From art work to health care, there will be a significant First Nations presence in the new mental health and addictions treatment centre in what was the B次元官网网址� which will be renamed RavenB次元官网网址檚 View once it reopens later this year.
Ontario-based Homewood Health announced this week that the sale of the property had been completed with the University of Victoria. At the same time as the company was finalizing the deal for the facilityB次元官网网址檚 28 acres B次元官网网址� the buildings and land immediately surrounding them B次元官网网址� the Pauquachin First Nation acquired from UVic the remaining 72 acres.
Chief Rebecca David told the B次元官网网址 Review that while the negtiations were, at times, difficult, the outcome for her community was positive overall.
The Pauquachin, with the support of the WSANEC Nation (which includes the neighbouring Tsartlip, Tseycum and Tsawout communities) purchased the 72 acres as fee simple land in a deal that was finalized with the University December 29. The land will not be added to their federal reserve land. In making that deal last year, the Pauquachin addressed peopleB次元官网网址檚 concerns over potential development by signing covenants with the District of North Saanich.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e never going to develop it,B次元官网网址� Chief David said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 worth more to us that what we did (pay for it).B次元官网网址�
She said the land will protected as a spiritual and sacred green space and be used for their traditional practices. David added they have created a new society, charged with care-taking the property, as well as collecting data, historical documents and local history.
B次元官网网址淚t will all be used to educate people about the Pauquachin and area First Nations,B次元官网网址� she continued.
North Saanich Mayor Alice Finall said she is pleased that the sale of the property has been completed, adding she looks forward to working with the Pauquachin on a variety of issues surrounding the land. Finall noted that the two covenants in place already, assure the District that there will be no development on the 72 acres owned by the First Nation.
In working with Homewood Health, David said the Pauquachin have entered into a collaboration with the company. What that will bring to her community, David said, is the fast tracking of mental health, addictions and suicide assessments.
B次元官网网址淭his was a major point,B次元官网网址� she explained. B次元官网网址淥ur people have been waiting 18 to 24 months for assessments and these issues need to be addressed sooner.B次元官网网址�
The facility has not only agreed to recognize their 28 acres as originally First Nations territory, but will also integrate holistic healing into its care services. As well, there will be employment opportunities offered to people from the Pauquachin at all levels of the new treatment facility.
B次元官网网址淭he Pauquachin were integral to this,B次元官网网址� said Robert DeClark, the General Manager of the new, private facility. B次元官网网址淗onestly, this land wouldnB次元官网网址檛 have happened without them.B次元官网网址�
DeClark said demolition and complete renovation of the interior of the old Dunsmuir Lodge buildings has already begun. Room will be created for up to 99 patients but he said when the facility opens (expected in the fall in 2018) there will be 55 to 60 full-time equivalent employees serving between 80 and 85 patients to begin with. At full capacity, DeClark said they will employ up to 97 people.
Being added to the residential treatment facility are new medical offices, treatment rooms, a patient lounge, industrial kitchen and dining room. The existing footprint of the buildings on site will not change.
ItB次元官网网址檚 a complete circle in the history of the facility. The lodge was originally built in 1974 as an addictions treatment facility before it was donated to UVic in 1985 and was operated as a conference centre until it closed in 2009.
B次元官网网址淒emand for these services is, unfortunately, quite high in B.C. and across Canada,B次元官网网址� DeClark said, adding theyB次元官网网址檝e already had many inquiries from potential patients but have not been able to start intake.
David noted that the facility will be renamed RavenB次元官网网址檚 View, in recognition of First Nations culture in the region.
Trail access will change
With the 72 acres of land now owned by the Pauquachin, access to a series of trails will change. Homewood Health and North Saanich have agreed to build a wide, linear trail connecting McTavish Road with the nearby John Dean Provincial Park.
When the sale of the property was being debated in 2016, residents who use a series of long standing trails , after the First Nation announced it would look to restrict access to sensitive areas of their spiritually-significant land on Mount Newton (LEUB次元官网网址橶ELB次元官网网址橬EW Mountain). As a result, most trails on the First NationB次元官网网址檚 property will be closed.
Access to the area, said Chief Rebecca David, will not be lost B次元官网网址� only controlled by her community.
B次元官网网址淲e just want to be respected, we donB次元官网网址檛 want to have trespassers,B次元官网网址� she noted, adding that the land has been private property for years, even when it was owned by UVic.
David said they are closing off some land to the public due to its spiritual significance but said if people, including School District 63 (Saanich), come to them, create a relationship and allow them to lead educational tours, access would still be granted.
B次元官网网址淲e can give them a much better experience,B次元官网网址� she said.
