To the average Canadian, when the ink is dry on a First Nation land claims settlement, that is the end of it. It is no longer news. But for BC Land Surveyor Ken Kyler and his crew, it is what comes next that makes a land surveyor’s life interesting.
Kyler is with JE Anderson & Associates, a surveying and engineering firm with offices in Victoria, Nanaimo and Parksville, British Columbia. They won the contract from Natural Resources Canada to head to Vancouver Island’s remote north-west coast to undertake the legal survey of 23 existing Indian Reserves that will be deeded to the Kyuquot Checkleset First Nation (KCFN) as part of the first land claim to be settled on Vancouver Island.
His survey team included Party Chiefs Holland Vieaux & Rob Leiper, survey assistants Dan Meutzner & Jake Augustine and a young apprentice from Kyuquot, James (J.R.) Short.
Jeff Tomlinson & Ken Kyler came up with the idea of involving the whole Village of Kyuquot in placing a ceremonial survey post to replace an old Dominion Land Survey post explained Kyler.
The distinctive new brass cap boasts the engraved KCFN logos and the works “KCFN LEGAL SURVEY” where the Crown and provincial name are usually found.
September 15, 2010 representatives from Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and the Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation negotiations teams flew in for the ceremony to meet many of the individuals they had worked with on this historic agreement in their home territory.
Kyler and his crew feel very privileged to have walked these traditional lands with village elders.
“We heard many bits of their history and culture, and of their younger days when they lived on some of the more remote reserves. We surveyed in areas of spectacular scenery, and during our many trips in the water taxis, operators Leo Jack and Peter Hanson entertained us with their knowledge of the area. A special moment was during the survey of the remote Hub-Toul Reserve where young J.R., for the first time, was able to visit his father’s grave site”.