Four Indigenous chiefs, including Campbell River’s Darren Blaney, published a statement mocking North Island – Powell River MP Aaron Gunn for a statement he made on social media March 10.
“If the federal government truly believes in the private property rights of Canadians, they should probably stop opening every public meeting by proclaiming the gathering on the ‘unceded territory’ of this or that First Nation,” Gunn said. “Doing so reinforces the radical and dangerous legal concept that most Canadians live on ‘stolen land.’ This is Canada. One country. For all Canadians.”
Elected chiefs from the Homalco, Klahoose, K’Omoks, and Tla’amin nations published a joint statement on Wednesday mocking Gunn’s concerns.
“Chiefs whose territories make up the riding had two words for the MP: Chillax, Bud,” says their official press release.
The statement does not acknowledge the First Nations based in and north of Campbell River, who are part of the North Island – Powell River riding. It also does not acknowledge hereditary chiefs in the region.
The four elected chiefs call land acknowledgements “harmless.”
“Land acknowledgements have never seized private property, cancelled a mortgage, repossessed a pickup truck, or altered a single title deed anywhere in Canada,” they say. “They are simply people recognizing the history of the place where they are standing.”
In a follow-up today, Gunn said the issue isn’t with land acknowledgments on their own, but the broader implications of what they represent.
“It’s unfortunate to see a number of bands making light of what is an extremely divisive time in our politics. For the first time in our history, homeowners are receiving official letters from the government informing them that their home may no longer belong to them.
“This is not hyperbole; it’s real, and as a Member of Parliament, it is my duty to stand up for my constituents and their rights,” he said, referring to the recent Cowichan decision, which has left most property owners in Richmond unclear over who holds title to their lands, and the Musqueam agreement, which opens up all of downtown Vancouver to potential aboriginal title claims.
Gunn said decision-making authority is being transferred to groups that 95% of people in the province cannot democratically hold accountable.
“We need to end the kind of identity politics that pits Canadians against one another. Whether you are Indigenous or not, we are all Canadians. We all belong here, and we all deserve to call this place home,” he said.
The chiefs’ full letter is available below.
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