The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) has unanimously asked for the resignation of Sechelt Mayor John Henderson.
"By Resolution 2024-61, the UBCIC Chiefs-in-Assembly join shíshálh Nation in calling for the Mayor of the District of Sechelt, John Henderson, to immediately resign, and to apologize to survivors, intergenerational survivors, families, and impacted communities," read a letter from UBCIC to Sechelt, accepted as correspondence at the district's regular meeting of council, Oct. 16.
The letter follows dual statements from shíshálh Nation Council in mid-September, one thanking Sechelt council for standing with the Nation and survivors of residential schools, the second denouncing the Sechelt mayor for not rejecting residential school denialism and calling for him to “step aside.”
The UBCIC resolution, passed on Sept. 26, also said the organization will be calling on the government of B.C. to bring the Community Charter and Local Government Act into alignment with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, including a code of conduct upholding the UN declaration.
Henderson says he won't resign
During discussion of the UBCIC letter near the end of the Oct. 16 Sechelt meeting, Coun. Dianne McLauchlan read part of the correspondence out loud and then reminded Henderson that when the idea of him resigning was first raised in September, his response was that he would not.
“So, I want to know if you still feel that way with this additional letter?” McLauchlan asked the mayor.
Henderson said there are a number of “parts” to the letter, which cause him concern.
“I've never denied the existence of residential schools, not their existence, not the fact that they caused pain and suffering to people and not the existence of graves,” Henderson said. “I think there's a lot of things that have been put in these various correspondences that we've received, that I wish we had been able to have dialogue with the various agencies.”
Henderson added, he’s previously met with Elders and people who attended residential schools.
“I’ve heard their stories and I accept their truth. I accept them, but, as I said in previous meetings, I prefer dialogue to dictates and to me, making any sort of demands on people, that's the wrong approach,” said Henderson, who added he remains committed to meeting with members of the UBCIC and shíshálh Nation. “And, I hope that if everybody will be willing to sit down, we'll learn from each other and that, frankly, is the only way to true, lasting and healthy relationships. That's my comment.”
Context
Back in August, Sechelt was among five municipalities singled out in a letter from UBCIC informing B.C. municipalities of a unanimously passed resolution calling on all levels of government and the public to reject residential school denialism, to uphold the findings and reports of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), to implement the TRC’s 94 calls to action, to advance policies acknowledging and taking responsibility for the “history and harmful legacy of residential schools” and to support healing for survivors.
Sechelt council passed the resolution without the support of the mayor, with the mayor saying he wanted to engage in dialogue. At the same meeting, it was revealed that Henderson had a copy of Grave Error in municipal hall and was discussing it with senior staffers.
shíshálh Nation's call for Henderson's resignation came following that meeting. Their letter also asked the mayor to direct all future communications with the Nation through his councillor colleagues.
In its latest resolution, UBCIC said, "John Henderson, Mayor of the District of Sechelt, has publicly admitted that he brought the book Grave Error – How the Media Misled Us (Grave Error) into the municipal hall, and that he has discussed that material with senior staffers, among others. Grave Error, among other things, indicates that genocide did not occur at Residential Schools and essentially questions their very existence and well-documented harms against Indigenous peoples."
Reaching out
At the Oct. 16, meeting Coun. Alton Toth reminded Henderson he had previously said he was going to try and meet with UBCIC president, Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, or other members of the UBCIC executive to discuss the issue.
“I'm just wondering if you've had any success with that, thank you,” Toth asked.
Henderson explained he had not reached out to any members of shíshálh Nation or the UBCIC.
“No, I took the resolution of council from September 25 directing that I not have contact with shíshálh as something that you would not have supported me doing or with the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, so I have not reached out to them. I would be very willing to do so. But the answer to your question is I have not at this time.”
With files from Bronwyn Beairsto.
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