More to be done before a sustainable Canada is achieved

Sustainability is about more than the environment - it's about taking care of socioeconomic issues and ensuring the inclusion of everyone.
That's the message Chief Kim Baird of the Tsawwassen First Nation (TFN) gave as a guest speaker at YWCA Canada's 116th Annual Membership Meeting held in Vancouver in June. Sustainability was the theme of the gathering. Baird shared stories of her community's struggles and successes.
Baird's political career started in 1993, when at age 22 she was elected as councillor for the TFN. In 1999, she was elected chief of the First Nation, making her the youngest woman chief in its history. She has been chief since, totaling four terms in the position.
During her tenure, Baird initiated a productive organizational review, brought management powers to the First Nation, negotiated a favourable joint venture agreement with the Vancouver Port Authority, developed an employment partnership with the construction industry, and negotiated a treaty with federal and provincial governments estimated to be of a $120 million value.
The TFN has one reserve in Delta, B.C. Approximately 390 members of the Coast Salish Nation reside both on- and off-reserve. The population is growing quickly, increasing by almost five times in the past 15 years, Baird explained.
Baird spoke of the impact of colonization on her people throughout history, and of the many political battles she and others needed to fight to achieve the successes they have.
She said much more needs to be done before a sustainable Canada is achieved, especially in relation to the issues faced by many Aboriginal people.
"For us, the work is just starting in implementing the treaty," Baird told Windspeaker. "We have to replace the Indian Act within the next year for our community. And we have a bunch of rebuilding to do that rests solely on us. That's just at a local level. At a national level, governments need to be more proactive in resolving outstanding issues of First Nations people, whether it be civic claims or treaties or self-governance agreements. I don't think we can get very far if those issues aren't advanced."
The involvement of Aboriginal people is key when considering issues of sustainability, Baird noted.
"I don't think it's true sustainability unless it looks at every aspect of society," she said. "And again, I think it's far more than an environmental issue. It has to do with socio-economic issues, culture and well-being of everyone within ecosystems."
There are many things that need to happen before a sustainable state is reached, she added.
"I think it's overcoming poverty.

I think it's having similar living conditions that other Canadians enjoy. I think it's preserving and reviving First Nations culture. I think it's autonomy for First Nations communities, and contributing within the larger fabric of society."
Though the TFN treaty was not reached without criticism and controversy, its success is of major importance for the community going into the future, in terms of the independence and self-governance seen by Baird as vital.
"Our achievement of a treaty is helping our community move forward," she said. "Once we're able to take care of some of our issues at home, we'll be better able to contribute to overall society and the province generally.
"As more First Nations find their way forward it will contribute to sustainability in Canada."
Relationships with organizations like the YWCA are also important in terms of gathering support to improve the situation for Aboriginal people, Baird said.
"I spend a good part of my time trying to explain Aboriginal issues to different groups and the general public, because it is so important," she said. "Communication and dialogue leads to understanding which leads to support for resolving First Nations issues, including issues of rights and issues of socio-economic conditions. I totally believe that sort of dialogue is necessary for any substantive change if we want the public to support it as well, which is an important part of the political process in Canada."
Baird received a warm reception and a standing ovation from an audience obviously moved by her words. Such frank and down-to-earth discussion that educates and fosters networks of support is important, according to Paulette Senior, YWCA Canada Chief Executive Officer.
"It's like (Baird was) in her living room, just talking to us and being with us and actually being herself," Senior said. "I think that's the style that's really important in terms of having us listen. And I think we want to do more and more of that because we need to understand as much as we can so that we can be able to support where we can. Part of having (Baird) here is also finding out what are those avenues in which we can support. We fully support all she had to say and we want to be able to do more."