I want to share some of the responses to Nick Davies’ column here on the Wellness Almanac, because this blog was conceived in order to provide a forum to slowly bridge the divide between two communities, a divide that deepens with every stereotype that is replayed. Cindy and Mo said it well in their letter to the editor this week.

‘Glib’ OCP column unhelpful

JUNE 12, 2013

Dear Editor,

We are writing to express our shock and disappointment in Nick Davies’s editorial of June 6 (“OCP All About Money”).

The column was both incendiary and insulting to our First Nations friends and colleagues. Over the past decade, positive relationships have been strengthened between our communities with successful results. The Squamish-Lil’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC) is one fine example of this. We recommend that Mr. Davies visit the SLCC and learn about the Squamish and Lil’wat Nations rich history in Whistler and the Sea to Sky.

We believe that the Sea to Sky region, from Squamish Nation traditional territory through to Lil’wat territory is interdependent — in our resources, workforce, transportation and economic sustainability, to name but a few. We are more successful when working cooperatively and collaboratively. Writing uninformed, glib and disparaging statements about our First Nations neighbours does nothing to help us all build a more successful future.

The narrow and racist views of Nick Davies only serve to damage relationships with our neighbours and limit our shared potential.

Maureen Douglas and Cindy Filipenko

Pemberton