Revitalization of Indigenous laws in Katzie First Nation a priority for the Government of Canada

Department of Justice Canada

August 10, 2021 – Katzie First Nation,  British Columbia – Department of Justice Canada

The Government of Canada is committed to walking the shared path of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, and remains focused on renewing this relationship. This includes protecting Indigenous peoples’ right to self-determination, supporting the revitalization of Indigenous legal systems and traditions, as well as acknowledging the integral role that Indigenous communities and organizations play in the development, use and understanding of Indigenous laws.

Today, the Honourable David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, and Ron McKinnon, Member of Parliament for Coquitlam–Port Coquitlam, joined by Councillor David Kenworthy of the Katzie First Nation to highlighted the Government of Canada’s support of their project that aims to revitalize Indigenous laws within their community. Support for this initiative also aligns with the Government of Canada’s response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) Call to Action 50.

The community’s “Katzie Customary Law: Inward Gathering and Outward Sharing” project will include interviews and workshops with Katzie Elders and knowledge holders to gain greater insight into traditional Indigenous laws, practices and processes. These customary laws will be shared throughout the Katzie community, including through youth and young adult culture and language camps. The camps will provide a meaningful cultural context as the participants reflect on how these customary laws might be adapted for the future. These discussions will inform the development of a customary law charter document and, eventually, an economic development plan that is in keeping with their traditional laws.

Call to Action 50 calls upon the federal government to collaborate with Indigenous organizations to fund Indigenous law institutes for the development, use and understanding of Indigenous laws and access to justice in accordance with the unique cultures of Indigenous peoples in Canada. Supporting Call to Action 50 also aligns with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which became law in June, which sets out the right of Indigenous peoples to maintain and strengthen their distinct legal institutions.

The Department of Justice is providing funding for $500,000 over three years through its Justice Partnership and Innovation Program. This program supports activities that respond effectively to the changing conditions affecting Canadian justice policy.

Quotes

“Every Law of our Ancestors had strong intentions. This project will provide an opportunity to consider how Katzie Law can guide our decisions. We have to start being more aware of our intentions before deciding what we do or allow to happen in our territory.”

David Kenworthy, Councillor
Katzie First Nation

“Our Government will walk the shared path of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, and remain focused on seeing CTA 50 implemented. I am pleased to support the Katzie First Nation project, which will help community members of all ages gain greater insight into traditional Indigenous laws, practices and processes. The efforts highlighted today help to advance reconciliation efforts with Indigenous communities and organizations as they work to revitalize their legal traditions.”

The Honourable David Lametti, P.C., Q.C., M.P.
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

“The revitalization of Indigenous cultures, langagues and traditions, including legal tradtiions, is at the core of reconciliation.The work of the Katzie First Nation to revitalize legal and governance traditions within their community is truly impressive and the funding highlighted today will allow the Katzie First Nation to develop a new charter that incorporates traditional cultural knowledge and legal traditions. This is a critical element in recognizing Indigenous peoples’ inherent rights and promoting greater access to the justice system.”

Ron McKinnon
Member of Parliament for Coquitlam–Port Coquitlam, British Columbia

Quick facts

     

      • In Budget 2019, the Government of Canada responded to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action 50 by announcing $10 million over five years in support of Indigenous law initiatives across Canada.

      • To strengthen community-based justice systems and support self-determination, the 2020 Fall Economic Statement also proposed investments to support the development of Administration of Justice Agreements with Indigenous communities.

      • Through the release of Budget 2021, the Government of Canada announced investments of $18 million over 5 years, and $4 million ongoing to revive the Law Commission of Canada to support, among other things, the work to address systemic barriers in the justice system, including barriers to justice faced by Indigenous peoples.

      • The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act received Royal Assent and came into force in Canada on June 21, 2021. Developed with Indigenous peoples, this Act creates a legislative framework to implement the Declaration in Canada. It requires the Government of Canada, in consultation and collaboration with Indigenous peoples, to take all measures necessary to align federal laws with the Declaration, develop an action plan to achieve the Declaration’s objectives and report annually to Parliament on the progress to align laws and the action plan.

