Chiefs from four First Nations communities are telling Aaron Gunn to “chillax” after the MP criticized land acknowledgements in a statement posted Monday on X.
In the statement, Gunn said if the federal government believes in the private property rights of Canadians, it should stop opening meetings by proclaiming they are on the unceded territory of a First Nation or First Nations.
“Doing so reinforces the radical and dangerous legal concept that most Canadians live on “stolen land”,” Gunn said. “This is Canada. One country. For all Canadians.”
Chiefs from Tla’amin Nation, Homalco First Nation, K’ómoks First Nation and Klahoose First Nation issued a joint statement responding to Gunn’s remarks.
“Yesterday on social media, the MP appeared to crash out and demand to speak to the manager of land acknowledgements, a position that observers confirm does not exist,” the statement said. “Chiefs whose territories make up the riding had two words for the MP – Chillax, Bud.”
The four nations are located within the North Island—Powell River federal riding.
The statement said land acknowledgements have never seized property, cancelled mortgages, repossessed vehicles or altered title deeds in Canada.
“Chiefs across the region continue to reassure the public that land acknowledgements have not, to date, resulted in any land back.”
