COWICHAN TRIBES ANNUAL REPORT 2019–2020 THE QUW’UTSUN SNUW’UY’ULH (TEACHINGS) WELCOME, DEAR READER Tl’i’ to’ mukw’ mustimuhw Each person is important Live in harmony with nature Hwial’asmut ch tun’ s-ye’lh Do the best you can, be the ABOUT THIS REPORT Take care of your health best you can be This Annual Report provides a detailed overview of Cowichan Tribes’ operations and financial performance during the fiscal year 2019-2020 (April 1st 2019 to March 31st 2020). ’Iyusstuhw tun’a kweyul Be honest and truthful in Enjoy today all you do and say This report includes updates from Cowichan Tribes departments and Economic Development entities. In accordance with Cowichan Tribes’ Financial Administration Law, this report also includes our audited Hwial’asmut tu tumuhw Learn from one another financial statements for the fiscal year 2019-2020. Take care of the earth Respect the rights of one another The goal of this Annual Report is to provide accountability and transparency to Cowichan Tribes Hiiye’yutul tst ’u to’ mukw’ members, and highlight the good work of our Nation as well as some of the challenges we are facing. Thank you for taking the time to read this report. stem ’i’u tun’a tumuhw Respect your leaders and Everything in nature is part of their decisions our family – we are all relatives ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Respect your neighbours Yath ch ’o’ lhq’il’ We are grateful to Quw’utsun Sul’wheen (Elders), youth, and community members for guiding our work. Be positive Take responsibility for your actions We are grateful to all Cowichan Tribes leaders and staff for their work to make Cowichan Tribes a healthier, safer, and stronger Nation. Mukw’ tu shhw’a’luqw’a’ ’o’ tth’ele’s All things are connected tu shhwuli We are grateful to all who contributed to creating this report including: Chief and Council, Tribes The family is the heart of life Help one another and work Administration, department managers, Information Systems, Qwiyahwult-hw (Stuart Pagaduan) (artist), together for the good of all members of the Finance and Audit Committee, Cameron Fulton (A/Comptroller), Jeremy Elliot (A/ Ts’iiyulh ch ’u tuni’ s-aamustham-mut Budget & Reporting Manager), and DesignCoast Creative (editorial design). Give thanks for what you have been given ABOUT THE ART Stsielhstuhw tu S-ul’hween Honour the Elders Quw’utsun artist Qwiyahwult-hw (Stuart Pagaduan) has been creating Coast Salish Art for over 25 years. Thuluqtul ch ’u kwthun’ kwunmun Share what you have For some of the Quw’utsun Snuw’uy’ulh (Teachings), the Hul’q’umi’num writing is still in the process of being formalized and approved. 2 COWICHAN TRIBES ANNUAL REPORT | 2019–2020 COWICHAN TRIBES ANNUAL REPORT | 2019–2020 3 CONTENTS Message from Chief William Seymour ...........................................................6 Message from Acting General Manager Derek Thompson ..............................7 Revenue Summary – Message from Acting Comptroller Cameron Fulton .........8 2019-2020 Council Members ..................................................................... 10 About Cowichan Tribes ...............................................................................11 Cowichan Tribes Overview ......................................................................... 17 Departmental Updates ............................................................................... 18 Cowichan Tribes Administration.............................................................. 18 Membership Department & Tobacco Tax .................................................24 Capital Projects ....................................................................................26 Lalum’utul’ Smun’eem (Child & Family Services) .......................................28 Lulumexun (Lands & Self-Governance) .....................................................32 Operations & Maintenance ....................................................................36 Social Development ..............................................................................38 Sustainable Housing .............................................................................40 Treaty Department ................................................................................44 Ts’ewulhtun Health Centre .....................................................................48 Quw’utsun Syuw’entst Lelum’ (Culture & Education) .................................52 Economic Development ........................................................................56 Revenue Summary .....................................................................................62 Expenses Summary ....................................................................................63 Own Source Revenue .................................................................................64 Audited Financial Statements .....................................................................68 Conclusion & Thanks ................................................................................. 