Summary of Tsal'alh Information Session

The community information session with Tsal'alh on January 10, 2011 turned out amazing 58 community members showed up to get a better understanding of the Hydro Agreement.
We started with a 2 hour open house for community members to have time to review information packages, and to voice any question or concerns with the Hydro team on a personal level.
Chief Garry John then opened the meeting with the welcome song that lifted all our spirits. We sat down for dinner at 7, a big thanks to Ida Peter and helpers for the fabulous dinner prepared.
Raymond Phillips (St'at'imc Legal Council) then discussed the summary of the St'at'imc Hydro Agreement. The community members stated their questions and concerns regarding the Hydro Agreement.

A few of the Questions and Statements from the Tsal'alh Community:
"Why haven't we signed the agreement as 1 nation rather then 10?"
"Administrative trustees, what are their qualifications?"
"How will the communities pick a trustee?"
"Are we going to develop a constitution that will govern the nation?"
"Were continuing on what our ancestors started, they must be really smiling. They wanted the best for us."
"If we don't agree to this, are we willing to wait another 20 years?"

These questions and statements were answered by the St'at'imc Legal Council to the best of their knowledge.
All in all the Tsal'alh Community Members left, informed and better educated about the St'ati'mc Hydro Agreement.

All My Relations,
Jenilee McDonald

6 responses
I am going to do what I can and state my concerns to make sure my grandchildren are going to have a better future as a St'at'imc! This is my grandson Richard.
Richards Papa Ken Sr. going to be there too!
thanks to everyone who was able to come out to the presentation and listen and become better informed about the agreement and the process.
Thanks for the info package, it is helping me to understand what is being offered better than the power point presentation AND the info session.
It would have been nice to have the info package before the info session.
And excellent work by the photographers, not one picture of me. YAHHHHHHH!
I'm glad to hear the information session was reasonably well attended. I hope Tsalashmec will stay involved and make sure they have all the information they need to make a good decision. How about including a picture of the cross below the old Bridge River Elementary School? I think Pah7osh has some old pictures of the valley before it was flooded and Carpenter reservoir came into being. Those could be scanned and added to the pictures. Would it be possible to include a copy of the powerpoint presentation on the website? Powerpoint files can be converted to pdf. I'd like to look at the presentation before going to one of the information sessions in Vancouver. Any chance of moving one of the presentation dates to a Wed? I have a class until 7:30 on Tuesday nights. Kukstamkahlahp to Tsalashmec who went to the session and those working on the agreement.
Hi Roger,

Thanks for the great feedback. We are really short on photos, so if you know someone who could get us those older photos that'd be great.

We can't post the powerpoint (in any format) because the presentation is not standard - we basically modify it and update it for every community. Each community have their own slides. If you e-mail me - jacob@coppermoon.ca - I can send you the presentation from your community.

Jacob