Motion to recognize traditional territories defeated in 2018 returns tonight

In February of 2018, Merritt City Council defeated a motion from Councillor Diana Norgaard to recognize the traditional territories of the local first nations through a 3-4 vote.

Only two current council members were on council in 2018, Linda Brown and Kurt Christopherson.

Christopherson was fully in support of the motion at the 2018 meeting. Then Councillor, now Mayor Linda Brown however voted against the motion.

“I voted against it because I didn’t think we needed to be told by motion that it had to be something we had to say. That’s why I voted against it at that time. At that time Mayor (Neil) Menard didn’t have an interest in stating it publicly either,” said Mayor Brown.

It should be noted that Mayor Menard voted in favour of the motion in 2018.

“This time around we’ve been talking about it at the administrative level as to it’s time, we need to start doing this. This motion is a kickstart to say now this is a priority,” added Brown. “We’ll have staff take it back a look at an appropriate wording for it.”

Mayor Brown did vote in favour of a second motion to use the deceleration at special events which was approved 5-2.

Councillors will debate the motion proposed by Travis Fehr tonight (June 22).