On the Path of Reconciliation: Katzie Nation, Kwantlen Nation, Matsqui Nation, Semiahmoo Nation, and Langley City

Last night was the first Langley City council meeting since the end of July. Like most municipalities in BC, there are generally no meetings held in August.

One of the items on last night’s agenda was a motion about “acknowledging the Traditional Territory of the Katzie, Kwantlen, Matsqui and Semiahmoo First Nations.” This is the territory where Langley City is located.

In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission released several calls to actions, including actions that can support indigenous people and local governments moving toward reconciliation.

For how these actions relates to local governments, the Union of BC Municipalities has a section of their website called “Communities Reconciling.”

Since I’ve been on Langley City council, there has been no formal process of reconciliation that I am aware of, though we do have a relationship with the Kwantlen Nation. As part of moving toward reconciliation, council passed the following motions unanimously following a good amount of discussion.

THAT at the beginning of each Council Meeting held in Council Chambers, the presiding member acknowledge that the land on which we gather is on the traditional unceded territory of the Katzie, Kwantlen, Matsqui and Semiahmoo First Nation

AND

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the City of Langley formally acknowledge that the City of Langley is on the unceded traditional territory of the Katzie, Kwantlen, Matsqui and Semiahmoo First Nations;

FURTHER THAT Council direct staff to invite representatives from the Katzie, Kwantlen, Matsqui and Semiahmoo First Nations to work with the Mayor and Council to develop appropriate protocols for the City of Langley to use in conducting City business that respect the traditions of the Katzie, Kwantlen, Matsqui and Semiahmoo First Nations.

This is a good first step forward on the path of reconciliation, and is a difficult journey that we must take.

More information about the calls to action for local government from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission are available from the UBCM website. You may also want to read the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples which was recommended by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that all levels of government adopt and implement.