William and Kate’s B.C. tour put a spotlight on aboriginal issues

[Prince William and his wife Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, meet Haida First Nation chiefs in Haida Gwaii, B.C. / The Canadian Press]

Prince William and Princess Catherine bid goodbye to British Columbia on the weekend, following an eight-day tour that went beyond predictable photo ops.

The royal couple’s second visit to Canada put a worldwide spotlight on B.C. First Nations, including the often strained relationship the country’s Indigenous peoples have with the Crown.

They ventured into Vancouver’s gritty Downtown Eastside, a slowly gentrifying neighbourhood once notorious as Canada’s poorest postal code and nexus of the city’s drug problem.

What could be considered a fairly political itinerary, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also met with some of the 25,000-plus Syrian refugees that Canada has taken in since last fall.

Kensington Palace described the Royal tour as one that would “celebrate Canada’s First Nations community, its art and culture.”

Many First Nations leaders and residents did welcome the Duke and Duchess. In just eight days, the family visited the Haida, Bella Bella, and Heiltsuk nations. They met the chief of the Penticton Indian Band and visited the Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre in Whitehorse.

They attended a reconciliation event at Government House in Victoria, where they viewed a “Witness Blanket” artwork that depicts the legacy of residential schools and where William added a ring of reconciliation to the Black Rod, a ceremonial staff that represents the Queen.

But not all First Nations were on board with the pomp and ceremony.

Grand Chief Philip Stewart, president of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, declined an invitation to the reconciliation event.

A majority of chiefs felt it would be inappropriate to attend, in light of the federal government’s failure to follow through on election promises, he said.

“With the deepening poverty of our communities, remembering the missing and murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and the ongoing negligence of Indigenous Child Welfare policies across this country, in good conscience, I cannot participate in the Black Rod Ceremony. The suffering in our communities is too great. I apologize for any inconvenience we may have caused with our decision. We do not mean any disrespect. It is a matter of principle.”

The Haida welcomed the Royal couple in a war canoe and treated them to a cultural feast but they asked that B.C. Premier Christy Clark not attend. Paddlers who ferried the couple to the feast wore t-shirts stating their opposition to liquefied natural gas development.

Days before Royal visit, the hereditary chiefs of five Nuu-chah-nulth nations announced that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was no longer welcome in their territories due to a dispute over fishing rights. No visit was planned in Nuu-chah-nulth territory, but the announcement made headlines.

“R ppl deserve morethan empty gestures,” Pam Palmater, a well-known Mi’kmaw lawyer wrote on Twitter, lauding Stewart for his stance.

Coverage of the tour by the Guardian newspaper in the U.K. mentioned the state of housing in many First Nations communities, the legacy of residential schools, and disputes over resource development such as the Site C hyrdro-electric dam in northern B.C.

The BBC noted that the Royal family’s itinerary included “many chances to witness the impact of the fractured relationship with aboriginal people.”

William and Kate appeared to handle it all in stride and the controversy didn’t dispel the enthusiasm from thousands who came out, regardless of the weather, for a chance to see the Royal family.

In a message posted on the Royal Facebook page, they thanked the people of Canada for their warmth and hospitality.

“We have loved our time in British Columbia and Yukon and will never forget the beautiful places we have seen and the many people who have been kind enough to come to welcome us in person,” it said.

They said they feel lucky to have been able to introduce their children to Canada, and created happy memories.

“Canada is a country of optimism, generosity and unrivaled natural beauty. I hope we have helped all Canadians celebrate what makes this country great. We will see you again soon.”