Langford Exchange: Of Misinformation and Conflicts of Interest

by Cheryl Bryce

The response below is to a letter Denise Blackwell submitted to the editor of a local paper, Goldstream Gazette. I don’t think my response will be published but the message has been sent.

From: cheryl bryce
Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2008 7:47 PM
To: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Cc: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Subject: Repsonse to: Misinformation mars interchange project
 

 

Dear Editor;  I want to thank you, for publishing Denise Blackwell’s letter. It demonstrates to the public the lack of transparency and accountability. I am sure people residing in Langford, Greater Victoria, BC and potentially internationally will write an opposing response to Blackwell’s opinions.

 

However, one issue I would like to bring to light in reading Blackwell’s letter is potential conflict of interest.

 

Capital Region District Director and Langford Counsellor, Denise Blackwell 

 

Blackwell fails to mention one of her titles in her letter, BC Archaeology Branch Administrator Assistant to Justin Batten, Director.
 

 

How does a bureaucrat in a political position manage conflict of interest?

 

A year and half ago, I met with Justin Batten, Director of the BC Archaeology Branch to discuss potential conflict of interest with Blackwell’s political and employment position’s. I was told by Batten that Blackwell remains silent at the City of Langford on anything relating to archaeology including policies, AIA process.

 

She remains silent when she is working at the Branch on anything related to her political position? This is how she avoids conflict of interest in either position?

 

Upon further questioning of how she fulfills her mandate as a bureaucratic I was provided the response on her silence.
 
In Blackwell’s letter to the editor, she loudly shares her opinion that there are no sacred native sites near the interchange site. It sounds like she has broken her silence.

 

There is more than a conflict of interest to question in her letter. I question her stance on morals and cultural interpretation.
 
She sounds so certain of herself when she says there are no sacred native sites near the interchange. She is not indigenous and doesn’t hold any cultural and indigenous family knowledge of the land.

 

Who said something similar as Blackwell but in 2006?

 

Yes, you guessed right; it was Len Barrie and Les Bjola. At different times they said:

 

"there are no caves on the mountain."

"If I want to blow up a cave, I will."

"There are no archeology sites or evidence on the mountain."

 

Before and after the protest there were sites and artifacts being found.
 
I want to question, the intent the "principles of civility, integrity and honesty" Blackwell mentions in her letter.

 

How is it applied when the province, cities, developers and some individuals continually infringe Indigenous rights and Indigenous title? Is this the same kind of morality used when a settler self-declares what Indigenous people hold sacred?
 
I am Lekwungen (Songhees) and Indigenous to this land.

 

My grandmother shared our family history with me.

 

My grandfather spoke of our connection to the land including sacred sites.

 

I connect to this land in a way settlers never will.

 

Yet, my ancestors and their remains are continually disrespected and displaced and our sacred sites and homelands are continually desecrated.

 

If this behaviour is based on morals of civility, integrity and honesty - then what is a heathen?
 

Cheryl Bryce
Lekwungen (Songhees)
 
Website links for more information on Branch mandates: http://www.tsa.gov.bc.ca/archaeology/about.htm
http://www.tsa.gov.bc.ca/archaeology/policies/
 

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