Tsawwassen First Nation Members Vote for Proposed Shopping Complex

TSAWWASSEN, BC, Jan. 18, 2012 /CNW/ - Unofficial results released tonight by Tsawwassen First Nation's electoral officer (TFN) indicate that a majority of TFN Members today voted in favor of granting a 99 year lease to allow for a proposed two-mall shopping complex to be built on their land.

Ninety-seven per cent of the TFN vote was in favour of the proposed change. The vote was held in accordance with TFN's Land Act, which requires community approval of any lease over 25 years in length.

"This is an exciting and encouraging result," said TFN Chief Kim Baird.  "This proposed project is consistent with my community's vision, supports our land use plan, and keeps the door open for our partners, Ivanhoe Cambridge and Property Development Group, to continue with feasibility studies and the approval process.  We are optimistic that this development, which is now one step closer to reality, will play a key role in improving our economy and the lives of future generations of TFN People."

The TFN poll opened today (Wednesday, January 18, 2012) at 8:00 a.m. and closed at 8:00 p.m., with the final vote count released at 9:00p.m.  In total, 111 Members voted out of an eligible 259.  Official results will be released Thursday, January 19, 2012.

The Tsawwassen Final Agreement came into effect on April 3, 2009. That Agreement provided TFN with powers of self-government and a land base to build a sustainable economic future.   TFN has approved a land use plan and has enacted a municipal-type zoning and development approval process to help enhance its community and build an economic base to sustain it.  TFN's development arm, the TFN Economic Development Corporation, leads the development of TFN's economic opportunities.

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FACT SHEET:

TFN:  CURRENT APPROPRIATE TERMINOLOGY

BACKGROUND:
The Tsawwassen Legislature unanimously approved a motion, sponsored by Legislative Member Ken Baird, to examine strategies to reduce and remove the use of certain incorrect and potentially offensive terms in reference to Tsawwassen First Nation.  The Legislature expressed a concern that certain terms used under the Indian Act are no longer appropriate or correct.  Terms specifically referenced in the motion included 'Indian', 'band', and 'reserve'.

"We have escaped the terrible repression of the Indian Act, but its words became part of our language, and they are hard to erase", said Chief Kim Baird, "It is still a learning process, both within our own community and around the country.  We hope to change the words that are used to refer to Tsawwassen First Nation and its Members.  It is one more step in getting away from the Indian Act, which kept us apart and separate, and one more step towards reconciliation."

GUIDE FOR USE:

Incorrect Term	Correct Equivalent Term
Indian Band	First Nation or Treaty First Nation
Tsawwassen Indian Band	Tsawwassen First Nation
Tsawwassen Indian	Tsawwassen Member*
Tsawwassen Reserve	Tsawwassen Lands
Reserve	First Nation Lands
Band or Band Council	Tsawwassen Government (general term) or Government or Legislature (specific body, if required) or Executive Council (specific body, if required)
Band Office	TFN Administration Office

*Certain Tsawwassen Members, if eligible under the Indian Act, R.S.C. 1985, c.I-5, continue to be status Indians for the purposes of that legislation.  Despite its legal significance, the resolution in the Tsawwassen Legislature expresses a desire to no longer be known by the term 'Indian'.

Tanya Corbet
Phone: [phone]
Email:  [email protected]