Participants: Cheryl Borris — Friends of Ecological Reserves
Angus Matthews, Pearson College
Tom Sampson , Coast Salish Council
Gord Hanson, First nations advisor
Marc Pakenham, DFO
Kelly– DFO

Regrets: Erin Bradley — Dive Community

INTRODUCTIONS

• Roundtable introductions

DISCUSSION

• Marc Pakenham gave an update on the regulatory process. The regulations for the MPA have passed through Gazette I. The regulations will go to the Special Cabinet Committee again for final review. Pending their acceptance of the regulations the proposal will enter into Gazette II, making the MPA official. The next step is to flesh out the further development of the Management Plan.
• Marc and Kelly suggested that it would be useful to meet individually with the Chiefs of T’souke, Songhees, Beecher Bay and Esquimalt First Nations.
• Tom Sampson indicated that he has already met with the tribes and that they support the MPA and its educational opportunities. He suggests that by going down the road of one-off style meetings will create divisions amongst the bands and that will result in an intervention in the regulatory process by First Nations.
• Angus Matthews suggested that the strength of the process lies within the educational merit and benefit, not necessarily the judicial/technical aspect. Any meetings with First Nations should focus on educational opportunities and management, not Treaty.
• Tom Sampson suggests that if we ask for a legal representative for the management board will be creating division amongst the bands. He indicated that he has no desire to be the First Nation representative on the management board. He felt that Beecher Bay First Nation would be the lead band, but that is for them to decide.
• Gord Hanson discussed the success of the Bamberton project where more than one First Nation was involved. He felt the project was successful because it focused on all First Nations, not just the band directly adjacent to the site. He felt that if focusing on the Te’Mexw Treaty Association would lead to problems. We need to work towards broad consensus of Coast Salish people and let them decide who is represented on the management board.
• Tom Sampson suggests not meeting the bands individually but invite the Chiefs and elders to neutral ground for a larger meeting and focus on the educational opportunities. He suggests that Pearson College would be a good venue. Gord Hanson suggested that the Coast Salish Sea Council could co-host the meeting.
• Meeting adjourned 14h00.