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RECONCILIATION AWARDS

Williams Lake First Nation Chief Willie Sellars recognized with B.C. Reconciliation Award

Jul 12, 2023 | 10:32 AM

WILLIAMS LAKE, B.C. — The chief of Williams Lake First Nation (WLFN) was recognized with a B.C. Reconciliation Award.

In a news release issued Wednesday (July 12) morning, the B.C. government says WLFN Chief Willie Sellars is one of four individual recipients for 2023.

Sellars was first elected to WLFN council in 2008 then elected as chief in 2018. The province recognizes Sellars of playing a key role in:

  • the search of the former St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School
  • negotiating three agreements with local mines to create job opportunities and community revenues to fund program for WLFN youth, elders and vulnerable residents
  • concluding the first government-to-government agreement under B.C.’s cannabis act to help create the WLFN Unity Cannabis retail chain

The B.C. Reconciliation Awards award recognizes individuals and organizations that have demonstrated exceptional leadership, integrity, respect and commitment to furthering reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples in B.C., or inspired others to continue reconciliation efforts.

The award recipients will be recognized in a ceremony held at Government House in Victoria in 2024. The province says the selection committee includes representation from Indigenous Elders and leadership, including Tk’emlúps te Secwe̓pemc Kúkpi7 Rosanne Casimir.

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