January 30, 2024
(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) is deeply alarmed about recent posts circulating on social media showing a confrontational sign affixed to a shíshálh Nation (shíshálh) longhouse that includes untrue and misleading statements about the shíshálh swiya Dock Management Plan (DMP), and inflammatory and disrespectful comments about shíshálh and shíshálh people. The FNLC categorically denounces all of this abhorrent behaviour in the strongest terms and reaffirms its support for shíshálh and all shíshálh people as they undertake the important work of protecting and preserving shíshálh swiya in partnership with the Province.
Working together as governments, shíshálh and the Province jointly developed the DMP in 2015 with the objective of protecting and restoring the environment while allowing for thoughtful and focused dock development. Prior to development of the DMP the largely unchecked development of hundreds of docks within shíshálh swiya caused immense damage to cultural resources, fisheries, and the environment. The DMP was developed over a decade based on existing standards, advice from third party experts, and shíshálh knowledge keepers.
Sadly, this important and transformative work has been marred by the hateful actions of a select few. Throughout the public comment period on the DMP shíshálh Nation and shíshálh people have been the targets of death threats, threats of harm, racism, and other disturbing acts.