The Town of Sidney has signed its first government-to-government agreements with the Tsartlip and Tseycum First Nations, formally committing to work together on environmental protection, jobs, culture, and emergency planning. The agreements, signed July 10, were announced July 13 and mark a new chapter in the relationship between Sidney and the W̱SÁNEĆ communities on the Saanich Peninsula, British Columbia.
According to the Town of Sidney, the Memorandums of Understanding set out shared priorities such as protecting the environment, supporting local jobs, learning about culture, preparing for emergencies, creating space for artwork, and caring for ancestral sites. Regular meetings will guide annual workplans grounded in the W̱SÁNEĆ principles of ÁTOL (respect), ĆȺINEUEL (working together), and HIWESTEL (partnership).
“Entering into this MOU marks the beginning of a formal government-to-government relationship between the Town of Sidney and Tsartlip and Tseycum Nations, providing a framework for greater collaboration between our communities,” said Sidney Mayor Cliff McNeil-Smith.
The agreements were arranged through the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council, a unified governing body formed by the two Nations in 2018 to promote common interests. Chief Curtis Olsen of Tsartlip First Nation said the MOUs create a clear process for working together. “As W̱SÁNEĆ People, we care deeply about this place. We are committed to building positive, respectful relationships with our neighbours here,” he said. “These MOUs establish a table and a process for us to collaborate with the municipalities of Central Saanich and Sidney. This is how effective governments can work together.”
The MOUs will be reviewed every two years to keep them current with community needs and evolving priorities. The agreements align with Sidney’s Official Community Plan and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. In early 2025, Canada and British Columbia formally recognized the W̱SÁNEĆ Nation as the successor to the 1852 Douglas Treaties, adding historical weight to the new pacts.
