Halalt First Nation has brought its fight for its water to newspapers.

It is already in discussions with the District of North Cowichan on BC government-ordered watershed management plan for the Chemainus River. And it is due to appear in BC Supreme Court in late May to argue for a review of the environmental assessment certificate that allowed a municipal wells project in its aquifer to go ahead.

But in early May, full-page advertisements appeared in two local newspapers headlined ‘We care about water’. Part of the ad read: “You have been hearing a lot about Halalt First Nation lately, especially since our blockade of Chemainus Road that ended a few weeks ago. We thought that you would like to know more about us and why we have been fighting to protect the Chemainus River aquifer.”

One of the newspapers, the Chemainus Valley Courier, also ran a long feature article about Halalt Councillor Tyler George with a headline that referred to a ‘New voice from Halalt’.

Below is a reprint of part of that article:

But it was Tyler George, the 38-year-old first-time councillor who was often featured on radio and television. He brought to the debate with the District of North Cowichan an in-your-face negotiating stance and a publication relations savvy that some observers felt made the municipality appear to be out of touch.

George said he hopes that he also offered a vision for a new relationship between neighbouring communities and governments.

“We received amazing support for what we were doing from around the Island and other parts of BC,” he said. “The reason it resonated with so many people is because we were talking about a basic human right – the right to water. Canada is sending troops to fight for democracy and human rights in Afghanistan, and we’re fighting the same fight here. It is our responsibility and duty to stand up for democracy.”

Since the BC government brought an end to the blockade in early March, meetings have been held with the province to formulate a process for a comprehensive watershed management plan. George said that the municipality’s wrist was slapped by BC for not properly negotiating with Halalt.

“Meaningful consultation is fulfilled when all parties agree by consensus,” he said. “That hasn’t happened yet, but we are going to make it happen.”

George’s negotiating skills partly come from the six years he spent in Seattle as a finance manager at a Fortune 500 company. Before that, he worked ten years for the School District 69. He spent his first years at Halalt and grew up in the Cowichan Valley.

“I recently moved back home to be closer to my father at Halalt and to work for my community,” he said.

“The aquifer issue symbolizes Halalt’s role for the future,” said George. “Solutions to water and other environmental issues will benefit everyone. It is not an us-versus-them thing. It is all about true democracy.”