Tla’amin Set to Reacquire 120 Acres of Former Village Site at tiskwat
Nation Enters 60-Day Engagement and Review Period
December 27, 2024
Following nearly two years of due diligence and negotiations, Tla’amin Nation is set to reacquire close to half of the former mill site at tiskwat.
The reacquisition will come 146 years after the lands were alienated from the Nation through the illegal sale of Lot 450 in 1878 and one year after the federal government accepted Tla’amin’s specific claim for Lot 450 for negotiation.
Today, Tla’amin Nation and Domtar initialed an Asset Purchase Agreement (APA). The agreement is subject to approval by Tla’amin Executive Council within 60 days.
Under the terms of the APA, Domtar (formerly Paper Excellence) will return the lands to Tla’amin for the Nation’s use. Tla’amin will assume responsibility for carrying costs such as maintenance, taxes and insurance upon taking ownership.
“This agreement is a step in the right direction for us to regain our rightful place at tiskwat,” said Hegus John Hackett. “We will continue to work with Domtar and Brookfield to protect Tla’amin archaeological and stewardship interests across the entire site.”
Sixteen parcels comprise the 120 acres of Tla’amin reacquisition lands. The reacquired lands primarily front the river and ocean and are among the least industrialized areas at tiskwat. Notably, Tla’amin assumes responsibility for most of the riverfront lands. However, the reacquisition does not include the dam, which is encumbered by a bare land trust between Domtar and Brookfield Power.
“We raise our hands in deep respect for the Tla’amin elected council and their staff for their collaboration in our ongoing work together,” says Lana Wilhelm, Director of Indigenous Relations, Domtar. “The entire Domtar team is deeply committed to working with the Tla’amin Nation to do the right thing. We continue to work on solutions for the entirety of the site.”
To build a negotiations mandate, Tla’amin Nation engaged its citizens through a series of six public engagement sessions and a survey conducted between October 2023 and May 2024.
An overwhelming 94% of Tla’amin citizens who participated in the engagement process supported the reacquisition of tiskwat, with support among youth even higher at 97%. At the same time, 98% of Citizens were concerned about the environmental legacy at tiskwat following a century of industrial activity. These concerns and risks are addressed in the agreement being presented to the community.
The reacquisition of tiskwat not only represents a historic step toward rectifying past injustices but also serves as a cornerstone of Tla’amin’s vision for economic prosperity.
Reacquisition lands will support Tla’amin Management Services LP’s (TMSLP) current business interests while creating opportunities for future development aligned with Tla’amin goals for employment, revenue generation, and sustainability. This reacquisition positions TMSLP to pursue initiatives that will bring long-term benefits to Tla’amin citizens and contribute to the economic vitality of the qathet region.
The APA and accompanying business plan will be reviewed for recommendation by the Tla’amin Finance Committee and Tla’amin Economic Development Committee before being approved by Tla’amin Executive Council.
The initialing of the APA marks the beginning of a second round of Tla’amin citizen engagement. Three sessions are scheduled for the new year as follows:
- Elders Luncheon (over 60)
January 8th, 11:30 AM–2:00 PM, Council Chambers, Government House - Youth Dinner (under 30)
January 9th, 5:00–7:00 PM, Council Chambers, Government House - General Community Session (with Zoom option)
January 14th, 5:30–8:00 PM, Salish Centre
Tla’amin citizens are encouraged to send questions in advance to media@tn-bc.ca.
Citizens can visit https://tlaaminnation.com/tiskwat to register for the zoom session.
MEDIA: Media@tn-bc.ca
Quotes
“Congratulations to Tla’amin Nation for the ongoing collaborative work with Domtar on tiskʷat, a site of historical and contemporary social, cultural and economic significance for the Tla’amin people. I look forward to our governments’ continued treaty partnership through our memorandum of understanding – yiχmɛtštəm tiskʷat (which translates to “we are going to take care of tiskwat”)” Christine Boyle, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation
“We are committed to working together to right past wrongs and creating environmental and economic benefits for the Tla’amin Nation, the surrounding community and the whole province. This is an important milestone in the process of working toward economic and social reconciliation, while bringing long-term benefits to Tla’amin citizens and contributing to the economic vitality of the region.” Randene Neill, MLA for Powell River-Sunshine Coast.
“We are pleased that Tla’amin Nation and Domtar have initiated an asset purchase agreement for the former mill site at tiskwat. This provides a first step towards repurposing the site for the benefit of Tla’amin Nation and the region.” Mayor Ron Woznow, City of Powell River