As news spread of the District of North SaanichB次元官网网址檚 payment of more than $600,000 to fix drainage issues on the Sandown property, a former chief of a nearby First Nation has concerns of his own.

Vern Jacks, former elected Chief of the Tseycum First Nation, says he feels his community was never properly consulted on the DistrictB次元官网网址檚 plans for Sandown B次元官网网址� which include turning 12 acres of the former horse racing track into commercial space and another 83 acres into agricultural land owned by North Saanich itself.

B次元官网网址淚 feel the mayor has been ignoring these things,B次元官网网址� Jacks said in an interview.

He said he has tried to speak with council at its public meetings, but the scant amount of time allocated to speakers is not sufficient to B次元官网网址渢each council about native history here.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭here hasnB次元官网网址檛 been adequate consultation and accommodation of the Tseycum,B次元官网网址� Jacks said. B次元官网网址淚 know that weB次元官网网址檙e not going to be getting the land back but no one B次元官网网址� not the town and not the developer B次元官网网址� have moved to accommodate the Tseycum.B次元官网网址�

Jacks said he recalls using the land as a child, traveling with his family to fetch water from the creek that was fed by a pair of ponds or lakes where the Sandown property is today.

That area, like all of the Saanich Peninsula, was used by local First Nations throughout history. ItB次元官网网址檚 that history, Jacks said, that seems to have been forgotten B次元官网网址� or ignored by North Saanich.

District of North Saanich Mayor Alice Finall says the municipality has an obligation to inform its neighbours about significant projects like Sandown. She said since the property came up for discussion in 2010, North Saanich has communicated with the Town of Sidney and the Tseycum and Pauquachin First Nations.

B次元官网网址淣otices started going out and went to our neighbouring First Nations in around 2011,B次元官网网址� she said, noting that the District did not receive any feedback from them at that time B次元官网网址� and discussions over the use of the Sandown property have been going on ever since.

The District contracted CR FAIR to run a series of public meetings, seeking community input on what the District should do with the 83 acres of agricultural land they negotiated from the owners, the Randall family. Finall added North Saanich has also held B次元官网网址渃ommunity to communityB次元官网网址� meetings with the council and administration of the Tseycum First Nation in recent months and had there been any concerns, they would have come up then.

Jacks said his community needs to know whatB次元官网网址檚 going to happen on the Sandown land and he plans to keep on going to council and asking questions about whats to come.

B次元官网网址淚t is going to affect us,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e need to know.B次元官网网址�

The B次元官网网址 Review has reached out to the current Chief of the Tseycum First Nation for comment.