The Village of Pemberton paused its Official Community Plan to ensure that there was a good framework for relating with the Lil’wat Nation in place, before they committed any other things to an OCP.

That feels like an opportunity to re-cast our community vision… I’ve been trying to shape mine for a while… instead of just reacting against change, to think deeply about what I want to call in.

What was crafted and shared in the Wellness Almanac Community Survey was this:

My personal vision for the future is for us to be living together in a trauma-informed, reconciled, and resilient community, where reconciliation leadership comes from grassroots, and community leaders provide resources, funding and remove roadblocks.

What is your personal vision? 

There were some responses that literally gave me goosebumps when i read them, particularly: “work together like it’s our last day.”

I was also really moved by the vision shared that “all people living on the Lil’wat Nation to see themselves as Lil’wat” and I can’t help but wonder what that would look like and feel like. If we believe in our hearts that we belong to this land, then how will we move forward? How will we treat one another? How much would we cherish and value the language and the culture of the Lil’watul?

• I’ll have to think about it
• My personal vision includes leadership originating from many people … a co-op instead of a council
• Same as above. Beautifully said.
• Beautifully said. I couldn’t agree more. We are so on the same page.
• Living where the heart supersedes the skin. It’s probably a dream but it would be so beautiful.
• Where we can support all the youth and heal together – for me I wish for funding through the school board for wellness with in the school system in hopes to offer support for teachers and with the support we will help our children learning to grow and become strong leaders in mindful practises in hopes to bring understanding to mental health – showing up and listening sharing being a safe place for kids in my kids classes is my contribution – along with grounding practises and holding space for teachers as they are holding spaces for our kids
• I aspire to cultivate a community where we collaboratively navigate the complexities of the present, where there is equality among all, and consciously moving away from the shadows of the past.
• Same
• a non-sport focused community cultural hub and gathering space for workshops, meetings, a place to access resources, education, connect people with local arts, crafts, skill building and culturally appropriate care. Drop in, inclusive. All ages so elders and young folks can mingle. See Lillooet Hub for potential. Tie in to a good local transport system so everyone can access.
• I would like to see leaders lead in collaboration between the Village, Regional District, Lil’wat Nation and that this trickles down to businesses and community members; at the same time, that grassroots groups self-organize to create opportunities for sharing and learning.
• Less talk, less politics, and more effort to bringing people together through social gatherings.
• That is a big question! I like yours – can I adopt it? I also would also love a world where people know that with trust, anything is possible. And without it – nothing seems possible. And maybe to be living in a world that has a deep understanding that we never do anything alone. We never get to where we are today, without all the beings who have contributed to our success to be here. From the farmers who grow the food we eat – to the parents who conceived us, to our teachers, our community – even the people who drill the oil so we can take the bus or drive our cars. We all have a role we play. SO – I want to live in a world that knows we never do anything alone (humility) and knows what it takes to build trusting relationships to reimagine a new way of being (trust and open hearts). And also – a world that makes decisions for the next seven generations (long view decision making).
• Greater acceptance. More community based collaboration.
• more empathy and compassion for others accepting our differences and working together toward common goals
• To ensure my voice is also heard and understood.
• For a community that is integrated with and continually learning from nature and each other
• Your vision is the best! I would like that too, I really can’t beat it.
• A future for us to live together in a reconciled community where relationships become seamless, diversity is celebrated where we support one another to meet the aspirations for all who live in the valley.
• For the community of Pemberton and Lil’wat to do more jointly. Come together as one group loving each other and supporting each other.
• The human condition is messy, complicated and constantly evolving. Looking at an “end game” goal is a self defeating act. Better to frame it in a far more realistic way of constant learning and discovery.
• Not happening. There is so much hate and nothing is going to change that
• A community that cares about everyone benefiting and sharing resources, removing barriers and supporting each other as a whole.
• This sounds good to me. It would be good to have a community where youth see a future here and people feel grounded to the land. Holistic supports and services are offered in the community in culturally-appropriate ways.
• I love that idea
• I support your vision. I would like to see the community dig deeper into the work of reconciliation and healing, this looks different for different people. I had not dreamed as to what the end would look like. I think having the wellness almanac as a support structure for communicating and facilitating awareness and support to community events, organizations etc is and has been a strength for the community.
• All the above but I will add that I don’t want to feel guilty for living here
• To have clarity around what reconciliation means and should look like. To have a better understanding of how the Lil’wat Nation would like to interact with those of us who live within their unceded territory. How can we approach this in a realistic and just manner?
• My personal vision is one where members of the Lil’wat nation feel safe and welcomed in pemberton village. Where I no longer hear “I almost never come into pemberton as I don’t feel I’m welcome here”. And one in which there are increased joint activities, workshops, with lessons and teachings provided specifically for (non-Indigenous) pemberton residents to better understand current / ongoing / past events and traumas. And one in which it is an everyday normal occurrence for such activities and friendships to be held either in Lil’wat or in pemberton.
• I agree with your vision
• more empathy. less racism. a focus on healthy living.
• not heading to feudalism- which seems to be where the valley is going
• it’s along way of Pemberton has businesses.that don’t put prices on their products and give first nation higher prices and give their friends the deals and Lil’wat has given more to Pemberton than Pemberton has given Lil’wat.
• Equity in non Native communities. I attend events and non Natives avoid me.
• We are all human beings, let’s help each other.
• My personal vision is for all people living on the Lil’wat Nation to see themselves as Lil’wat. We the Lil’wat7ul need to feel understood, heard and listened to. As a nation we need to utilize the pain and heartfelt history as new strength to carry us forward into a wholesome community where our underlying values are one with the land. Our laws were made upon respect and thoughtful approaches to benefit all living and non-living beings.
• Work together like it’s our last day.
• same
• I would like to say that although it is going to take patience and understanding to get to where we want to, I do finally feel that there is hope.
• For Lil’wat Nation to serve as a Role Model/Inspiration for First Nations Indigenous Communties due to my personal observations of the significant lack of Milestones achieved from First Nations Indigenous Communties in relations to Reconciliation.
• Step one—on orange shirt day and July 1st gathering—more people actually wear an orange shirt.
• and no colonialism, its a good vision

