📋 Tender Overview
Together Canada British Columbia and Indigenous peoples are working in partnership to deliver infrastructure projects that meet the interests and needs of Indigenous communities and help advance reconciliation for the benefit of current and future generations of all people in Canada.Funding to build a new multi-purpose community building in the Kaska Dena community of Lower Post and to demolish the former residential school building was announced during a virtual event attended by Harlan Schilling Deputy Chief of Daylu Dena Council Marc Miller federal Minister of Indigenous Services on behalf of Catherine McKenna federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities and John Horgan Premier of British Columbia. They were also joined by Chad Norman Day President of Tahltan Central Government John D. Ward Spokesperson for Taku River Tlingit First Nation Carolyn Bennett federal Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Murray Rankin B.C.s Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Josie Osborne B.C.s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Nathan Cullen B.C.s Minister of State for Lands and Natural Resource Operations and MLA for Stikine.Reflecting the communitys interests culture and traditions the new facility will provide much needed recreational educational and cultural spaces for older youth and Elders and the broader community and will accommodate administrative offices for Daylu Dena Council. The facility will include program rooms for beading storytelling and Elders Tea an indoor gym an industrial kitchen a garden and other outdoor recreational areas. It will replace the remaining portion of the former Lower Post residential school that served as office space until it was permanently closed due to water damage in June 2020.The Government of Canada is investing 11.5 million to build the new facility including 10 million from Infrastructure Canadas Community Culture and Recreation Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program and 1.5 million from Indigenous Services Canada. The Government of British Columbia is investing 1.5 million and Daylu Dena Council is contributing 538960. Indigenous Services Canada is providing an additional 1.3 million to remove hazardous materials and demolish the remaining structure of the former residential school.QuotesHarlan Schilling Deputy Chief Daylu Dena Council The Lower Post Residential School building has been a dark cloud over our people for far too long and stood in the center of our community as a reminder of a painful past. It was the only building in our community that we could use for our government. It held our offices our post office and it was a place that people would have to enter every day. Many could not enter it because of painful memories. The one torch that has been passed on from Leader to Leader was to get rid of that building and get our people a new one.We are extremely proud of the work that we have done with the federal and provincial governments to demolish the residential school and to have a new building for our community. It has been a long time in coming and I want to thank all the previous Chiefs who went before me for their commitment to achieve this. Removal of the residential school building and construction of the multi-purpose cultural center will finally allow our community to grow. The multi-purpose building will be the heart and soul of our community. It will be a place for social programs our economic development but most importantly it will be a safe place for people to feel proud and happy to enter each day. Catherine McKenna federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities The new Daylu Dena multi-purpose community building will offer the community a welcoming place to gather be active and share cultural experiences. In partnership with Indigenous peoples provinces and territories we continue our work to advance reconciliation and ensure Indigenous communities have the tools needed to succeed and ensure the well-being of their people. Closing the infrastructure gap in Indigenous communities is an important part of reconciliation and a Canadian imperative for the well-being and economic health of our country.Marc Miller federal Minister of Indigenous Services The Government of Canada has been working closely with Daylu Dena Council on remediation of the former residential school site in Lower Post since 1993. We will be supporting the demolition of the remaining structure guided by Daylu Dena Councils timelines and priorities on behalf of the Lower Post community and the needs of Residential School Survivors so that this dark chapter of the communitys history can finally come to a close. Were also proud to work with federal and provincial partners to support Daylu Dena Councils efforts to build a new facility which will better suit community needs and support healing.Carolyn Bennett federal Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Addressing the terrible legacy of residential schools is at the heart of reconciliation between Indigenous peoples who attended these schools their families and communities and all Canadians. We support Daylu Dena Councils longstanding efforts to build a new facility for the community to gather celebrate and learn while also removing what remains of the Lower Post residential school in a way that is meaningful and that will support healing for those affected.John Horgan Premier of British Columbia When I walked through the residential school building in Lower Post in 2019 I could see from the Elders with me that this was a place of terrible trauma. I want to acknowledge Daylu Dena Council for their unflagging commitment to closing a chapter that has been a source of pain for the community for so long. The new community centre will be a place of healing hope and well-being.
