As is usually the case at important city events, Chief Rhonda Larabee of the Qayquat First Nations, was the opening speaker at the recent New Westminster Economic Forum.

Susan Millar – Local Journalism Initiative

The Qayquat people are the only First Nations group across Canada who do not have their own land. As Chief Larabee explains, they have had reserve land within New Westminster's borders, and have occupied the area for time immemorial. 

In this unusually forthright speech, she speak about the ongoing challenges that she has had over the years in having the land rights of the Qayquat nation recognized and the need for recompense. Of course, land availability is not possible in this highly urbanized city, but monetary compensation is expected.

While she says that neither the City nor the Federal Government have been as helpful as expected, but there are many partners in the city who have been exceptional in their support... she enumerates them.

There are many organizations that have helped the Chief in developing and underwriting the legal case and many other groups that have helped in many ways as she elucidates.

In Mayor Patrick Johnstone's following speech, he does underscores the importance of the Chief's concerns. It is the case that the city has embarked on several reconciliation efforts. The city pursued a year of looking into the whole story of the Qayquat people, who resided year round on what is now City property. There are also many other nations of the Fraser River who had temporary residence in the city area during each year, primarily to fish salmon.