Think ahead to the Pemberton/Area C/Mount Currie communities in the year 2033. What adjectives would you use to describe your desired future-state of this place?

Only 6 of 74 responses indicated that people had given up or checked out – ie “I don’t care, I won’t be here, it’s all a bunch of pipe dreams.” Whereas over 3/4 of respondents held a vision of our communities as supportive. Followed by flourishing, food-secure, and decolonized.

I also loved the person who envisioned us as “Reconciliation leaders for other communities across BC, Canada and the world”. Or the place where “Lilwat describes, protects, and controls our territory.” Or the person who wrote “That we no longer are separated by race, color or creed.” Or the other person who wrote “Seeing everyone as brothers and sisters.”

Why not?

I’m so in.

Do you have any final comments or reflections to help us generate ideas and to help our community leaders set priorities and allocate resources that help support our community’s overall wellness? 

We’ll shared all 36 responses, and invite you, too, to consider, reflect and share in the comments. How do these ideas all land with you?

I bundled them into themes.

Thank you for asking for community input!

• Thank you for asking:)
• Thank you for asking these questions to the community!
• Thank you for consulting community. Continue to let vision statements guide you in your work. Keep brainstorming on how to integrate UNDRIP, one step at a time.

On future development:

• Stop building in the area so that we still have a beautiful place to call home. Keep it small and peaceful
• All development and building has to centre life support systems and the more than human world.
• I think about how Pemberton is growing and the population is changing and worry about the proportion of Indigenous folks decreasing as a result. I hope the community continues to prioritize their priorities and needs. I also hope services are being planned in a holistic way to match the growth of the community.
• We need affordable housing.
• Transit transit transit. Affordable housing. Light and maintain the Friendship Trail for safety all seasons, or it doesn’t get used!
• Housing, more effective transportation, employment opportunities for all levels, BDO Trauma informed training. Flexibility and understanding towards what it’s like for Indigenous people who are living with trauma and working towards healing from trauma.
• Look at what is currently occurring and support those organization’s financially. Recolonizing and Reconciliation is a long journey, it’s happening without resources, think of what we could do if we were well resourced!
• I would like people frightened of reconciliation to be able to approach it without feeling laden with guilt and fear of “losing their home and land”
• I think we need more spaces where people can meet and feel connected and cared for year round. There are a lot of people who can offer their time to lead, or teach a skill or hold a space but there isn’t a central place for that to happen.
• I think climate action preempts all other concerns right now
• I think it would be beneficial to look into past agreements and work towards finalizing a lot of those lost agreements with LN. We need to strategize the movement within the Lil’wat Nation, so “newcomers” or investors that make their way here are also aligned with the values we hold for reconciliation and work first handedly with LN from the start and throughout the projects. Priorities hold value in “Land Back” movements – to give ownership to the rightful owners. You wonder why Lil’wat7ul have resided here from time immemorial, and I truly believe the connection we have with all beings (living and non-living) contributed to co-existing here for so long. We once understood all movements within our territory and how to work with the land, not against it.
• I want to comment on the question of annual contribution and the option answer of a soup kitchen/safe place for people drinking – I don’t want to see a soup kitchen or warming space in the village of Pemberton. I know it sounds bad, but I don’t believe it is necessary as there are very few people who at this point would use it and I think that giving the money to the local Food Bank is a much better option and would support more people. More money should be put towards the transit system – more buses between Mt. Currie and Pemberton and Whistler. There are so many people that would work the jobs in all three communities but not enough bus times. If there were more buses between Mt. Currie and Pemberton, people wouldn’t have to wait in town for hours for the next run.

