The District of Houston is going to implement an anti-racism protocol, following a recommendation to that effect by Mayor Shane Brienen.
Brienen introduced the topic as a notice of motion at the District of Houston’s June 6 council meeting.
“Creating an anti-racism protocol will not only ensure the protection of marginalized communities but also contribute to building a stronger, unite and cohesive municipality,” a background memo from Brienen indicated.
And in speaking to his recommendation, Brienen said an anti-racism protocol was an important step for the District to take.
The recommendation was approved by all council members.
The protocol will now be framed by staffers and returned to council for discussion and adoption.
It also follows a May 19 session of council members and senior staffers on Wet’suwet’en culture and history held at the community of Witset just west of Smithers.
“What an amazing day,” councillor Troy Reitsma commented on the occasion. “There was a lot of learning and it was pretty eye-opening.
He also recommended reading “Shared Histories,” a history of relations between the Wet’suwet’en people and Smithers in the early to mid part of the last century.
“It’s a pretty amazing piece of literature and of some history there that we don’t really know that we need to,” said Reitsma.
Written by Tyler McCreary, who grew up in Smithers and is now an assistant professor at Florida State University, “Shared Histories” won the 2019 B.C. Lieutenant-Governor’s award for historical writing.