Marking 20 years
of bold journalism,
reader supported.
News
Indigenous
Municipal Politics

An Ancient Coast Salish Ceremony Comes to City Hall

Reconciliation Ritual aims to build bridge between city and Vancouver's First Nations.

Wawmeesh G. Hamilton 17 Dec 2014TheTyee.ca

Wawmeesh G. Hamilton is a member of the Hupacasath First Nation in B.C., and is an award-winning journalist and photographer who has worked in mainstream media since 2007. Find his stories previously published on The Tyee here.

image atom
Squamish First Nation Chief Ian Campbell (right) talks to Mayor Gregor Robertson (left) at cedar brushing off ceremony at Vancouver City Hall. Photo credit: Wawmeesh G. Hamiliton.

The thudding of a deer-skin drum and ghostly howl of aboriginal singers echoed in Vancouver City Hall chambers as six aboriginal women wiped down Mayor Gregor Robertson and city councillors with moist cedar bows.

The event marked the first term and first meeting of Vancouver city council since last month's election. It was also a first for the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations' peoples, who performed the ceremony in council chambers for the first time in history.

The ceremony would not have happened in the past. The three nations were forbidden to practice their culture by federal legislation from 1884 to 1951, and were not allowed to vote until the 1960s.

"Our ancestors wanted us to take our rightful place as nations and today marked the beginning of getting to that place. I think they (ancestors) would be proud of us," said Squamish First Nation spokesperson Chris Lewis, whose aboriginal name is Syetaxtn.

Called Xwip'an in the Coast Salish language of Halkomelem, the ceremony involves brushing an individual with cedar bows dipped in water from a sacred area, in this case from water around Squamish.

In yesterday's ceremony, six aboriginal women walked in procession around the councillors wiping each one of them head to toe with a moist cedar bow. When wiping down, only the bows touched the councillor being brushed off. When finished, the helper blew on the bows sending negative feelings, ill will and hurt away.

"This is meant to cleanse your snaw'um, your body, mind and soul," said Squamish First Nation elder Alroy Baker, dressed in a blanket and wool headband as he explained the ceremony to council. "This is so that you can continue on with the work that you do with people."

Marks new start

Mayor Robertson said the event marks a new beginning.

"The three First Nations lay the foundation for the work that is ahead, preparing us... so that we have a strong mind and strong spirit to help guide us," Robertson said.

The event was part of the city's Year of Reconciliation.

The city's initiative supports reconciliation with aboriginal people by acknowledging the negative effect that Canada's residential school system had on aboriginal people and culture. The city initiative started in June 2013 and ran through to June 2014, but the project didn't end there.

In October, council passed a framework that will guide the city's reconciliation efforts through gatherings with city and First Nations officials; dialogue, public education and arts programs. The framework is four years long and requires annual reports each year.

Some upcoming reconciliation programs will include aboriginal art and displays in Stanley Park, creating and erecting a reconciliation carving at Britannia Park, and the development of a Newcomer's Guide to Aboriginal Communities, Elders and Arts program.

City council also has council-to-council meetings with the three nations -- Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh -- as well as with representatives of Vancouver's 40,000 aboriginal citizens.

The initiative is rooted in a 2013 motion passed by Coun. Andrea Reimer, an ardent advocate for aboriginal issues during her six years on council.

Melding an ancient Coast Salish tradition into city hall is a baby-step in the process of reconciliation between First Nations and the city. When the process started last year, taking that step was easier said than done. The parties were estranged from one another and the reconciliation efforts served as a diplomatic opportunity to get to know one another.

Reimer said she couldn't point to anything tangible that changed as a result of the reconciliation effort. Although intangible, the change in relationships may not be seen but could be felt. "You can't put them in a package and mail them, but they matter a lot more than anything we could have done," Reimer said. "It takes a lot of courage to take the step we did today. We didn't have strength of relationship, shared vision, trust and outcome to do it before."  [Tyee]

  • Share:

Facts matter. Get The Tyee's in-depth journalism delivered to your inbox for free

Tyee Commenting Guidelines

Comments that violate guidelines risk being deleted, and violations may result in a temporary or permanent user ban. Maintain the spirit of good conversation to stay in the discussion.
*Please note The Tyee is not a forum for spreading misinformation about COVID-19, denying its existence or minimizing its risk to public health.

Do:

  • Be thoughtful about how your words may affect the communities you are addressing. Language matters
  • Challenge arguments, not commenters
  • Flag trolls and guideline violations
  • Treat all with respect and curiosity, learn from differences of opinion
  • Verify facts, debunk rumours, point out logical fallacies
  • Add context and background
  • Note typos and reporting blind spots
  • Stay on topic

Do not:

  • Use sexist, classist, racist, homophobic or transphobic language
  • Ridicule, misgender, bully, threaten, name call, troll or wish harm on others
  • Personally attack authors or contributors
  • Spread misinformation or perpetuate conspiracies
  • Libel, defame or publish falsehoods
  • Attempt to guess other commenters’ real-life identities
  • Post links without providing context

LATEST STORIES

The Barometer

Do You Think Trudeau Will Survive the Next Election?

Take this week's poll