Other concerns that people wanted to share:

• Just keep your eye on not focusing everything on reconciliation. It is actually quite hard to be white, middle aged and perceived to be uninformed and not understanding of what has transpired over many years. That is not the way it is in most cases but being made to feel unwelcome and having reconciliation thrown at you all the time is hard. What transpired was not unique to Canada as it happened in other countries. That said, I think a lot has been done to bring awareness to the issue and make it a topic of discussion with an aim to get to understanding. I would however like to see the Canadian flag at the schools reinstalled (PSS) and put up to full mast (SHE). It is time.
• Quash/Condemn Anti-White Racism for I personally see a vast amount of indigenous people post on Facebook/Meta & The Internet, including posting about raising their children/youth to take part in Anti-White Racism. Anti-White Racism from Lil’wat Nation/Mount Currie people has caused a significant impact on the health of our Communities (Whistler and Pemberton included) and has existed for far too long.
• Propose an Appeal to Lil’wat Nation Band for a revisal of community made proposals and statements made about the Sunstone Pemberton: Real Estate Developer/Elevate at Sunstone Site(s) due to racially discriminating and segregation like tones. And to Propose a Potential installation of a water pump for “Mount Currie” water, similar to the water pump that is used by Mount Currie/Lil’wat Nation which locals use for drinking water, due to my personal observations of community made proposals/statements of the wrongful complete divide from Mount Currie/Lil’wat Nation and the Elevate at Sunstone Site concerning water usage.
• In reference to my proposal for a study/research into making the statement “all are welcome” be more inviting for future Lil’wat Nation Powwow’s I meant in reference to my personal observations of the YouTube Channel Markian’s video in which they attend a Powwow and have an overall negative experience.
• Do something now regarding public drinking, act now regarding the now violent/drunk passenger filled local transit.
• Less talk more action. Defund self-interest organizations and fund more people programs, already recognized by the community as a unifying force.
• Great job on your survey. It feels good to report on Pemberton’s humungous racism and it seems to give people self pride to obviously exclude people.
• Firstly, get rid of the current “community leaders”. That’s a good start in my mind.
• get rid of the term reservations.
• If u stress about money constantly, how ur gonna eat this week mental health is gone, drugs and alcohol win, pay us accordingly. Lower rent. U want a community we must be able to strive, go out and support these above ideas, pay for gas to get there. Single peope are suffering with 1 income and rent is not attainable for a single person…not everyone is married
• I propose an Appeal for a transcribal of the speech made by one Dr.Levinia Brown made at the Truth and Reconciliation: Remembering the children Ceremony in Ottawa. And for a significant study/research into how to make the statement “all are welcome” for making future Lil’wat Nation Powwow’s feel more inviting. Due to my personal observations of the YouTube Channel Markiplier attending a Powwow and my perceived observations of him having an overall negative experience. In honor of Lil’wat Nation being a non-treaty nation, Appeal for a Revisal of documents with us stated as a Reservation.
• I sit through so many meetings where all we do is talk….when will we stop the talk and walk the walk?

Thanks and peace out to the Wellness Almanac

• Thank you for doing this important work
• You are making a difference – you inspire – and I will be a ripple in the pool and keep carrying this onwards
• good luck
• Thanks for carrying this Lisa. Within the context of winding the Wellness Almanac down, I feel as though I have not appreciated it to its fullest. For me there has been value in knowing that it exists and dropping in when a social media post has piqued my interest. I think keeping the archive alive/accessible is important.
• The wellness almanac will be greatly missed. I hope that it has planted a seed for the continued healing and reconciliation of the community and the land. If the present village and community leaders do nothing to feed the work nothing will happen. I think a plan, some funding allocated and commitment from local leaders is essential to keep this work alive.
• The almanac was an incredible undertaking and its impact is difficult to measure. I liked the guest grammers because of the visibility into other community members (between communities). As for general wellness, I think we have an incredible network of amazing individuals and groups in this watershed. It would be great if these people and networks of people could be supported and celebrated (like the way the almanac did). It is hard for individuals (and even groups) to coordinate among others outside their network so it has to come from an umbrella group (aka gov’t or dedicated regional group).
• Choosing what to do the the money is the hardest thing. I don’t think it should just go back into community funds or given to sports. I love all the ideas that support wellness and reconciliation and I wonder if that question should be a ranking rather than just choosing one. The soup kitchen hits my heart strings. I absolutely love the idea of a podcast. What if you kept the Wellness Almanac and did a podcast, too? If only there was enough money to do it all.