Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako (RDBN) board and staff recently had a chance to become better informed about the history of Aboriginal Peoples and their current issues.

Four Aboriginal women from different parts of the regional district - including Corinne George, regional principal of the Lakes District campus of the College of New Caledonia (CNC) - delivered a five-hour presentation to the board and staff on Aug. 17, 2017.

George said the RDBN board and staff were 鈥渧ery receptive.鈥�

鈥淲e, as presenters, were extremely pleased with the afternoon and the outcome of the presentation,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e covered a great deal of material in that time and engaged in meaningful discussion.鈥�

Main topics included treaties and Aboriginal rights, Aboriginal-Crown relations and the history and legacy of residential schools.

鈥淭he items outlined in the presentation provide a glimpse into the histories of Aboriginal Peoples not only in Canada but within our region,鈥� said George. 鈥淲e presented a broad overview of these topics and then spoke about our regional history and culture, focusing primarily on the Witsuwit鈥檈n [Wet鈥檚uwet鈥檈n] and Nakazdli.鈥�

Earlier this summer, a proposed relationship protocol between the RDBN and First Nations sparked a debate during a board meeting. The proposed protocol, intended to strengthen relations between First Nations and local governments, acknowledged that the RDBN is on unceded First Nations territory.

Some directors weren鈥檛 entirely sure of what 鈥渦nceded territory鈥� meant or if they could believe it.

鈥淗ow do I know what took place 200 years ago?鈥� asked Jerry Peterson, Director of Electoral Area F (Vanderhoof Rural). 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know, so to make that statement saying that I acknowledge it, I don鈥檛 acknowledge it because I don鈥檛 know.鈥�

During that same board meeting, Mark Fisher, Director of Electoral Area A (Smithers rural), encouraged directors who were unsure about the history of First Nations in B.C. or relevant Supreme Court of Canada decisions to 鈥渇ind a dictionary.鈥�

The recent presentation was requested by the RDBN based on a Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada鈥檚 report, which called federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to provide education to public servants on the history of Aboriginal Peoples.

George said that understanding the history of Aboriginal Peoples is important not only for public servants, but for all Canadians.

鈥淲e interact with each other on a regular basis, so having background knowledge of each other鈥檚 history and culture is vital in order to advance positive relationships,鈥� she said.

Presenters also included Marlene Erickson, CNC鈥檚 director of Aboriginal education; Nicholette Prince, regional principal for CNC Nechako; and Birdy Markert, School District 54鈥檚 principal of Aboriginal education.