(Image Credit: Curtis Goodrum / CFJC Today)

By Curtis Goodrum

SILGA RESOLUTION

Kamloops councillor Sarai hopes for municipal voice in reconciliation legislation

Feb 11, 2026 | 5:11 PM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops councillor Bill Sarai is asking for more municipal government involvement in the province’s reconciliation and cultural conservation policies. 

He brought forward the resolution in last week’s council meeting and it is now going to the Southern Interior Local Government Association (SILGA). 

Sarai describes the wording in the Cultural Conservation Act and the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) as lacking clarity, with municipalities left to fend for themselves on the issue.

“I think the province and Premier Eby need to be very clear that the decisions are being made in Victoria. We have a great relationship with our First Nations groups. We want to keep building on that. We need to clearly define our responsibilities and what we can tell our residents,” said Sarai.

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Sarai’s comments follow remains being found last June on a North Shore property slated for development. The property owner reported the findings, work stopped and the site was declared sacred by Tkʼemlúps te Secwépemc. 

The land owner was given a bill for more than $80,000 for the archaeological work. It prompted widespread questions around the rights of property owners and whether the province should foot the bill.

“What is not helping is it’s a very gray area on the municipal side of the province’s process of truth and reconciliation to do with the Heritage Act. It looks like the property owner, right now, has no avenue of reaching out to find out what the process is,” said Sarai.

Sarai says the city and Tkʼemlúps te Secwépemc have a good relationship and he hopes it’s strengthened through this resolution.

“To be able to add our voice to this is how it’s going to affect the municipal governments at the ground level that have to and want to have relationships with our First Nations. Truth and reconciliation is a two-way street we want to walk down together. What the government’s doing right now is pulling us apart and making us walk in different directions,” said Sarai.

The resolution will go forward at the next SILGA meeting.