May 2025
Occasionally, we identify matters from around the Province that may be of interest to Shuswap Waterfront Owners, which we believe should be shared for your information. One such item is the “shíshálh Nation – British Columbia Foundation Agreement” on the BC Sunshine Coast. This Agreement has resulted from negotiations and consultations between the shishalh Nation,and the BC Government, and with further consultations with the Sunshine Regional District, private lant owners and others. Rather that trying to summarize this information, we have excerpted the following information, noted between asterisks, taken from a press release from the BC Government, last updated on May 20, 2025. The documents contain links where you can find more, detailed information on the various agreements.
“In 2018, shíshálh Nation and the Province made history by signing the shíshálh Nation – British Columbia Foundation Agreement.
On this page
- Updates and engagement on the shíshálh Nation – British Columbia Foundation Agreement
- 2024 Foundation Agreement Renewal
- 2018 Foundation Agreement
This is the province’s first Comprehensive Reconciliation Agreement (CRA), a long-term phased agreement focused on government-to-government relations that recognize inherent rights and title.
This phased approach to long-term reconciliation, where the Foundation Agreement is renewed periodically, helps to create transformative change in a way that is predictable and transparent, and allows for learning to occur as shíshálh Nation and the Province’s relationship unfolds over time.
The Province and shíshálh Nation have made substantial progress together since signing the Foundation Agreement in 2018. The first phase of the Foundation Agreement concluded in 2023, at which time the Province and shíshálh Nation negotiated commitments for the second phase, represented by the Agreement renewal.
- Read the shíshálh Nation – British Columbia Foundation Agreement Addendum Regarding Medium-Term Milestones (2024)
- Read the shíshálh Nation – British Columbia Foundation Agreement (2018)
- Read the Foundation Agreement renewal fact sheet
- Read the Foundation Agreement renewal Q&A (PDF, 435 KB)
The shíshálh Nation is located on the Sechelt Peninsula of the Sunshine Coast, 50 kilometres northwest of Vancouver. The shíshálh swiya – meaning world or birthplace – covers 514,520 hectares (1,271,407 acres) that stretch from x̱enichen (northern end of Jervis Inlet) to kalpilin (Pender Harbour), and from kwekwenis (Lang Bay) in the west and xwesam (Roberts Creek) in the southeast.
As work to implement each component of the Foundation Agreement renewal begins, the Province and shíshálh Nation continue to be dedicated and serious about the importance of planned engagement with local governments, interest holders and Sunshine Coast residents, so that everyone is brought along.”
One of the major issues that has been discussed during consultations is a familiar one to SWOA members – docks, boat houses, and buoys – adjacent to waterfront properties along the Sunshine Coast. These issues resulted in development of A Dock Management Plan setting out co-management of environmental and cultural values throughout the foreshore.
“Dock Management Plan"
The Province and shíshálh Nation launched the Dock Management Plan (DMP) in 2018. The DMP supports the Province and shíshálh Nation’s co-management of environmental and cultural values found throughout the foreshore.
“Following public engagement, in 2024 both governments announced updates to the DMP to respond to concerns and balance interests. These updates were informed by the work and submissions of members of the Dock Management Plan Advisory Group.
Among the updates is a three-year transition period, which allows existing dock and boathouse owners to keep their current structures and register them through an online self-registration form. During the three-year transition period, all self-registered docks will be reviewed with the goal of transitioning them into longer 20-year renewable authorizations.
The Agreement renewal reaffirms the August 2024 changes to the Dock Management Plan and reinforces B.C. and shíshálh Nation’s shared commitment to completing joint work in the foreshore, helping to provide predictability and transparency for dock owners.
Additionally, the renewal includes plans to conduct more studies in the foreshore, undertake shared monitoring, and fund restoration work conducted by shíshálh Nation. These measures demonstrate our commitment to ensure that foreshore values are managed in a balanced way that sustains them for future generations.
As shíshálh Nation and the Province move forward on these shared commitments, we will continue to engage with new and existing dock and boathouse owners, owners in both marine and lake environments, and commercial dock owners.”
SWOA will continue to follow developments related to these agreements. If you are interested, we encourage you to click on the links in this document to access the various documents that have been released to the public, and in particular to the Dock Management Plan.