    Katzie First Nation Part of History Channel Documentary

    Taylor Starr and Don Froese on location
    for Deadman’s Curse.
    Image courtesy of Corus

    A new documentary television series, Deadman’s Curse, is set to premiere on The HISTORY Channel in Canada on Sunday, September 11 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. The series is focused on the mystery surrounding a Katzie man named Slumach, who was hanged in New Westminster in 1891. His death sparked a 130-year search for a gold mine that he had reportedly found.

    Throughout the series, four fearless explorers band together to solve the legend of Slumach’s lost gold mine and unpack the truth and the myth surrounding his incredible story.

    Prospector Kru Williams, mountaineer Adam Palmer, Indigenous explorer Taylor Starr and her father Don Froese make up this dynamic group.

    Taylor and her father, Don, have an intimate knowledge of the land and a personal connection to the story. Taylor grew up, and currently lives, in Seabird Island First Nation. Her late grandfather is Allen Peters Sr. from Seabird Island, and her late grandmother is Betty Peters from Katzie First Nation.

    Taylor is closely related to the Adams family, and she is a distant relative of Slumach, as told to her by her Katzie relatives.

    Deadman’s Curse is a HISTORY Channel Original, produced by Great Pacific Media, a BC-based production company located in Vancouver.

    The cast and crew of Deadman’s Curse, Great Pacific Media and The HISTORY Channel are incredibly thankful for the opportunity to have filmed within Katzie traditional territory and for the support of the Katzie community. Alongside our four main cast members, Cyrill and Rain Pierre, members of the Katzie Community and direct relatives of Slumach, participated in the filming, shared their family history, and walked alongside us on this journey.

    Find the Deadman’s Curse trailer here.

    Katzie First Nation Announces New Treatment Centre in Maple Ridge

    By: Colleen Flanagan. Originally published by Maple Ridge News on February 4, 2022.

    Katzie First Nation has announced plans to build a new treatment centre in Maple Ridge.

    The new centre is to be located in a secluded, forested area, along the Alouette River, neighbouring the Alouette Correctional Centre for Women. The location which is off reserve, is called Camp Lakewood.

    It will offer holistic land base healing and cultural ceremonies. There will be a six-week inpatient residential program with 10 beds for men and 10 beds for women. There will be a 24/7 onsite primary care medical support, 24/7 access to qualified front line staff and an integrated case management team, and 24/7 Elder-in-residence.

    Click here to read the full article.

    Test event

    January 15, 2022 @ 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

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    Details

    • Date: January 15, 2022
    • Time:
      8:00 am – 5:00 pm
    • Event Category:

    Katzie first Nation Band Office

    1900 Salish Road
    Pitt Meadows, BC V3Y 2G6 Canada     + Google Map
    17788837197

    Boaters rescued; debris down Fraser causes concern along shore

    Maple Ridge restaurant was ready to sandbag as staff watched water levels rise

    By Colleen Flanagan / Originally published in Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News | November 21, 2021

    A steady stream of debris, sailed down the Fraser River on Monday and Tuesday, causing concern for local business owners along the the banks.

    Brendan McHugh, assistant manager of Kingfishers Waterfront Bar and Grill, said they were pretty close to sandbagging the restaurant on Monday, as they watched water levels on the Fraser rise.

    McHugh estimated that the water level was about two metres higher than it normally is at this time of year. And, he noted, there was a lot of debris.

    “It’s the dirtiest I’ve probably seen the Fraser in a long time with all the debris coming down,” said McHugh, including, he said, some massive trees and big logs.

    Matt Hyde and Pat Peplow, who work at Haney Marine Sales and Service Ltd. at the south end of McKay Avenue, had to rescue two people on a jet boat after they ran into trouble on Tuesday.

    The boaters launched their craft just before noon and ended up calling the shop a little more than an hour later for help after their boat died and they were unable to restart it, explained the men.

    They threw out an anchor on the south side of the river, said Hyde.

