Prince George Airport Authority and Lheidli T’enneh First Nation Sign Collaboration Agreement
The Lheidli T’enneh First Nation (LTFN) and the Prince George Airport Authority (PGAA) today signed a Collaboration Agreement. The agreement describes the framework which the two groups plan to use to enhance their relationship. It includes commitments for LTFN Chief and Council and the PGAA Board of Directors to meet at least twice yearly to discuss issues of mutual interest, commitments to ensure inclusion in major events, and a commitment to work together to ensure LTFN is reflected in the airport terminal. The two groups met formally for the first time last August to discuss development of a formal relationship. LTFN Chief and Council and the PGAA Board of Directors have both approved and accepted the Collaboration Agreement.
LTFN Chief Dolleen Logan said “The signing of the Collaboration Agreement today is another big step in our journey toward reconciliation. The PGAA was aware of our signing a Partnership Agreement last June with the Prince George Chamber of Commerce. PGAA called us to request a meeting to discuss a similar agreement that would define a relationship between our two organizations. We worked last fall to finalize a Collaboration Agreement and we are proud to sign it today. Lheidli T’enneh has enjoyed long-standing partnerships with the City of Prince George, the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George and The Exploration Place. This is our 2nd partnership with a key community organization and we couldn’t be more proud. We welcome this new Collaboration Agreement with the Prince George Airport Authority and thank them for initiating it.”
PGAA Board Chair Derek Dougherty added “Our Board welcomes our new relationship with the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation. We all live, work and play on their unceded ancestral lands so it was just natural for our Board to reach out and invite LTFN to join us to be part of our airport community. We are the era of Truth and Reconciliation and new relationships with Canada’s First Nations. We decided that actions speak louder than words and that it was time to extend the hand of friendship and partnership to our Host First Nation and we were thrilled when LTFN said yes, let’s meet and discuss development of a new relationship.”
PGAA President & CEO Gordon Duke states “Our relationship with LTFN is very important as YXS is located on the unceded traditional territory of the Lheidli T’enneh. We have enjoyed a very positive informal relationship with Chief Logan and her team. We felt last year that it was time to formalize the relationship in the spirit of Truth and Reconciliation. We are really looking forward to expanding the Collaboration Agreement and putting it into action.”
