City staff directed to arrange meetings with local First Nations

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The City of Fort St. John plans to reach out to local First Nations to arrange council to council meetings.

Staff were directed to reach out after Mayor Lilia Hansen brought up the importance of having conversations with surrounding First Nation communities during council’s meeting on January 11th.

“I think it’s important to sit down and have conversations and find out what issues or highlights are important in each community, what we can work together on,” Hansen said. 

Chief Administrative Officer Milo MacDonald said staff would reach out to see how receptive other communities would be for discussions.

“We will take the bull by the horns and speak to the appropriate people and try to tee up a calendar,” said MacDonald.

Councillor Trevor Bolin asked for clarification on which municipalities should be included in discussions, emphasizing proximity and topics to be discussed, such as health, education and more. 

MacDonald has already arranged one meeting in anticipation of Hansen’s request. 

Council plans to reach out to Doig River First Nation, Blueberry River First Nations, Halfway River First Nation, Prophet River First Nation, Saulteau First Nation, West Moberly First Nations, Fort Nelson First Nation, and Metis Nation British Columbia.