Truth and Reconciliation

Completed

District of Port Edward Completes Truth and Reconciliation Project for 2024/2025
The District of Port Edward is proud to announce the successful completion of its Truth and Reconciliation Project for the 2024/2025 period. This work marks a meaningful step in the District’s commitment to fostering respectful, ongoing relationships with the Tsimshian Nations and other First Nations communities in the region.

Over the past year, the District collaborated with Indigenous advisors and local leadership to design and implement a comprehensive Truth and Reconciliation Plan. Guided by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action—particularly Actions 43, 47, 57, 75, and 77—the initiative prioritized relationship-building, education, cultural awareness, and respectful governance practices.

Final Deliverables
To support this work and lay the foundation for long-term reconciliation, the following core deliverables were developed and are now complete:

1. Interest Holder and Community Outreach Strategy
   A culturally informed strategy outlining respectful engagement methods, communication protocols, and relationship-building approaches with First Nations and community members.
2. Consultation Process Framework
   A phased, structured framework to guide the District’s future consultations with First Nations. It emphasizes transparency, cultural protocol, and capacity supports.
3. First Nations Identification Document
   A comprehensive guide detailing the history, governance structures, and key priorities of First Nations in the Port Edward and Prince Rupert area, supporting informed and respectful engagement.
4. Signed Letters to First Nations
   Formal communications initiating the Truth and Reconciliation process and inviting partnership and dialogue with identified Nations.
5. Land Acknowledgement Memo
   Recommendations for enhancing the District’s land acknowledgments across official documents and communications, emphasizing accuracy, respect, and a commitment to reconciliation.
6. Cultural Sensitivity Training Slide Deck
   Materials from the November 2024 full-day training session provided to District staff and Council, covering topics such as Ts’msyen governance, language, cultural protocols, and the impacts of colonization

Key Milestones and Achievements

• Updated Land Acknowledgment Practices - District agendas, documents, and email signatures now reflect language that honors the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Tsimshian Peoples, including recognition of their ongoing stewardship and cultural contributions.
• Staff and Leadership Training - A Cultural Sensitivity Workshop was hosted in November 2024, with participation from Elders and knowledge holders. The session deepened the District’s understanding of local Indigenous history, Sm’algya̱x language, and protocols for respectful engagement.
• Long-Term Planning Tools - All deliverables are designed not only as records of this phase of the project but as working tools to guide future engagement and decision-making.

Looking Ahead
The completion of this project is not an endpoint but a beginning. The District of Port Edward remains committed to walking the path of reconciliation—centering Indigenous voices, upholding cultural respect, and supporting shared governance.

We express our sincere gratitude to the participating Nations, Elders, consultants, and community members who shared their knowledge, time, and guidance throughout this process.

Together, we move forward.