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Hereditary chiefs call for closure of park on Vancouver Island over ancestral graves
The chiefs say the park and nearby road sit on an ancestral burial ground and want governments to consult hereditary leadership before future development.
- On Saturday, Tseycum Nation Hereditary Chief Vern Jacks and Tsawout Hereditary Chief Eric Pelkey led a gathering at Patricia Bay Park with roughly 40 people demanding the park's closure to protect ancestral burial sites.
- The Province acknowledged that West Saanich Road was constructed through an ancient burial ground; in 2012, it signed the West Saanich Road Reconciliation Agreement with First Nations to address ongoing pain and commit resources to reinterment.
- Pointing to the nearby Holy Trinity Church cemetery, Jacks contrasted the treatment of those graves with First Nations burial places, stating: "This grave here, First Nations, its not respected."
- Political candidates invited to the gathering did not attend; NDP leader David Eby, asked about the protest Saturday, stated he was unaware of the specific issue but supports working in partnership with First Nations.
- After the election, Pelkey and Jacks plan to meet with newly elected officials to discuss the park's permanent closure and establish better consultation protocols for future development on traditional lands.
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13 Articles
13 Articles
Coverage Details
Total News Sources13
Leaning Left12Leaning Right0Center1Last UpdatedBias Distribution92% Left
Bias Distribution
- 92% of the sources lean Left
92% Left
L 92%
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