All council meetings in the Township of 91原创 will now begin with an acknowledgement that they take place on the traditional lands of indigenous peoples.

Councillor Steve Ferguson brought forward the motion Monday, Jan. 25.

It calls for council to acknowledge that 91原创 Township is on the traditional lands of the Katzie, Kwantlen, Matsqui, and Semiahmoo First Nations at the start of every meeting.

Mayor Jack Froese actually began Monday鈥檚 meeting with such a declaration even before the motion was up for debate.

Froese鈥檚 brief acknowledgement also acknowledged the Township鈥檚 relationships with all those nations.

Such statements, often adding the words 鈥渦nceded territory鈥� have become common at the start of government announcements and briefings at the federal and provincial levels.

In B.C. in particular, land is considered 鈥渦nceded鈥� because there were no treaties signed with the vast majority of First Nations when early European settlers arrived in the 19th century, unlike in the Prairies and parts of Eastern Canada.

Ferguson鈥檚 motion was approved unanimously and without debate.