A cultural oversight by the Island M茅tis Family & Community Services Society (IMFCSS) left a sour taste for the South Island Wellness Society (SIWS), a group comprised of the Chiefs of the nine Southern Vancouver Island First Nations, for 20 years before it was fully noticed.
The IMFCSS launched in 1996 to service M茅tis children and families in the area. While they had all proper municipal regulations and approvals in place, no one from the Society had ever reached out to any of the surrounding First Nations for permission to work there, something that was seen as very disrespectful. This resulted in a complete lack of communication between the two societies until 2016.
ALSO READ:
B次元官网网址淚 just didnB次元官网网址檛 understand why people donB次元官网网址檛 talk,B次元官网网址� said Colleen Spier, who became executive director of IMFCSS in 2016. B次元官网网址淲ho knew it was from a past disrespect.B次元官网网址�
Spier said the IMFCSS operates on the border of four different First Nations, but works with families and children of all nine.
B次元官网网址淧eople donB次元官网网址檛 understand that protocol is different and unique to each Nation,B次元官网网址� Spier explained. B次元官网网址淵ou have to be somewhat humble and say you donB次元官网网址檛 know. As long as youB次元官网网址檙e open-minded and willing to learn most Nations are willing to help.B次元官网网址�
ALSO READ:
The IMFCSS asked how they could remedy the situation and develop a strong working relationship since there is often a lot of crossover between clients.
In 2016, a formal apology ceremony took place at the Esquimalt Longhouse, and Chiefs from the Nations asked that a Protocol Agreement be put together between both groups to ensure a respectful working relationship that appreciates the many different cultures intertwined between the two societies.
ALSO READ:
This fall, the Protocol Agreement was presented two-years to the date of the apology during a bi-cultural ceremony at the Esquimalt Longhouse.
B次元官网网址淚 think that was a good move on their part to come forward and gift the people from this area a blanket, itB次元官网网址檚 really changed the relationshipsB次元官网网址� said Lila Underwood, executive director of the South Island Wellness Society. B次元官网网址淲e talk to each other more, itB次元官网网址檚 really positive.B次元官网网址�
Spier said the actions taken between both groups proved how effective seeking reconciliation can be.
B次元官网网址淭he step towards this reconciliation began with a question: B次元官网网址榟ow do we correct these past wrongs?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Spier said. B次元官网网址淚 ask that everyone uses what we have done as a demonstration of how easy it could be. Already it has had a lot of benefits; there are more ceremonies as of late acknowledging hard work people do in each otherB次元官网网址檚 areas.B次元官网网址�
Send a Tweet:
Like us on
