In a recent session, members of the Legislative Assembly in British Columbia decisively rejected a proposed act aimed at prohibiting publicly funded employees in educational institutions and other public entities from delivering land acknowledgments. The proposal was put forth by Dallas Brodie, the MLA representing Vancouver-Quilchena, who had been ousted from the B.C. Conservative Party earlier this year for allegedly deriding the testimonies of survivors from residential schools.
The bill introduced by Brodie, named the Land Acknowledgement Prohibition Act, sought to forbid acknowledgments that undermine the Crown’s sovereignty in British Columbia or assign collective blame to individuals based on their race, ancestry, or the actions of historical Canadian figures. Land acknowledgments typically involve recognizing the traditional territories of Indigenous communities who inhabited the land prior to colonization and often continue to do so.
Despite Indigenous communities traditionally practicing territorial acknowledgments for centuries, these acknowledgments have gained popularity in non-Indigenous settings in recent times. During the legislative session in Victoria, an overwhelming majority of 88 out of 93 MLAs voted against Brodie’s bill, a notable stance for a first reading. Noteworthy supporters of the bill included Conservative MLAs Harman Bhangu and Heather Maahs, as well as Brodie, and MLA Tara Armstrong.
Following the vote, Conservative MLA Á’a:líya Warbus criticized the bill, stating that it undermines ongoing reconciliation efforts with Indigenous communities in British Columbia, even if it challenges certain individuals. She emphasized the importance of engaging in challenging conversations to progress towards genuine reconciliation.
Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, Spencer Chandra Herbert, highlighted the significance of acknowledging the history of First Nations in British Columbia, emphasizing that attempts to erase this history have been prevalent for too long. He warned against the divisiveness that could arise from banning land acknowledgments, stating that acknowledging the truth is crucial for unity.
Overall, the rejection of the bill marked a pivotal moment in the ongoing dialogue surrounding Indigenous rights and reconciliation in British Columbia.
