Letter from Chief Sam Re: Colquitz/Gorge Watershed Special Management Area Initiative

April 24, 2019

Mayor David Screech and Council Town of View Royal 45 View Royal Avenue, View Royal, BC, V9B 1A6

Re: Colquitz/Gorge Watershed Special Management Area Initiative

Dear Mayor Screech,

Songhees Nation is inviting its local government neighbours in the Capital Region to come together to discuss how we can collaborate to build a partnership among Local, Regional, Provincial, Federal and First Nation governments in Greater Victoria, to explore practical, collaborative approaches for protecting and improving sustainability of the salmon and herring runs in the Colquitz/Gorge watershed.

To this end, Songhees Nation is sponsoring a process to bring together local government elected officials and staff to explore options for creating an ongoing collaborative partnership to further our shared objectives. To support these efforts, we have retained Emergent Sustainable Solutions consultants to work with us.

We plan to hold three morning meetings in May 17, June and September 2019 to bring together stakeholders to discuss and consider how we can work together and build on the work your community supports through your Official Community Plan, Regional Growth Strategy and other policies. We have attached a copy of a Colquitz/Gorge Watershed Special Management Area Concept Paper that details our aspirations for this project.

We would like to invite you or your representative, with supporting staff to our meeting scheduled for May 17, 2019 (9 am – noon) at the Songhees Wellness Centre to discuss this wonderful opportunity. Further, if possible, I would like the opportunity for a member of the ESS team to meet with you and/or your Council briefly to extend this invitation personally and to answer any questions you might have about this initiative. Please respond to Kathryn Legros at klegros@snaw.ca to indicate your ability to attend, to request attendance at a meeting or for further information.

Regards,

Chief Ron Sam

cc. Susan Lowe, Emergent Sustainable Solutions Katie Jarrett, Te’mexw Treaty Assoc.

1100 Admirals Road Victoria, BC V9A 2P6 Phone 250-386-1043 Fax 250-386-4161