“Just yesterday we received another 3000 signatures to our Salish Sea World Heritage Site petition,” says SeaLegacy coordinator Kait Burgan. “The momentum has been growing in leaps and bounds, and it is difficult to keep up.”
Along with the City of Victoria’s unanimous endorsement for the Salish Sea World Heritage Site nomination over Easter the proposal has similarly received support from Langley, Delta, Powell River, the Town of View Royal and Parksville in the last two weeks.
“We expect to easily have some 10,000+ signatures to submit with our report on April 30th,” says Laurie Gourlay, Interim Director with the Salish Sea Trust – the organization formally submitting the application. “And that’s along with another 6000 names submitted on behalf of the Naturalists.”
All of this bodes well for the Salish Sea World Heritage Site application as it’s reviewed by Parks Canada and government circles, as well as advancing future discussions with the public.
“We were also thinking of sending out a note to the public,” said Gourlay, “with a headline along the lines of ‘Salish Sea Support Unites Young and Old ….Young First Nation Singer and UN Speaker – Ta’Kaiya, and Elder Retired Environment Minister David Anderson have just added their names as supporters …and here is what they’re saying about the need for cultural and natural protections…
“Sheltered from the open Pacific by one of its largest islands, the Salish Sea is an area of outstanding biological diversity and abundance, but at the same time is the location of extensive urbanization, economic development, and resource exploitation. How humankind manages to respect biological diversity and natural eco-systems in an era of unprecedented economic growth is one of the greatest challenges of our times. World Heritage status for the Salish Sea would provide a clear focus for that challenge in this significant part of the world. “ – former Environment Minister David Anderson
“I grew up hearing my grandfather and grandmother speak of the culture that was practiced and environmental abundance when they were small children. I grieved when I realized how much things have changed. Our people were the original stewards and caretakers and have the knowledge of how to live sustainably on the land. If the land continues to be destroyed through pollution, and resource extraction, our culture and language around the Salish Sea will be lost forever. ”
Youngest UN Speaker, and Songwriter – Ta’Kaiya Blaney
The initiative has also received support letters from NDP MP’s Randall Garrison and Rachel Blaney, as well as from Liberal MP’s Pamela Goldsmith-Jones, and William Amos. And just yesterday the Lyackson First Nation wrote a letter of support, and a meeting is planned with the four Saanich Chiefs today.
“The Tentative List application that we are making opens an opportunity whereby all interests are consulted,” states Gourlay “and discussions begin which could lead over a ten year period to a consensual decision for a World Heritage Site to be recognized. There is no pressure, no demands, and any Party can withdraw at anytime and stop the process if they do not agree with it.”
SeaLegacy and the Salish Sea Trust expect to continue their efforts over the summer, and on into the future as partnerships grow and strengthen.
For more information, or print-ready photos: https://www.wearethesalishsea.eco
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