Before reconciliation can happen in a meaningful way, Canadians must first acknowledge the truth about Indigenous peoplesB次元官网网址� history, says Semiahmoo First Nation Chief Harley Chappell.

One of the truths that he feels has not been accepted not only by the government, but also settlers, is that the majority of land that people live and work on is unceded.

B次元官网网址淲hen we speak of unceded, these are our lands and theyB次元官网网址檙e occupied. The Canadian and provincial governments have been able to build land tenures that we donB次元官网网址檛 really agree with,B次元官网网址� said Chappell, speaking ahead of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 third annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

What is now called British Columbia is actually 95 per cent unceded land of M茅tis, Inuit and First Nations people.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an undiscussed discussion on title and ownership of land. Who is the rightful owner? And thereB次元官网网址檚 going to be lots of different opinions on it. This is a very contentious subject because Canadians have purchased that land from the government when, truly, if itB次元官网网址檚 unceded lands, how is the Canadian government able to sell those lands?B次元官网网址� he asked.

B次元官网网址淔or us as Semiahmoo, thereB次元官网网址檚 little to no Crown land within our traditional territory. WeB次元官网网址檙e working hard to access what little Crown lands there are and bring those back to reserve and back to Indigenous communities.B次元官网网址�

Chappell said that the topic of land ownership is one he has not officially had with the federal government, but it will be coming soon.

The chief also shared his memories of past yearsB次元官网网址� events for Truth and Reconciliation Day, also known colloquially as Orange Shirt Day.

B次元官网网址淭hat event was hard, it was challenging. A lot of the public really had a real will and want to come together and mourn and acknowledge some of the wrongs that have been done in the past,B次元官网网址� Chappell said, recalling the first event held in 2021.

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Thousands of residents and visitors took to the traditional, unceded territories of the Semiahmoo First Nation and the broader territory of the Coast Salish People that Sept. 30.

On the heels of the discovery of unmarked graves of children who were taken to residential schools in Kamloops, the first year was emotional for many. Since then, investigations have led to the uncovering of thousands of unmarked graves, with searches still ongoing throughout Canada.

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B次元官网网址淟ast year, I asked people to walk with the intent of healing. LetB次元官网网址檚 walk together, letB次元官网网址檚 support one another, letB次元官网网址檚 acknowledge where we were the year before and see if we can walk together to begin our healing process,B次元官网网址� Chappell recalled.

He said this year is about spotlighting those who will take over the work in the future, with his daughter set to share a presentation on Saturday.

B次元官网网址淭rue reconciliation, true relationships and building relationships with government and citizens, itB次元官网网址檒l take a long time. Our children and grandchildren will take over this work, as well as non-Indigenous children and grandchildren.B次元官网网址�

Although there are multiple days throughout the year to honour Indigenous history and for the public to educate themselves as settlers, Chappell said that hate and ignorance is B次元官网网址渁live and well.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淥ne of the falsities I hear is that (residential school) is an old problem, itB次元官网网址檚 an old issue. And in my daughterB次元官网网址檚 presentation, she says B次元官网网址楳y grandma attended St. MaryB次元官网网址檚 residential schoolB次元官网网址�. IB次元官网网址檓 talking of my nine-year-old daughter and her 60-something-year-old grandmother.

B次元官网网址淭his is not something so far away that I canB次元官网网址檛 feel it. I need our communities and our public to know that.B次元官网网址�

In the system, which was funded through the government and administered by Christian churches for more than 150 years, Indigenous children were removed from their families and forced to attend schools, where many were abused, in order to assimilate them into Canadian society.

B次元官网网址淭here are some really challenging and difficult truths that we all need to acknowledge. Once we acknowledge those atrocities and those truths, then weB次元官网网址檙e able to move towards healing,B次元官网网址� Chappell said.

B次元官网网址淚ndigenous people arenB次元官网网址檛 meant to be here anymore. WeB次元官网网址檙e not supposed to be here, weB次元官网网址檙e not supposed to do the things that we do. Through the perseverance and strength of our ancestors and elders, weB次元官网网址檙e able to continue on. That to me, is a fantastic message.B次元官网网址�

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