In a recent session at the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, a proposed act aiming to restrict publicly funded employees in schools and other public entities from delivering land acknowledgments was soundly rejected by the majority of members. The initiative was put forth by Dallas Brodie, the MLA representing Vancouver-Quilchena, who was expelled from the B.C. Conservative Party earlier this year due to alleged disparaging remarks toward residential school survivors. Brodie’s private member’s bill, titled the Land Acknowledgement Prohibition Act, sought to prohibit acknowledgments that undermined the Crown’s sovereignty in British Columbia or assigned collective guilt based on race, ancestry, or the actions of historical Canadian figures.
Land acknowledgments are statements recognizing the ancestral territories of Indigenous peoples, acknowledging their historical connection to the land predating settler arrival and continued presence in many areas. These acknowledgments, a long-standing tradition among Indigenous communities, have gained traction in non-Indigenous settings over recent years.
During the legislative session in Victoria, a remarkable 88 out of 93 MLAs voted against Brodie’s bill during its initial reading. Notably, Conservative MLAs Harman Bhangu and Heather Maahs, alongside Brodie and MLA Tara Armstrong, were among the few who supported the proposed legislation. Brodie and Armstrong, former Conservative members, established a new political entity named OneBC in July. Another former Conservative MLA, Jordan Kealy, also endorsed Brodie’s bill.
Following the vote, Conservative MLA Á’a:líya Warbus criticized the bill, emphasizing its contradiction with reconciliation efforts in British Columbia, even if such initiatives provoke discomfort. Warbus stressed the importance of engaging in challenging dialogues about reconciliation to progress on the right side of history. Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Spencer Chandra Herbert highlighted the significance of acknowledging the history of First Nations in British Columbia, noting that attempts to ban land acknowledgments would hinder unity by disregarding essential truths.
In light of the rejection of the bill, the debate surrounding land acknowledgments and their role in fostering reconciliation and understanding Indigenous histories continues to be a topic of significance in British Columbia.