The Aug. 8 article on the status of long-term planning for the future of the publicly owned Spewhung (Oak Bay Marina) lands, waters and buildings was missing a crucial piece ("Mayor says update on Oak Bay Marina will be coming this fall”).
One of the major reasons that Spewhung was not signed over to the private Oak Bay Marine Group for another 30 years in December 2022 (on top of the preceding 60 years), was the work by community members to encourage Oak Bay council to start the long-term planning for Spewhung over again, this time beginning with meaningful and respectful conversations with the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations. These conversations would address the nations' aspirations for the site and the potential for collaboration, partnership and/or co-management.
And once those parameters were set, to engage Oak Bay residents, this time with a more substantive and better-designed process.
A majority of council agreed with this approach in 2022 and the current five-year lease extension at Spewhung was created to allow the conversations with the nations to take place. As the district said at the time, "Council will be guided by community values including dialogue with the original Peoples of the lək̓ʷəŋən Territory towards advancing strong relationships, prosperity, and stewardship of lands and waters."
It's both disappointing and concerning that this does not seem to have been considered important enough to be mentioned. That, and the fact that so much of the future of Spewhung still seems to be getting addressed behind closed doors suggests that community members, including the 12 organizations that comprise the ReconciliACTION Oak Bay Network, still need to keep a close eye on how this is developing to ensure that Oak Bay's commitments are fulfilled.
Spewhung is one of the most significant sites and most substantive assets that Oak Bay has to offer to advance true reconciliation in our community. We need to plan its future together, in a good way.
Bruce Kilpatrick
Oak Bay
