A Friday (Aug. 18) ceremony recognized the return of 45.7 acres of wetland known as TIKEL (Maber Flats) to the WSANEC community.
TIKEL holds cultural and ecological significance as it was originally an abundant wetland network used, cultivated and managed by WSANEC Peoples as a place to collect food, medicines and other materials central to their culture, economies and identity.
The land is intended to be restored by WSANEC and will help promote conservation through education.
“Our people have experienced a great loss due to colonization; our land was never ceded or surrendered. Today we celebrate the return of this unceded land, here in TIKEL,” said Tsartlip Chief Don Tom, director of WSANEC Lands Trust Society. “This work will foster our sacred responsibility to bring our territory to an ecological balance that we will continue to care for, for generations to come.”
The Berglund family (through Brentwood Developments Ltd.) and the WSANEC Leadership Council announced the transfer Aug. 3, calling it the first donation of land in Canada under the Ecological Gifts Program made to an Indigenous organization.
Tom called the Berglund family’s decision to return the land at their own personal cost a courageous example of how Canadians can support reconciliation initiatives.
“The more we learned about WSANEC history and stewardship, the more returning this property to their care made sense,” Brentwood Developments vice-president Brian Berglund said. “And for this to be the first donation of its kind in Canada, it’s extremely exciting for us. We look forward to seeing WSANEC restore and reconnect with this site and hope that our donation inspires other landowners to follow suit.”
The leadership council said milestone events like Friday’s ceremony pave the way for future donations and land-back initiatives that support reconciliation for all Indigenous communities across Canada.
READ: Peninsula family transfers Maber Flats land to WSANEC in ‘historic event’