Friendship agreement finalized
By: Breanne Massey
With the vision to build a better future for children, the Shuswap Indian Band (SIB) and the District of Invermere (DOI) have recently formalized a friendship agreement that celebrates the Columbia Valley environment and its ancestors.
On Oct. 13, the SIB chief and council met with councillors from the DOI on the shores of the Columbia River for a physically-distanced ceremony to sign a friendship agreement to build upon the existing community-to-community relationship.
“The Friendship Agreement between Shuswap Indian Band and the District of Invermere is what a friendship is, that is, built on trust, respect and recognition,” said SIB chief Barb Cote in a recent press release. “We have certainly achieved that. Working together on this initiative of the active transportation route is only the beginning of a long-term partnership that can only make, not only our two communities, but the valley at large become more accessible for locals and visitors. We as a community are very proud to be working alongside the District of Invermere and look forward to leaving a legacy that our children, grandchildren and those unborn can enjoy for many years to come.”
Members of the SIB were invited to watch the ceremony through a Facebook Livestream. However, the community’s celebration will be temporarily postponed until the spring or summer of 2021 when the COVID-19 crisis is controlled, and it is safe to host an event.
Since 2019, the SIB has been participating in the Community Economic Development Initiative (CEDI) facilitated by the Council for Advancement of Native Development Officers (CANDO) and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) to strengthen community relationships. Through the support of this program, the SIB and the DOI have entered this agreement to increase collaboration for joint-planning and community economic development.
As a result of the CEDI program, including third-party facilitation, monthly meetings, bi-annual workshops, joint strategic and work planning has successfully taken place and will continue to take place going forward with the elected officials of the DOI and the staff with SIB delegates.
“In 2019, the Shuswap Indian Band and the District of Invermere started down a path of relationship building and shared education,” said DOI mayor Al Miller in a recent press release. “We were enabled with the help of a federally-funded program, the Community Economic Development Initiative, which (was) one of nine partnerships selected across Canada. With this help, we have gained a greater understanding, appreciation and respect of each other. We are neighbours working hard at creating a project that will connect our communities together with an active transportation route and more importantly a Friendship Agreement that will serve us well into the future. I am proud to be signing this agreement alongside chief Barb Cote for the future of our communities.”
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