of the Act. The previously prescribed expiration of June 30, 2026, is no longer in effect.
"The shíshálh language is one of the original languages of this land," said Rankin in the release. He said that these changes, made in consultation with the shíshálh Nation, will ensure that legislation in B.C. reflects and respects shíshálh names.
“The Sunshine Coast Regional District welcomes the updates to provincial legislation that properly recognizes the shíshálh Nation name, said Leonard Lee, Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) chair. Lee said that the SCRD has been actively uptaking all documentation and references to the shíshálh Nation since the federal government amended the shíshálh Nation Self Government Act.
Jordan Copp is the Coast Reporter’s civic and Indigenous affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
