Sea to Sky Community Services and Lil’wat Nation take steps towards reconciliation with land blessing ceremony in Pemberton.

Photo from left to right: Jen Ford, Mike Richman, Maxine Bruce, Roxanne Joe, Jaye Russell, Wendy Hainstock, Russell Mack.

Earlier this week, we marked the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation in Canada.  As part of Sea to Sky Community Services own journey towards truth and reconciliation, we are committed to learning, understanding, and creating opportunities for indigenous and non-indigenous community members to work together in good relations towards common goals.

As a step towards reconciliation on September 24, 2024, we hosted a Lil̓wat7ul Land Blessing in Pemberton on the beautiful and ancestral territory of the Lil̓wat7ul Nation on the site where the Harrow Road Affordable Housing and Community Hub will one day stand.

This was a meaningful and truly important occasion for Sea to Sky Community Services. As an organization, we offer programing and services that support a thriving community – at every age and stage of life.  To quote the Lil’wat Nation: ‘the land and people are together as one’ and we strive to bring this sentiment to life by providing wraparound services locally within each of the communities we serve.

Community members and honoured guests gathered on the ancestral territory of the Lil̓wat7ul Nation in Pemberton for the land blessing– a collaboration between Sea to Sky Community Services and members of the Lilwat7ul Nation.

Located on Harrow Road and Highway 99, the 63-unit, five-story affordable housing and community hub building will feature a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units with 70% allocated to ‘rent geared to income’ and low-income units. The 9,000 square foot bottom floor will be home to the Community Hub, where SSCS will run programs and services locally. The land blessing was an important first step in beginning the construction process.
The ceremony began with the sun shining on the assembled group as Lil’wat Nation elders Maxine Bruce and Roxanne Joe, led the land blessing with a song. They were joined on the cedar stage by the children of Xetólacw Community School, who sang “Wind in the Meadows,” and “The Welcome Song.”  At the end of the traditional blessing, Sea to Sky Community Services Event Coordinator, Wendy Hainstock, returned a woven basket purchased in Mount Currie during the 1970’s to Maxine Bruce.  Returning this basket to the land it was created on, marked a small but significant step towards reconciliation.

I did not know I would receive the basket as part of the ceremony,” said Maxine Bruce, Territorial Stewardship Manager for the Lil’wat Nation. “We are in the very beginning stages of meaningful reconciliation…I am always trying hard to put reconciliation at the forefront and to be as positive as I can. We still don’t have our land back, but that one small gesture shocked me.”

“Reconciliation is an action,” said Jaye Russell, Executive Director Sea to Sky Community Services, “and today we were able to demonstrate, through action, our commitment to reconciliation. I am excited about what the future holds for Pemberton. Building much-needed affordable housing and being able to create a community hub that will provide wrap around services locally will help the community thrive. I look forward to growing together as we create a community surrounded by support, housing, and healing.”

To learn more about the Harrow Road Affordable Housing and Community Hub project please visist: sscs.ca/harrowroad.