Tseshaht First Nation has accused Hupacasath First Nation of misrepresenting the Tsu-ma-as Transformation Centre project to obtain public funding.
Tseshaht chief operating officer Cindy Stern says the Transformation Centre was sold as an inclusive cultural centre, encompassing the history of all Alberni Valley First Nations, but now the focus is solely on Hupacasath history. For her part, Hupacasath Chief Councillor Judith Sayers says that for the past three years, she has been unable to obtain a commitment from any Alberni Valley First Nation, so her nation will go it alone.
"The project has received over $4 million from ICET (Island Coastal Economic Trust) and the federal government, and it was supposedly about all the people who lived in the Valley," Stern said.
Stern noted that Hupacasath approached Tseshaht about the project in 2004, prior to the election of current Chief Les Sam, but never followed up after the council changed. Communications have been strained, she said.
"We approached Hupacasath about the project last year. It took months to get a response," Stern said. "Then we were told by Chief Sayers that the cultural centre would be about Hupacasath -- no involvement wanted from Tseshaht, and only temporary exhibits from other First Nations."
That means the public money will still be there, but none of the promised inclusiveness, Stern said.
"This will not be a Transformation Centre -- this will be a Hupacasath Centre," she said.
Sayers, however, says Hupacasath did their due diligence. But it's a business deal with millions of dollars at stake.
"We asked Tseshaht and they said 'No,'" Sayers said. "We went to Ucluelet (First Nation), and we put one of their members on our board, and they never showed up for meetings."
Yes, Sayers said, the project was to be inclusive, but no one took up the invitation, and the clock is ticking.
"We've been proposing this for years, and now, at the last minute, people want in," Sayers said.
