PLEASE SIGN NEW PETITION AND RALLY AT THE LEGISLATURE OCT. 6 TO PROTECT GRACE ISLET

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Published on Tuesday, 07 October 2014 12:40

Written by editor

You probably saw the on-line petition this summer calling on the CRD to expropriate Grace islet to preserve the First Nations cemetery at Grace Islet. The CRD decided not to expropriate, but to continue to advocate for action by the Province, and our focus for the last few months has been on Minister Thomson and Premier Clark. Despite public demonstrations, letter-writing, direct action and meetings with government, construction of the house on top of the burial cairns continues.

We hope you will help convince the BC government to act by signing another on-line petition, this time calling on the Province to acquire Grace Islet for the purpose of protecting the First Nations burial ground and allowing its remediation, stewardship and ceremonial use. It will be presented to the Legislature, possibly as soon as tomorrow. The more signatures the better, so PLEASE sign today and share the petition at http://you.leadnow.ca/p/SaveGrace so we can show broad support for expropriation of Grace Islet by the province.

Also, please join us for a Rally on the front lawn of the Provincial Legislature in Victoria’s Inner Harbour, starting at noon Monday, October 6, the first day of the fall sitting of the Legislative Assembly. Together with Chiefs, Indigenous Leaders, Elders and supporters we’ll send a strong, clear message to Government and British Columbians, calling for a respectful resolution to end the desecration of the First Nations burial ground on Grace Islet.

We need your help to get the word out! Please encourage friends and supporters to join in too and help us make a BIG statement to government that First Nations issues and basic respect for people’s final resting places are important, and that Grace Islet deserves protection.

Due to ceremonies for opening the Legislature, we will be on the lawn by the fountain, and signs will be very important to get our message across. Please feel free to make signs this weekend and bring them to the rally. Paint on cardboard or felt pen on poster board works well, and some suggested quotes are at the end of this message.

Salt Spring Islanders will need to catch the 9:50 ferry from Fulford. Car-pooling is being arranged so please reply to this e-mail if you need a ride or can offer one. The Victoria Transit Route 70 bus leaves Swartz Bay at 10:50 and gets downtown at 11:46, so that’s an option too. Please don’t let the travel costs get in the way of your participation; if you need some financial assistance, let us know and be assured of confidentiality.

We’re fed up with the provincial Liberal government’s disrespect and mis-handling of this issue. Specifically, why was a permit ever given to property title 'owner' Barry Slawsky to build on an ancient burial ground contrary to principles of respect for First Nations and concerns for heritage site preservation? Why was it renewed in 2013 after he bulldozed the centre of the Islet, with no archaeologist or First Nations present, contrary to the conditions of the permit? Why are the changes in his site plan and design considered “discrepancies' when in fact they are violations of the law?

We are determined to stand in support of the local Chiefs’ demands for an immediate Stop Work order, as promised to them weeks ago by Minister Thomson. We’re repeating the call for the Minister to reverse his decision allowing residential construction on a First Nations cemetery, and to designate Grace Islet a heritage site NOW. And we’re calling on Christy Clark to make good her sweet promises of a new partnership with First Nations.

Recently the Premier said “It’s no mystery to anybody we really do have a lot of work to do, together…. That (Tsilhqot’in)decision set out a fork in the road and as leaders we have a decision to make. We can decide to ignore it, encourage more litigation, put economic development and all of our futures in peril, or we can take it. We can take that fork in the road and begin a journey down a new road.” … It won’t be easy. I do believe we can change history….”

So here are some ideas for signs for the rally. We’ll see you there!!

Get to Work Christy – Protect Grace islet Now!
New Relationship? Start by respecting our cemeteries!
Begin the Journey by Protecting Grace Islet!
You want to talk resource extraction? Not while you build on our ancestors!
STOP work on Grace Islet First Nations Cemetery
Major Heritage Act Violations going unpunished on Grace Islet
Christy Clark allows burial cairns to be encased in Concrete
Grace Islet - Rest in peace - only for some?
New Relationship? More BS!
"A Chance to Shape History"? Stop disturbing our dead!
Respect Comes First! Stop Trampling Aboriginal Rights!
BC Gov’t breaches its duty to consult – again!

Discrepancies are Violations - Revoke the Permit, Minister Thomson"

STOP the Desecration - STOP Work on Grace Islet

BC is Permitting Cultural Genocide

Rest in Peace- Only for settler cemeteries?

Respect the Heritage Conservation Act

Respect First Nations Cultural Beliefs

**Please Note: Chris Arnett will present a program on “The History and Archeology of Shiya'hwt (Ganges) and Grace Islet” Wednesday October 8 at 2 PM at Central Hall on Salt Spring. Chris will give an overview of 3,000 years of human presence at Ganges, and present archaeological and historical information to show the dynamics of historical processes up to and including the relatively recent (post-1859) non-native colonization. Chris is a PhD Candidate in the Department of Anthropology at UBC, is a knowledgeable student of many West Coast native traditions and has studied the First Nations History in this coastal region for many years.

With continued respect, resolve and appreciation to you all from Joe Akerman, Donna Martin, Phil Vernon, Briony Penn, Andrea Palframan, Sandra Leckie & Jean Wilkinson for Protect Grace Islet, Salt Spring Residents for Responsible Land Use & Salt Spring Islanders for Justice and Reconciliation