Let’s take a look at life at the Tsawwassen First Nation many decades before its historic urban treaty was signed.
Back in those days, the First Nation was referred to as the Tsawwassen Indian Reserve.
On April 3, 2009, the Tsawwassen People ratified the first urban First Nations Treaty in B.C. Work then commenced on creating laws to replace the grip of the Indian Act on Tsawwassen Lands.
"For the Tsawwassen People, the Treaty has given us a cause for much hope, optimism and comfort – to know that we once again control our destiny. We are now going through a period of revival and renewal as we plan our future and seek opportunities to sustain our growth physically, economically and culturally, for present and future generations," the TFN states.
The TFN also became a full-member of the Metro Vancouver, the first First Nation to do so.
In 2021, Delta city council approved a practice of making an Indigenous land acknowledgement at the beginning of council, committee meetings and public events.
Many other municipalities, public bodies and organizations have also begun to acknowledge they are on the unceded territory of Indigenous peoples.
