The City of Colwood and Songhees First Nation are teaming up as the aboriginal peoples look to potential management of the Royal Roads lands.
“It’s not just about Songhees, we recognize the importance of working with our neighbour municipalities,” said Chief Ron Sam, who signed a memorandum of understanding Monday along with Mayor Carol Hamilton.
“We need to work together … We all have people in our communities we need to protect,” he said.
The MOU outlines the parties’ “shared interest in working collaboratively to gather and share information regarding the future management of the Royal Roads lands and in protecting the environmental, heritage, cultural and social value of the area.”
The land is part of the traditional territory of the Lekwungen and lies within Colwood’s municipal boundary, but is currently owned by the Department of National Defence.
Late last year, the federal government revealed it was looking at disposing of the property, which houses Royal Roads University and forested recreational trails along the shores of Esquimalt Lagoon.
The Songhees Nation has indicated that the university’s operations will not be affected should they take control of the land. Through their lawyer Robert Janes, the Songhees have also expressed a desire for sensible development that can maintain the integrity of the historic site.
From the City of Colwood’s perspective, Hamilton said this agreement will afford the City more options for input during the process and will help shape the City’s plans for the future of the entire community. Since the land is owned by the DND, the City has never had zoning or land use jurisdiction.
“We welcome the opportunity to strengthen our relationship with the Songhees Nation,” Hamilton said. “If we can work with them to retain a lot of the dynamic of the property, that ensures we maintain a significant green space … In many ways they have the same beliefs in honouring the land that we have.”
Both the City and the Songhees have expressed a shared interest in seeing some of the site preserved as park space.
In response to some of the petitions circulating online that oppose the Songhees Nation taking ownership of the property, Sam said, “I just want to acknowledge everyone has a right to their opinions.”
He encouraged anyone with concerns about future development on the site to contact the Songhees Nation to learn more about their intentions. “We’re not out to bulldoze and log every tree on that site ... Our people truly made a life on that land.”
Detailed plans regarding the future of the site cannot be completed until discussions are finalized between DND and all First Nations who have expressed interest, and the land has been allocated. Esquimalt Nation has also been brought into the process and is working in concert with the Songhees.
It’s unclear where the neighbouring nation fits into the framework of the memorandum. “It’s a long road ahead yet with no for-sure outcome,” Sam noted.
The City of Colwood has reportedly been an observer to the ongoing negotiations between the federal government and First Nations groups.
– with files from Katherine Engqvist
joel.tansey@goldstreamgazette.com