Songhees elder Mike Charlie proudly welcomed a diverse flotilla of modern boats to the Inner Harbour on Friday.
In the face of climate change that is rapidly changing the ocean and increasing tanker and ship traffic that endangers everything that lives within and around it, Charlie said First Nations are now part of actively protecting the waters they rely on for food — something they’ve done through the generations.
First Nations involved include Songhees, Esquimalt, Scia’new, T’Sou-ke, Malahat, Pacheedaht, Tsawout, Tsartlip, Tseycum and Pauquachin. Chatham Islands off Oak Bay, known traditionally as T’ches, or Tlchess, were never ceded in the Douglas Treaty and remain traditional Songhees land. The nation had traditional summer homes there.
Scia’new First Nation at Beecher Bay in East Sooke has developed a spill-response centre with multiple vessels and involving partnerships with Western Canada Marine Response Corporation and Kotug Canada ahead of the expanded Trans Mountain Pipeline.