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SFN flag taken back from Nanaimo City Hall over denial of ‘violence’ against CAO

Sep 15, 2017 | 6:16 PM

NANAIMO — Solemn faces lined the steps of Nanaimo City Hall as Snuneymuxw First Nation took back the flag they raised there barely two years ago.

Chief John Wesley and coun. Doug White III led a delegation to retrieve the flag Friday afternoon. SFN demanded the flag’s return because of what they called “the violence experienced by Tracy Samra in her role as city manager of Nanaimo and the denial of that violence by mayor Bill McKay.”

“This is the hardest thing I’ve had to do is ask for the flag back,” Wesley told NanaimoNewsNOW following the demonstration. “I’ve felt we’ve developed a partnership with mayor and council so we can move forward to develop a successful life here in Nanaimo. With our Indigenous women, the way they’ve been treated in B.C. and across Canada, it’s really a shame to have to address this here in Nanaimo…We’re trying to stop it, we’re doing what we can today. Hopefully we brought it to light.”

Several Nanaimo councillors, along with the mayor, stood on the steps of City Hall behind the SFN delegation as they delivered speeches and a song to a crowd of roughly 20 people. Former SFN and current Nanaimo coun. Bill Yoachim handed the flag to Wesley.

 

When asked if he thought the alleged mistreatment of Samra was racially motivated, Wesley said he’d rather not comment, adding he hasn’t seen the video of an alleged attack on Samra. “I’ve heard all the stories…Verbal and physical abuse is not acceptable these days.”

Mayor Bill McKay said it’s “disappointing” to see the flag come down but he’s committed to rebuilding the relationship.

SFN also demanded McKay take back what the First Nation called his “denial of the violence” against Samra. McKay previously called a seven second video clip from a February closed meeting “inconclusive.” On Friday, he said “the less said at this point the better. I was out there today to hear Snuneymuxw…I believe that was our role today, to listen.”

In the meantime, McKay said Nanaimo Council is still reviewing an independent lawyer’s report into complaints filed by Samra. He said there are several approvals needed before the findings of Roslyn Goldner’s report could be released to the public. “At this particular point I have some concerns about the report…It’s not complete.”

The province’s Criminal Justice Branch has declined to give any information after announcing in March a Nanaimo councillor was arrested and a separate investigation was underway. It remains unclear if any charges were ever laid.

While McKay said he hopes the issue would not affect other important work with SFN, chief Wesley said there is an impact and all parties need to sit down and develop a relationship again.

“To build a new Nanaimo, we need to work together and put all those differences aside,” Wesley said.

 

dom@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @domabassi