Initiatives
Last updated: September 29, 2023
The ReconciliACTION Oak Bay network and its members are involved in a variety of projects that aim to advance the process and goals of Truth and Reconciliation in our community. Here are some of those currently being planned or underway:
Now that the lease to the Oak Bay Marine Group for the publicly owned lands, waters and buildings at Spewhung has been limited to just five years (2023-2027), planning for the long-term future can begin with meaningful and respectful conversations with the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations around the possibilities for economic partnership, collaboration or co-management. ReconciliACTION Oak Bay will continue to advocate for this as the way to define the parameters for a subsequent community engagement process. For more information: Bruce Kilpatrick, Community Association of Oak Bay
The existing print version of the Oak Bay Community Green Map is 14 years old. It includes Indigenous history, graphics provided by Songhees Elder and artist Butch Dick, and place names. In the immediate future, we are proposing to create a living, online interactive version that provides valuable information about our community to residents, visitors and schools etc. and that recognizes Ləkwəŋən territory, culture and history in this area as well as the current environment. The Nations have indicated support for the project and a willingness to provide guidance and participate. For more information: Maeve Lydon, Living Lab Network at UVic.
Since spring 2021, we have been seeking to have racist federal and municipal plaques in Walbran Park replaced (neither acknowledges Ləkwəŋən use or occupation of the lands and waters visible from the hill and instead provide a purely European “explorer” perspective. We had also asked the municipality to create an inventory of all historical plaques in the District to be reviewed with a Truth and Reconciliation lens and, after conversations with the Nations, to replace those that were not appropriate and to increase acknowledgement of Ləkwəŋən territory and use and occupation of the lands and waters throughout what is now called Oak Bay.
Encouraging Oak Bay to join the Victoria Urban Reconciliation Dialogue
We have been urging the District of Oak Bay to join the Victoria Urban Reconciliation Dialogue (VURD) since late 2022 through individual meetings with Councillors, multiple emails and conversations with Council Task Force members, and the District in February, April, May and June of this year. We used an FOI access request in March to establish that the District had not taken any steps to explore membership. At an April 28 meeting that included Oak Bay’s Mayor and Chief Administrative Officer, we were promised that we would hear back one way or the other about the District’s willingness to join the VURD. We’ve heard nothing since. For more information: Bruce Kilpatrick, Community Association of Oak Bay.
A community-wide initiative currently in the planning stages that will use readings and discussions to examine the truth behind the current relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada, particularly in this territory, and to identify effective action we can all take toward Reconciliation. For more information: Felicite Stairs or Dawn Wilkinson, Oak Bay United Church
Since the Sno’uyutth Welcome Pole was raised on the grounds of Oak Bay High School in November 2015, every November 22 has been declared Sno’uyutth Day in Oak Bay as a way of continuing to “Spread Good Energy” and support the work of building meaningful relationships between the Oak Bay community and the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations. For further information about this year’s plans and activities: Community Association of Oak Bay
UVic Living Lab Project
UVic Living Lab Project is a community-campus-schools project and network which supports eco-cultural restoration, land-based learning and Indigenous resurgence. It is involved in a range of learning and engagement activities. For more information: Maeve Lydon, Program Director or https://livinglabproject.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Check our website each September for information about observances planned for Sept. 30. For more information: reconciliACTIONoakbay@gmail.com
