Letter Minister Fraser

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Bowen  Denman  Hornby  Gabriola Galiano  Gambier  Lasqueti  Mayne  North Pender  Salt Spring  Saturna  South Pender  Thetis 
 
 
200 - 1627 Fort Street, Victoria BC  V8R 1H8 
Telephone  (250) 405-5151    Fax  (250) 405-5155 
Toll Free via Enquiry BC in Vancouver 604.660.2421.  
Elsewhere in BC 1.800.663.7867 
 
Email:  information@islandstrust.bc.ca 
 
Web:  www.islandstrust.bc.ca 
 
December 23, 2019  File No.: 400-30 MIRR  
 
Honourable Scott Fraser 
Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation 
Box 9151 Stn Prov Govt 
Victoria, B.C. V8W 9E2  
 
Via email:  IRR.Minister@gov.bc.ca 
 
Dear Minister Fraser: 
 
Re:  Meeting with Islands Trust 
 
Chet kwen mantumi (We thank you) and your staff for taking the time both at UBCM and in METULIYE (Victoria) 
to meet to discuss reconciliation and the Islands Trust Policy Statement.   
 
This is an exciting and important time and the dedication and hard work that has been undertaken on Bill 41 
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act gives us hope and inspiration.  Over the last year Islands Trust 
Council and staff participated in cultural competency training, training on reconciliation and Indigenous, Métis, 
and Inuit Peoples history, and the history and legacy of residential school.   
 
In our meeting with you and your staff we realized the fundamental role the work of reconciliation will have for 
not only our organization but for all British Columbians and Canada.  The significance and sensitivity of the region, 
and the need for protective measures was internationally recognized in 1973.  The Islands Trust Area was created 
in 1974 through the provincial Islands Trust Act.  The Islands Trust is a federation of special-purpose local 
government bodies elected by 26,000 people living within the Islands Trust Area and approximately 10,000 non-
resident property owners. The Islands Trust Area is located within Coast Salish territory and is the homeland to 
over 28,000 Coast Salish Peoples who have called this place home since time immemorial. The mandate to 
preserve and protect the unique environment and amenities of the Islands Trust Area through planning and 
regulating land use, development management, and education is fundamental to the preservation and protection 
of the cultural heritage of the First Peoples of this place. We fulfil this role in cooperation with First Nations and 
other agencies, and through advocacy with organizations and community. 
 
However, we need your Ministries support to fulfil this role.  As discussed in our meeting, the Islands Trust is in 
the process of amending the Islands Trust Policy Statement.  In anticipation of this work Trust Council passed the 
Reconciliation Declaration in March 2019 and the Reconciliation Action Plan in 2019-2020.  As well, most of the 
Local Trust Committees passed Standing Resolutions committing to the implementation of UNDRIP and the TRC 
Calls to Action.   
 
Each of these processes creates a commitment to implement 

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