Designation Celebrated
It was a wonderful celebration with seventy-five guests on September 18th, 2021 to mark the official UNESCO designation of Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound as Canada’s 19th Biosphere Region. The event, (under COVID-19 restrictions), took place at the Gleneagles Clubhouse and Banquet Hall in West Vancouver.
M/C Bob Turner, filmmaker and founding director of the Biosphere Initiative opened by saying “we are here tonight to celebrate the designation and to remember how we got here and to reflect on the journey ahead.”
Squamish Nation spokesperson Syetáx̱tn/Chris Lewis, Council member and Co-Chair Joyce Williams, Ta’hax7wtn/Randall Lewis, and Norman Lewis began with opening remarks, song, and drumming that started the event off in a good way.
Syetáx̱tn explained we are gathering at what we now know as Horseshoe Bay, but was known to the Squamish people as Ch’ax̱áy meaning “sizzling sound”, reminding us the area was once abundant with herring.
Mayor of West Vancouver, Mary-Ann Booth, welcomed everyone to the District’s portion of the Biosphere Region and pointed out the highlights of the area within the Howe Sound watershed.
Dr. Eleanor Haine, Program Officer with the Canadian Commission for UNESCO travelled from Ottawa for a tour of the region and to join the celebration. Her role is to ensure nominations of the highest quality are submitted to UNESCO, and she shared the comment from UNESCO commending the Howe Sound Biosphere Region Initiative on the quality of the submission. Dr. Haine then introduced Secretary-General Roda Muse who provided her congratulations for the tremendous achievement through a pre-recorded message (see below).
Rebecca Hurwitz, Chair of the Canadian Biosphere Reserve Network and Executive Director of the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Trust welcomed Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound to the Network and family of 18 Canadian UNESCO Biosphere Regions.
“I can tell you how important the conversations you are having today to the future of the biosphere initiative, so take that time to really enjoy those conversations, to think about what you are paying forward with the stewardship for future generations. To document that and really witness it.”
Ruth Simons, the lead of the initiative for the UNESCO designation spoke about the journey and acknowledged the long list of those involved in the process, past and present, over the past five years.
“We could have filled this room tonight with people who care about the region and have contributed”
A carved paddle symbolizing the effort of paddling together on the journey was presented to Ruth Simons on behalf of the Board and other guests by Suzanne Senger. Ruth was then wrapped by Joyce in a blanket and Syetáx̱tn explained:
“One of the highest honors by Sḵwx̱wú7mesh is to stand somebody up in front of all the people and wrap a blanket around them, we call that esemkwu. It is not only to wrap but to wrap with all the love and compassion and to recognize someone that they have achieved something great.”
Many thanks for the contributions towards the event go to:
Art by Di for auction of two beautiful prints
The Toast by the Future of Howe Sound Society
$10,000 Donation to the Howe Sound Biosphere Region Fund by the West Vancouver Foundation.
All photos by Chris Dietrich
