February 25, 2021 / Kamloops, BC: A local major infrastructure engagement project between the Neskonlith Indian Band (Neskonlith) and the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI) has received national recognition from the Economic Developers Association of Canada (EDAC). This project is a recipient of EDAC’s Marketing Canada Awards, recognizing excellence in marketing and community initiatives in economic development across Canada.
“This highway twinning is crucial, both to improve safety for our community members while preserving this culturally and environmentally sensitive territory,” says Neskonlith Chief Judy Wilson. “We appreciate the willingness of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to meaningfully engage in a collaborative design process for this project with our community. This highway expansion will open up economic opportunities for our band and help drive the overall regional economy.”
The Province has invested in upgrades to Highway 1 between Kamloops and the Alberta border and portions of these upgrades traverse two of Neskonlith Indian Band reserve lands.
“We are extremely proud of the meaningful engagement process with the Neskonlith on this particular highway project,” said Rob Fleming, B.C.’s Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. “It’s an example of community involvement that had technical challenges but still resulted in an innovative outcome. Congratulations to the community members, Neskonlith leadership, and O’Leary & Associates on this milestone.”
This project was founded in an extremely innovative and unique approach, leading the Provincial and Federal governments through a process based around Neskonlith’s traditional community engagement and decision making ways, while ensuring key outcomes were achieved for all parties. This was very technically challenging; designing a major infrastructure project and navigating Section 35 of the Indian Act are both complex processes.
Tk’wem7íple7s re qelmúcw (Chief and Council) made it clear from the onset of this project that it was important to integrate culture, language and tradition into the project and that any decisions must come from the members of community. This started through Tskelé ̓ l̕nemstcwes re stet̕ex7ém (listening to the Elders), along with background research of Secwépemc tradition and law. Whenever possible Secwépemctsín words, phrases and processes were included in project material.
“Congratulations to Neskonlith leaders and community members for being recognized nationally for excellence in collectively promoting their communities, furthering their economic development priorities and integrating culture, language and tradition through the Trans-Canada Highway Twinning Project,” passed along Peter Milobar – MLA, Kamloops-North Thompson, Critic Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation. “I look forward to seeing future initiatives incorporate a similar best practice with collaboration and meaningful consultation.”
After this innovative engagement campaign, there was 92% community support for continuing to move the project to the next phase of design.
“This project is a perfect example of how truly meaningful consultation and engagement with Indigenous communities, when done well, can result in a very positive and collaborative outcome for all parties,” remarks Colin O’Leary, Principal of O’Leary & Associates and project consultant for the Tmicw department at Neskonlith.
While the process of designing and constructing a highway expansion is time-consuming, with project completion still years away, the recognition of this project by EDAC is a further testament to the true power of Indigenous Peoples and government rethinking how they work together.
EDAC is Canada’s national association of economic development professionals, with nearly 1,000 members representing each province and territory across Canada. For more information on the Marketing Canada Awards, visit www.EDAC.ca.
For more information from the Neskonlith Indian Band:
Judy Wilson
Chief, Neskonlith Indian Band judywilson@neskonlith.net
778-694-9496
For more information from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure:
Media Relations
Government Communications and Public Engagement
250-356-8241
For more information about the award or project activities:
Colin O’Leary
Principal, O’Leary & Associates colin@olearyandassociates.ca
250-299-3631
