Tla'amin Nation takes steps to recover historic village site where pulp mill operated for decades

The province of British Columbia and the Tla'amin Nation signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) Friday promising to work together to protect tiskʷat — the nation's village site, which for the last century housed a pulp and paper mill.

Tiskʷat (pronounced "TEES-kwat") lies in the Sunshine Coast city of Powell River, around 120 kilometres northwest of Vancouver. 

The city is named after Israel Powell who, as superintendent of Indian affairs in B.C. from 1872 to 1889, was involved in many racist policies involving residential schools and the banning of the potlatch. 

Tla'amin were forcibly removed from their village in the late 1880s, and in the decades that followed their salmon-bearing river was dammed, and the mill built. 

The mill was one of the main economic drivers in the region until it stopped operating in 2021. It was officially shut down in August 2023, and is now up for sale. 

Speaking at an event at the site Friday, Premier David Eby said the MOU is designed to right the wrongs of the past. 

"The injustice that was done when the village site was taken, when the river was dammed, and when the salmon disappeared, and when others took the economic benefit from that, leaving Tla'amin out … was profoundly wrong," Eby said.

The agreement, called yixmɛtštəm tiskʷat (meaning "we are going to take care of tiskʷat"), lays out three areas on which the province and nation will collaborate: environmental stewardship, economic development, and Tla'amin's long term goal to get back the land.

The Tla'amin are hoping to buy the site from the current owner, Paper Excellence. 

Hegus (elected chief) John Hackett said Tla'amin have been working behind the scenes to make it happen.

"We believe truly that local ownership of tiskʷat just makes sense," said Hackett.

"Why? Because we have always been here and always will be here, we will always be accountable to this place, our ancestors, our future generation, and our neighbours."

Hackett said it is still early days, but plans for the future site include low-carbon economic projects like clean fuel production and land-based aquaculture, as well as market housing to benefit the broader Powell River community. 

Even if they don't buy it this time around, Hackett said the nation would work with the province, and future owners, on environmental stewardship of the site — which is contaminated from the mill.

Hackett acknowledged the work of the current government to come to this agreement, saying Tla'amin have been fighting for tiskʷat since it was first taken from them — but this time, someone is listening. 

Murray Rankin, B.C.'s Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, was also at the signing. 

He told CBC News the MOU doesn't come with any funding attached, but is a promise from the province to help Tla'amin protect the site, and prepare for its future.

"It's my job to make sure that we bring the right people to help the plan, and explore opportunities," said Rankin.

He said that could involve cutting red tape or thinking creatively when it comes to regulatory or licensing matters. Rankin said that Tla'amin's success at the site will help not just the nation, but the region as a whole.