Vancouver council starts fresh with First Nations – Vancouver Courier

From his front row seat in the council chambers, Robert Joseph watched and listened to a historic ceremonial event at city hall Tuesday that left him proud and hopeful for future relations between First Nations and governments.

As hereditary chief of the Gwawaeanuk First Nation near Alert Bay and the ambassador for Reconciliation Canada, Joseph has dedicated his adult life to bridging differences borne from intolerance, ignorance and racism.

“When I first came to Vancouver in the 1960s as a young man, anything involving aboriginal spirituality or culture was considered taboo,” Joseph told the Courier after a traditional “brushing-off” ceremony for the newly elected council. “Here we are these decades later and our leadership in this great municipal hall of Vancouver are open to the idea that all of our spiritual ways and beliefs have value and purpose.”