Before reconciliation can happen in a meaningful way, Canadians must first acknowledge the truth about Indigenous peoples91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淲hen we speak of unceded, these are our lands and they91裸聊视频檙e occupied. The Canadian and provincial governments have been able to build land tenures that we don91裸聊视频檛 really agree with,91裸聊视频� said Chappell, speaking ahead of Canada91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 an undiscussed discussion on title and ownership of land. Who is the rightful owner? And there91裸聊视频檚 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 it91裸聊视频檚 unceded lands, how is the Canadian government able to sell those lands?91裸聊视频� he asked.

91裸聊视频淔or us as Semiahmoo, there91裸聊视频檚 little to no Crown land within our traditional territory. We91裸聊视频檙e working hard to access what little Crown lands there are and bring those back to reserve and back to Indigenous communities.91裸聊视频�

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 years91裸聊视频� events for Truth and Reconciliation Day, also known colloquially as Orange Shirt Day.

91裸聊视频淭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,91裸聊视频� 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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91裸聊视频淟ast year, I asked people to walk with the intent of healing. Let91裸聊视频檚 walk together, let91裸聊视频檚 support one another, let91裸聊视频檚 acknowledge where we were the year before and see if we can walk together to begin our healing process,91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淭rue reconciliation, true relationships and building relationships with government and citizens, it91裸聊视频檒l take a long time. Our children and grandchildren will take over this work, as well as non-Indigenous children and grandchildren.91裸聊视频�

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 91裸聊视频渁live and well.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淥ne of the falsities I hear is that (residential school) is an old problem, it91裸聊视频檚 an old issue. And in my daughter91裸聊视频檚 presentation, she says 91裸聊视频楳y grandma attended St. Mary91裸聊视频檚 residential school91裸聊视频�. I91裸聊视频檓 talking of my nine-year-old daughter and her 60-something-year-old grandmother.

91裸聊视频淭his is not something so far away that I can91裸聊视频檛 feel it. I need our communities and our public to know that.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淭here are some really challenging and difficult truths that we all need to acknowledge. Once we acknowledge those atrocities and those truths, then we91裸聊视频檙e able to move towards healing,91裸聊视频� Chappell said.

91裸聊视频淚ndigenous people aren91裸聊视频檛 meant to be here anymore. We91裸聊视频檙e not supposed to be here, we91裸聊视频檙e not supposed to do the things that we do. Through the perseverance and strength of our ancestors and elders, we91裸聊视频檙e able to continue on. That to me, is a fantastic message.91裸聊视频�

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