91 4 COWICHAN TRIBES ANNUAL REPORT | 2019–2020 COWICHAN TRIBES ANNUAL REPORT | 2019–2020 5 MESSAGE FROM CHIEF proactively with the COVID-19 Pandemic Team MESSAGE FROM ACTING worst flooding our Nation faced in decades to ensure the safety of the community and staff and securing funding to repair damages WILLIAM SEYMOUR of Cowichan Tribes. When COVID-19 began GENERAL MANAGER through emergency programs. in March, we organized quickly to keep our DEREK THOMPSON • Implemented the 10-year funding agreement Cowichan Tribes Chief and Council present the attached communities safe and develop safe reopening with Indigenous Services Canada, increasing Annual Report for April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020. plans. Thank you to all the staff who worked hard Cowichan Tribes members are encouraged to review As the Acting General Manager of Cowichan our fiscal autonomy. the information provided by our senior managers, which to keep our community safe. Tribes, I raise my hands to the Sul’hween • Undertook work to improve the Social outlines activities and outcomes for this fiscal period. (Cowichan Elders), Quw’utsun Mustimuhw, and Determinants of Health of members. Our COVID-19 response included matching the to the duly elected Chief and Council for all the • Initiated Cowichan Tribes’ COVID-19 In the fiscal year 2019-2020, we made great funding provided by Indigenous Services Canada. great work, and their guidance to ensure the response, which included a range of progress toward becoming a healthier, safer This allowed for supports to members living organization reflects the Quw’utsun culture. programs and communications to keep and stronger Nation. Our kids are learning our both on and off-reserve, such as the distribution The operational services are guided by the community and staff safe during the language in the Hul’q’umi’num immersion program of Chromebooks to K-12 students to assist with traditional language, teachings and oral history of pandemic. at Quw’utsun Smuneem Elementary School. education, food fish distribution, an emergency the Cowichan people. distribution of $100 to all members, funding As we move into the autumn, I look forward to We continue working towards taking over full to support cultural activities, and Community I am truly honored to be working with the senior working with Cowichan Tribes staff, managers, and jurisdiction for child and family services. More of Navigators to help members access services. Operational Leadership Team, and the 340 Chief and Council, guided by the The Quw’utsun our children are now staying in the community and We continue to have regular Council meetings employees who are dedicated to providing Snuw’uy’ulh (Teachings) and Nuts’amaat connected to their Quw’utsun culture. to ensure our community stays safe during the optimal services to Quw’utsun Mustimuhw. shqwaluwun (One mind, one heart) to provide Cowichan Tribes became the 89th Nation in pandemic and members get the services and Each of you works diligently towards advancing high-quality services to members and to work Canada to ratify a land code, our Quw’utsun supports they need. our customer service approach, meeting the together for the good of all. Tumuhw. We are also making progress in the daily needs of our community, and ensuring our Treaty process. Under the Hul’qumi’num Treaty For COVID-19 supports please call 250-715-3339. Strategic Plan vision and mission are reflected Group, we successfully advanced the negotiations throughout Cowichan Tribes. Our successes from Stage 4 to Stage 5. We also negotiated an Moving into 2020, we are facing difficult and trying reflect the work of everyone working together as Incremental Treaty Agreement to acquire a large times, but if we all work together, we can get one, I raise my hands in the highest of respect and parcel of agricultural land adjacent to our reserve. through this and emerge as a healthier, safer, gratitude to you all – Huy’ tseep q’u Si’em. Along with member Nations of the W̱SÁNEĆ stronger Nation. Leadership Council and other Island Nations, The past fiscal year of 2019-2020 has brought we signed a historic accord, committing to Huy tseep q’u both triumph and challenges for Cowichan Tribes. work together on issues related to Parks Canada In addition to the achievements noted by Chief operations in our territories. William Seymour, some of Cowichan Tribes’ main achievements and challenges as an organization We also initiated legal action to have our rights included the following: recognized in our traditional territory along the Fraser