Published Date: 2009/11/26 14:40:00
Article ID : 7405
Version 1.00
By Keven Drews
TOFINO — Members of a Clayoquot Sound First Nation say they will move into a former residential school and drug-and-alcohol treatment centre in an effort to “claim back” the property from a Catholic missionary order.
John Frank, chief councillor of the Ahousaht First Nation, told the Westcoaster.ca Thursday that hereditary chiefs made the decision after land-sale negotiations with the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate fell through recently.
The land in question is owned by the order and is located on Meares Island at Kakawis, where a residential school was built about 100 years ago and where a drug-and-alcohol treatment centre operated until recently.
The band, however, argues an Ahousaht hereditary chief performed a traditional ceremony, when the residential school was operating, allowing the church “use of the site until that purpose no longer met their needs.” The band says burial sites remain at Kakawis and the land is part of its traditional territory.
“If there’s going to be a fight about it, by God, there’s going to be a good fight,” said Frank. “It’s going to be a good fight.”
“The chiefs are moving home. They’re going to move into Kakawis that’s rightfully theirs.
“We’re going to claim it. We’re going to claim it back.”
Frank said the band would make a decision on when it would take the action during an upcoming community meeting.
“I’m sitting here in awe, and I’m just disappointed,” said Rob Meilleur, the Oblates’ chief administrative officer.
He said the band has dealt with Ahousaht and another local First Nation in good faith over the years.
“We own the property,” he added. “We have the title to the property.”
Meilleur confirmed the order and Ahousaht had talks “at some point,” but he declined to say more, citing confidentiality issues.
He also declined to name who the order was now negotiating with, and whether or not that party was another local First Nation, the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation.
“We’re not dealing with a real estate developer,” he added.
When asked if the order had ruled out a land sale to Ahousaht, Meilleur said any negotiations with the band were confidential.
Last year, the Ahousaht announced plans to develop a $63.5-million resort in Clayoqout Sound.
A press release called the project the Kakawis Wilderness Resort and Spa and the Cypre Valley Recreation and Conservation Reserve.
As part of the project, said Frank, the Ahousaht wanted to build a wellness resort at Kakawis, which would create about 60 jobs.
He said the band offered the Oblates about $1 million for 300 acres of land.
Frank said the Oblates turned down the offer about one month ago.
Meilleur said he couldn’t confirm whether or not the deal included 300 acres or less than 300 acres of land.
Said Frank when asked if Ahousaht had given the Oblates any warning about its plans to take back the land,
“They didn’t give us any warning they were going to deal with somebody else. Why should we give them a warning?”
Frank also said he didn’t foresee any problems with the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation, which maintains a community at Opitsat, on Meares Island.
The Westcoaster.ca called Francis Frank, chief councillor of the TFN, for comment Thursday but did not receive a response by publication.
John Frank said he expects the support of First Nations from across Canada.
“I swear to God we’re going to have the backing of the nations.”
The Westcoaster.ca also called the Roman Catholic Diocese of Victoria, requesting comment.
“We can’t comment on somebody else’s negotiations and land,” said Leah MacKenzie, a diocese spokesperson.
The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate is a congregation of Catholic priests and brothers and operates in 71 countries around the world.
Founded in 1816 by St. Eugene de Mazenod, the Oblates arrived in Canada in 1841. They work with ethnic minorities, immigrants and First Nations peoples across the country.
Read more about the Oblates at http://www.omiap.org/
Reade more about the Ahousaht First Nation at http://ahousaht.org/
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