‘The goal was to make amends’

City apologizes to First Nation after losing artifacts from church

The City of White Rock, B.C. has apologized to the Semiahmoo First Nation after losing several artifacts from St. Anne’s church, a small Roman Catholic church on the Semiahmoo reserve.

Members of the Semiahmoo First Nation met with representatives from the City of White Rock and the White Rock Museum and Archives met recently for a ceremony one city councillor described as “emotionally stirring.” The apology is part of a commitment by the city to rebuild its rocky relationship with the First Nations community that lies between the White Rock border and Peace Arch Park on Semiahmoo Bay.

“The goal was to make amends, to acknowledge the hurts and begin the process of healing,” said longtime White Rock Coun. Helen Fathers. “I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house.”

As part of an agreement, the contents of St. Anne’s were moved to the museum in the 1970s and the building was used for other purposes.

The artifacts were displayed for several years before being put into storage at Centennial Arena.

In the 1990s, it was discovered that some of the larger artifacts, including wooden pews, were missing. Their removal may have been related to fire safety concerns, confirmed Fathers.

In a statement, White Rock Mayor Darryl Walker said the city hopes to develop a “deep and lasting trust” with the Semiahmoo First Nation.

Postmedia was unable to reach Semiahmoo First Nation Chief Harley Chappell on Saturday, but in a statement the leader said the Semiahmoo people are “invested in, and excited about, a renewed relationship both with the City of White Rock and with the White Rock Museum and Archives.”