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Joint ʔaq̓am, city meeting explores common goals and priorities

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Leadership with the ʔaq̓am community and City of Cranbrook recently held a joint meeting together to discuss and explore common goals and priorities.

The day-long session on Oct. 24 gave leadership with both communities an opportunity to address important strategic priorities common between ʔaq̓am and Cranbrook, with a focus on safety, security, housing, water and infrastructure and language and culture, according to a news release.

“The strength of the ʔaq̓am community lies in the character and resilience of its people. In our roles as Nasuʔkin and Council, we are accountable to the ʔaq̓am community,” said Nasuʔkin Joe Pierre.

“The well-being of our community is our priority. In actively building a strong relationship with the City of Cranbrook, we can look toward an era of positive change for our communities.”

Cranbrook Mayor Wayne Price concurred.

“This was a very positive and constructive meeting, one that I think has started laying the foundation for our communities to work together and focus on the important issues that we all share,” said Price. “I am looking forward continuing this journey together.”

Both communities are committed to working together, and have agreed to hold scheduled Council to Council meetings starting in 2024 with a focus on solidifying relations and finding ways of collaboration between ʔaq̓am and the City of Cranbrook.

Stemming from that session, Cranbrook councillor Lynnette Wray gave a notice of motion at the Oct. 30th city council meeting directing staff to update the Ktunaxa traditional territory acknowledgement for ʔa·kisk̓aqǂiʔit (Cranbrook) that prefaces every meeting in council chambers.

The joint meeting is a key goal of the Regional Community to Community (C2C) program, which is sponsored by the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM).

The C2C program is designed to help increase understanding and improve overall relations between First Nations and local governments, supporting dialogue to build relationships, support reconciliation efforts, and help resolve issues of common interest or concern.



Trevor Crawley

About the Author: Trevor Crawley

Trevor Crawley has been a reporter with the Cranbrook Townsman and Black Press in various roles since 2011.
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