On behalf of the Tla’amin people I would like to wish everyone a happy New Year, and hope that everyone enjoyed the holiday season with family and friends.
This coming year we will begin developing many of the pieces that will make up our new Tla’amin government. These developments will bring positive change that we have been looking forward to, as we want to simply put the Indian Act behind us. By removing this act we will be able to provide change in a positive way for our people, no longer will we be just a service provider with very limited resources available for our people. We will now have the ability to prosper as a nation.
One project that I am very excited about getting started is the construction of a new administration/cultural centre for our community. This will be a multi purpose building that will house the new Tla’amin government; we hope to be sending out a request for proposals early in 2013. We are all very excited to begin creating opportunities for our people and we also look forward to the collaboration that will occur with our people and the businesses of the Powell River area.
Tla’amin people have lived on these lands since time immemorial and currently do exercise our aboriginal rights and title within our traditional territory and will continue to do so for eternity. We will continue to acknowledge and respect our relationship with the people of Powell River and surrounding area as there have been many positive developments from some great work by previous and current City of Powell River mayors and councillors.
Clint Williams, chief
Tla'amin (Sliammon) First Nation