    However, Hyde and Peplow said the problem was that there was a steady stream of logs rushing down the river. Finally, Peplow said, a giant log came along, piled up against their anchor line and broke it.

    The pair started floating west and their vessel was starting to float towards the pilings along the river as Hyde and Peplow were hooking up their own boat and grabbing their rescue ropes to help them.

    Hyde said it took him and Peplow about an hour to get to the boat, hook a line on them, and help them back to shore.

    “We just didn’t want to get tangled up in the stuff so we kind of hung out as close as we could to the debris so we could give them a line so we didn’t get trapped in there as well,” remarked Peplow.

    The pair also witnessed a houseboat barrelling down the river with a small boat racing after it. It ended up beached on a silt pad along the shore just west of Mackay.

    “The amount of stuff coming down Tuesday I’d never seen that much stuff coming down in a steady stream,” said Peplow.

    Hyde noted he had only ever seen the river that high during freshet season in late August with the summer melt and runoff, but on Monday and Tuesday, it was almost the highest he has ever seen it in the more than seven years he has worked at the marine business.

    And, he added the water was moving fast.

    “The river was just flying down,” said Hyde. “It had to have been six miles an hour plus at least.”

    Chief Grace George said Katzie First Nation enacted their Emergency Operation Centre to work with public works and maintenance staff to monitor the communities in Pitt Meadows, Langley, and Barnston Island, as waters rose along the Fraser.

    They have also been in contact with Katzie community members stuck in Hope because of road conditions, and those in other parts of the province that have been severely impacted.

    “We are assisting in any way we can. It’s an unpredictable and stressful time for many. We are doing our best to lend support and comfort where we can. We send our continued prayers to all who have been impacted by these catastrophic events,” said Chief George.

    Katzie First Nation hold first community event since 2020

    The first community gathering Katzie First Nation has had since spring of 2020 was a somber affair, but an undercurrent of hope pervaded.

    More than a hundred attendees, many sporting orange shirts, got together at the Katzie Reserve on the Fraser River beside Pitt Meadows on June 10 to commemorate the 215 children recently discovered buried at the former residential school in Kamloops.

    Chief Grace George acknowledged the last few weeks have been an incredibly challenging time.

    “Not only for us as your leadership council, but for each and every one of you,” she said.

    “I’ve had an opportunity to connect with many of you, and our council felt it in our hearts to come together today as a community. We know and understand that our strength comes to us in this way.

    “Coming together, sharing this time – and our prayer for tonight is that we’re able to have some healing together as a community.”

    The legacy of residential schools has impacted the community in many ways.

    The grief and emotion comes out in the mournful singing and drumming those gathered heard throughout the nightlong ceremonies.

    “Along with the legacy, we know we have survived,” George said. “We have survived through sharing time – time with our elders, and time with our families.

    “Sharing our greatest gift – which brings us strength – which is our culture.”

    As part of the memorial, small cut-outs of T-shirts and hearts, with stakes attached were handed out to attendees so they could plant them in the garden in front of the band’s community centre.

    Children of various ages, who a generation or two ago would have been sent to residential school, took part.

    The River Spirit Canoe Club’s drumming group visited from Chilliwack. Its members sung and played their instruments reverentially while the t-shirts and hearts were placed in the ground.

    Dinner and a blanketing ceremony followed.

    The Katzie First Nation honoured eight people who have acted as community messengers.

    Mike Otto, who organized the truck convoy to Kamloops was blanketed. As were Katzie First Nation’s Kayleigh Leon and Dave Derose, who drove in the convoy.

    Tracy Elke and Nicole MacDonald were blanketed for being steadfast supporters of the band. Maple Ridge councillor Ahmed Yousef and Myrna Norman, who organized a commemorative gathering for the 215 children found in Kamloops were also honoured. As was Celina Woycheshen who started an orange shirt decal project in Pitt Meadows.

    “They have been very busy since the news broke,” George said. “Helping to spread the message about awareness, and helping to spread the message about supporting us.”