The Salish Sea Spirit embodies shared values for Tsawwassen First Nation and GCT Global Container Terminals

“This house post carries the purpose of conservation and protection of the Salish Sea for all future generations,” says Karl Morgan, distinguished carver and Tsawwassen First Nation member.

The unveiling of the Salish Sea Spirit house post with Master Carver Karl Morgan, GCT Global Container Terminals (GCT) leaders, and Tsawwassen First Nation leaders and  members. Photo from GCT.

How can corporations and Indigenous communities create longstanding relationships based on shared values? What do those relationships require and how can they thrive in the long term? And how can traditional art forms and culture capture the dynamics of these relationships? These are important questions to ask.

In recent years, Canada has seen a continual rise in significant connections between corporate and Indigenous communities based on common ground, shared values and respect. GCT Global Container Terminals (GCT) and Tsawwassen First Nation are longstanding neighbours who are building such a relationship.

GCT operates two container terminals in the Port of Vancouver: GCT Deltaport, which is located in the outer harbour at Roberts Bank, and GCT Vanterm, located in Burrard Inlet.

On June 25th, 2022, the company celebrated the 25 year anniversary of GCT Deltaport with a community open house featuring tours of the terminal, live entertainment, food and a traditional welcome from Tsawwassen First Nation. The celebration was a major milestone for both GCT and TFN, honouring their shared history of stewardship and relations, and strengthening their connection as both parties continue to grow the relationship.

TFN's Executive Councillor Valerie Cross, and TFN members Bella Stark, Elder Ruth Adams and Steve Stark officially welcome all to the GCT Deltaport 25th Anniversary Community Open House. Photo from GCT.

The 25th anniversary also provided an important opportunity for GCT to reflect on their values as an organization and their future commitments to the community, including Tsawwassen First Nation. Earlier in the year, GCT collaborated with Tsawwassen First Nation Master Carver Karl Morgan to commemorate this important milestone by commissioning a house post reflecting the shared values of GCT and Tsawwassen First Nation.

A proud member of Tsawwassen First Nation, Karl Morgan has over 35 years of experience as an artisan carver. “One of the teachings is that the ancestors will guide your hand,” he explains. “Just trust in yourself, be happy and let the cedar speak for itself.”

When he created The Salish Sea Spirit house post, Morgan used red cedar and acrylic paint to tell a familiar story of two neighbours coming together: GCT and Tsawwassen First Nation. House posts serve both cultural and educational purposes for the Coast Salish Peoples because they call attention to the values, features and history of the land where they are placed.

Located at GCT Deltaport, the Salish Sea Spirit honours the ongoing relationship between GCT and Tsawwassen First Nation as neighbours with the shared goal of protecting and sustaining a vibrant ecosystem. For GCT, the house post is a “pathway to honour our commitment to shared prosperity and stewardship with our neighbours… to mark the moment on this journey to a more sustainable, inclusive and equitable future,” says Eric Waltz, President of GCT Canada.

The house post features a powerful orca with the face of a warrior on its dorsal fin to represent the role of the Tsawwassen People as protectors of the Salish Sea. Above the orca, a powerful eagle grips a sockeye salmon in its claws. There is also a dungeness crab and another sockeye salmon in the tail of the orca. Both animals are honoured as culturally significant traditional food sources for Tsawwassen First Nation.

“This piece comes with a message,” explains Morgan. “I hope that it inspires everybody that sees it to stop and think and remember that the Salish Sea needs to be protected and cared for.”

The Salish Sea Spirit “represents the shared goals that we have in understanding that protection goes beyond the environment, it also encompasses the people and taking care of the people that are working there, whether they are out crabbing or fishing, or working on the vessels,” adds Daniel Howell, Vice President of Terminal Operations at GCT Deltaport.

Both GCT and Tsawwassen First Nation value conservation and sustainable business practices, but their shared values do not stop there. Last year, GCT announced the first annual GCT Canada Future of Nations Scholarship for Indigenous Students. The scholarship program is set up to directly support post-secondary students from Indigenous Nations neighbouring GCT Deltaport. GCT started the program with Tsawwassen First Nation in 2022 to annually award a $2,500 scholarship to a student who embodies academic excellence, community involvement and leadership attributes.

“Scholarship programs, such as [this], offer a transformative opportunity for students pursuing post-secondary education by removing the financial barriers that often hinder access to higher learning,” says Jenna Marand, recipient of the inaugural 2022 GCT Canada Future of Nations Scholarship. Marand is a member of Tsawwassen First Nation and a graduate student pursuing her master’s degree at the University of Victoria, focusing on Child and Youth Care.

Tsawwassen First Nation recognizes the immense value of education. In their policy on post-secondary education, the executive council states that “getting an education is the most important thing you can do” because it “opens up a huge number of opportunities” for graduates. It paves the way for more lucrative job opportunities, career satisfaction and improved quality of life.

For Marrand, having that additional educational funding from GCT has made all the difference.

“Such programs provide students like myself with the chance to unlock their academic potential and pursue their dreams of post-secondary education,” she adds.

Applications for the 2023 GCT Canada Future of Nations Scholarship are due on June 30th for prospective Tsawwassen First Nation students. Applicants can learn more about the program and download the scholarship application form from the GCT website. In the future, GCT is open to exploring similar scholarship initiatives with other Indigenous Nations in the communities where they operate.

Initiatives such as the GCT Canada Scholarship Program for Indigenous Students and the commissioning of the Salish Sea Sprit are examples of concrete steps toward reconciliation and relationship building. Looking to the future, there are countless opportunities for the wider business and corporate community to invest in their Indigenous relationships and build shared prosperity together.

For GCT, that means strengthening relationships with Tsawwassen First Nation and other Nations, building a sustainable future for generations to come.

GCT is also proud to be the patron sponsor for the annual Indigenous Partnerships Success Showcase (IPSS), which concluded another successful conference in Vancouver in June, 2023. The conference brings together Indigenous leaders, industry experts and government officials for an open dialogue on economic reconciliation across the country. Attendees heard from leading experts on issues of environmental stewardship, Indigenous rights and heritage, sustainable resource management and more.

Written by CJ McGillivray. To learn more about the Indigenous Partnerships Success Showcase, click here.