YouB次元官网网址檝e probably seen it if youB次元官网网址檝e taken the time to attend an official community function on Vancouver Island in recent years.

Mayor so-and-so at a podium B次元官网网址� clutching a staff report, scissors, shovel or oversize cheque B次元官网网址� saying B次元官网网址淚 would like to acknowledge we are on the traditional territory of (insert local First Nation here)B次元官网网址� before proceeding with whatever is the matter at hand.

First Nations roots run deep across Vancouver Island and acknowledging the territories of the first people is a practice most B次元官网网址� but not all B次元官网网址� Vancouver Island city councils do before city meetings and other official events.

But have you ever wondered why?

According to the chair of the First Nations Studies Department at Vancouver Island University, itB次元官网网址檚 simply good manners on two different fronts.

Acknowledging territory is part of a longstanding protocol on Vancouver Island. It is a formal historic practice that has continued among Indigenous communities for hundreds of year.

And it also makes formal acknowledgement of the need for reconciliation. It is a statement that recognizes the traditional territory of the Indigenous people who called the land home before the arrival of settlers.

B次元官网网址淩ecognizing the land and the communities informs people of the colonial history of our region, specifically, that treaty processes/land surrenders have not yet taken place,B次元官网网址� said Laurie Meijer Drees. B次元官网网址淭he land is what hosts us all, it is a precious resource that holds all our lives. Acknowledging where we are is good for our souls and it keeps us humble and grateful.B次元官网网址�

Meijer Drees added that acknowledging the land or territory in formal government meetings is a sign of understanding Canadian society to be made up of multiple nations and settler communities.

B次元官网网址淚t is thus good diplomacy to acknowledge nation-to-nation conversations,B次元官网网址� she said.

The Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District sits within the traditional territories of 10 First Nations, and acknowledges the territories in which it holds its meetingsB次元官网网址攐n Hupacasath and Tseshaht territories.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 always the case that a regional district meeting, no matter where you are in B.C., takes place on traditional territory of one or more First Nations, and so doing that acknowledges the historic relationship that Canada and its predecessors had with First Nations,B次元官网网址� said ACRD board chair John Jack.

Jack, who was , said thereB次元官网网址檚 a difference between acknowledging B次元官网网址渢raditional territoriesB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址渦nceded territories.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚f you say traditional territoryB次元官网网址�youB次元官网网址檙e on lands that are subject to a treaty,B次元官网网址� Jack said. B次元官网网址淚f thereB次元官网网址檚 no treaty there, youB次元官网网址檙e better off saying unceded territory or just territory.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚t really pays for any organization, especially governmental ones, to acknowledge that, because itB次元官网网址檚 best practice to assume that a First Nation has a right.B次元官网网址�

Qualicum Beach is one of a handful of Island communities that does not acknowledge First Nations before government meetings. Town councillor Barry Avis wants to change that.

B次元官网网址淚 introduced a motion of notice in late November to recognize the First Nation territory,B次元官网网址� Avis said. B次元官网网址淲e have good relations here in Qualicum Beach with our (First Nations) bands and Mike Recalma is our chief and heB次元官网网址檚 always very supportive of our town and involved with most of the things we do.B次元官网网址�

HeB次元官网网址檚 still waiting for a response

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e asked a couple times when itB次元官网网址檚 going to come out of being deferred but our mayor has passed it on to our top staff person to work with the First Nations to see what we can do,B次元官网网址� Avis said. B次元官网网址淭he First Nations chief has said he would like us to do it. We havenB次元官网网址檛 come to a vote yet because at our meeting after I made the notice of motion, our mayor just deferred it. That means until it comes back out it stays in that position. ItB次元官网网址檚 kind of frustrating for me but thatB次元官网网址檚 the status.B次元官网网址�

Avis said that during Vancouver Island Regional Library board meetings, that he chairs, and museum board meetings, they acknowledge First Nations territories before beginning. He said it is important

B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 important to me because of the territories that weB次元官网网址檙e on and the relationship with our First Nations,B次元官网网址� he said.

Courtenay is another Island city currently not making the acknowledgement. Rebecca Lennox Courtenay city councillor, recently put in a resolution to acknowledge First Nation territories at their city meetings. Historically, Courtenay has not done an acknowledgement.

B次元官网网址淚t will be on our March 19 agenda to start that practice,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 assume that it will pass.B次元官网网址�

Lennox, who was elected in 2014, said she was inspired to propose a motion after the Comox Valley Regional District recently began acknowledging First Nations territories at their meetings and from a growing relationship with the KB次元官网网址櫭砿oks Fist Nation.

B次元官网网址淸Courtenay city council] just recently had the good fortune of going to KB次元官网网址櫭砿oks for a half day and working with the KB次元官网网址櫭砿oks chief and council to learn more about their history and just how we can work together more,B次元官网网址� Lennox said.

She said bringing forward the motion is a bit overdue, but B次元官网网址渂etter late than never.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭here seems to be a lot more hope for the future as a team than there used to be,B次元官网网址� she said.

A partial list of Island city councils that acknowledge First Nations territories before council meetings:

Ucluelet

Tofino

Port Alberni

Parksville

Ladysmith

Nanaimo

North Cowichan

Colwood

Victoria

Esquimalt

Saanich