As a member of the Community Association of Oak Bay’s Sno’uyutth Pole Committee, I attended the recent council meeting in support of the project. Our carver, Clarence Dick, spoke before council about the new bonds of friendship developing between members of Songhees Nation and the Oak Bay community, a point underlined eloquently by councilors Tara Ney and Michelle Kirby and most passionately by Mayor Nils Jensen.
I really appreciated their wise leadership regarding the symbolic importance of Sno’uyutth to both communities and to the students of Oak Bay. The mayor’s words were truly inspiring, and joined by councilors Croft and Zelka, council voted 5-2 to support the pole project, despite councilors Hazel Braithwaite and Kevin Murdock’s attempt to withhold the promised $13,000-plus until all of our $88,000 budget was raised. It’s important to remember those votes and that lack of vision at the next municipal election.
With council’s help, we’ve raised almost $70,000 and are well on our way to our goal of raising Sno’uyutth in front of the new Oak Bay Secondary School in the fall.
p.s. Our next fundraising, benefit concert features the classic rock of Oak Bay’s favourite party band, The Bald Eagles, at The Oaks Restaurant and Tearoom on Saturday, July 11 at 7 p.m. Come out and support the pole project while having a great time with your neighbours. It’s going to be a party at The Oaks. Sno’uyutth (that means “spreading good energy”).
Joseph Blake
Oak Bay