To the Cortes Island Community,

This letter comes in response to a wave of overt racism directed at members of the Klahoose First Nations, both individual members and the Nation as a whole. 

Our community must come together and make clear our anti-racist intentions lest we unconsciously participate in the continuation of institutional and societal racism. 

We, the undersigned, firstly acknowledge that we live on the traditional territories of Indigenous Peoples, including the Homalco, Tla’amin, and Klahoose peoples, whose ancestors have occupied these lands since time immemorial. We write to you today in the spirit of reconciliation and anti racism and invite you to join this expression of solidarity for our Klahoose neighbours. 

 • As settlers, on Klahoose / Tla’amin lands, we affirm the rights of First Nations to make independent choices about their land and resources. 

 • We acknowledge that First Nations make these choices for the benefit of their people. We commit to supporting these efforts.

 • We acknowledge First Nation rights to autonomy, economic prosperity, and self determination. 

 • We commit to lifting up the future generations of Klahoose youth taking direction from their elders and leaders.

 • We commit to listen and understand the perspectives of Klahoose leaders and elders, who are survivors of colonization and genocide.

 • We commit to working as allies alongside the Klahoose First Nation, at their request and direction. 

From the National Museum of African American History and Culture:

“Being antiracist results from a conscious decision to make frequent, consistent, equitable choices daily. These choices require ongoing self-awareness and self-reflection as we move through life. In the absence of making antiracist choices, we (un)consciously uphold aspects of white supremacy, white-dominant culture, and unequal institutions and society. Being racist or antiracist is not about who you are; it is about what you do.”

We invite you to join this letter by signing your name below. For those individuals not ready to make the above declaration we invite you engage in self education and are available to provide anti-racist resources upon request.