After almost 60 years of hanging in the council chambers at City Hall, the City of Terrace will be returning two talking sticks of major historical significance to their rightful owners.

 This is in line with a national reconciliation effort, that continues today, to repatriate Indigenous cultural objects. Many pieces were separated from their originators on bad terms, and returning lost and stolen items acknowledges past wrong doings and aims to rebuild relationships.

The sticks come from the Dzawada̱ʼenux̱w First Nation, originating from Kingcome Village, which is located in a remote inlet only accessible by boat or plane, on the west coast of BC’s mainland, almost 300 kilometres north of Vancouver.

Marianne and Midori Nicolson of the Dzawada̱ʼenux̱w Nation and Kingcome Village, visited Terrace in the summer of 2024 to view the sticks and discuss the appropriate manner in which they should be returned.  

“We think of them (the objects) as very much alive, and for many years, they’ve been cared for by people other than us," said Marianne. "This is not just a simple case of, ‘Here are these objects.’ We are trying to be conscientious of the whole story, the circumstances under which the sticks left the community, and that they’ve been gone for many years.”

"The City will now wait to hear how Kingcome wants to proceed and we look forward to being part of that, whatever it may look like,” said Terrace Mayor Bujtas. 

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On Friday, May 31, 2024, the City of Terrace and Kitsumkalum First Nation officially renamed the Grand Trunk Pathway with the new name Xpilaxha – Charles and Emma Nelson Trail. A close approximation of the pronunciation would be “SPEE-la-haa”. 

"This is a historic event for Kitsumkalum and for the City of Terrace. It represents a formal recognition of our traditional territory and of the role that Kitsumkalum tribal leaders Charles and Emma Nelson played in the establishment of the City of Terrace. I am encouraged by this important step in reconciliation taken by the City,” said Kitsumkalum Chief Councillor Don T. Roberts.

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All City Council and City staff take part in annual cultural training.  

2024
Staff had two choices for cultural training in 2024. Some toured the Kitselas Canyon, a National Historic Site of Canada that has been an important place to the Gitselasu people of the Ts’msyen Nation for more than 6,000 years. Others attended a talk by renowned Tahltan-Tlingit artist Dempsey Bob. 

2023
In 2023, City of Terrace employees along with members of Council participated in cultural awareness training at the Sportsplex. With Mayor Sean Bujtas moderating, participants heard from Sharon, Isabelle, and Verna, who each shared stories and experiences about growing up in the region and how residential schools and cultural identity affected and continue to affect their lives.

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All City Council and City staff take part in annual EDI training in an ongoing effort by the City to break down barriers, deconstruct biases, and foster and promote an inclusive, respectful, and welcoming environment for all.  

2023
In 2023, all City of Terrace employees participated in EDI (equity, diversity, and inclusion) training at the Sportsplex. The training was facilitated by Skeena Diversity Society program director Saša Loggin and a team from Skeena Diversity.  

The workshop included several exercises that helped staff examine their views and biases, handle incidents in the workplace. They also shared ideas on how to improve inclusivity and multiculturalism at the City of Terrace. Sharing food was mentioned a LOT! 

On Monday, September 27, 2021, Council released a Reconciliation Value Statement, which serves as a foundation to guide decision-making and action related to reconciliation.

The City of Terrace values the Indigenous peoples of the area and seeks to build strong relationships founded in trust and respect. We are committed to reconciliation, founded on understandings of truths experienced through colonialism, residential schools, and systemic racism.

In 2020, the City of Terrace implemented an Anti-Racial Discrimination and Anti-Racism Policy, a public commitment that the City of Terrace will continue to make best efforts to ensure that all who work and interact with the City are able to do so in an environment and manner free of racism and racial discrimination. The policy is included in training that all new Council members and new staff receive. 

We recognize that reconciliation is an ongoing process. Council has undertaken several activities in the ongoing process of reconciliation, including but not limited to:

• Five Community to Community forums with numerous local First Nations

• Authorizing the planting of a commemorative tree in George Little Park recognizing the impacts of residential school and honouring survivors

• Participating in a Reconciliation Dialogue with Reconciliation Canada

• Attending the Reconciliation Walk in Vancouver, 

• Participating in the Button Blanket exercise

• Attending Various cultural workshops. 

• Directing staff to develop an implementation strategy for Call to Action #57 from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. 

June is National Indigenous History Month, and Monday, June 21, is especially recognized as National Indigenous Peoples Day. These celebrations should serve as a reminder that Indigenous history, people, and cultures should be recognized, celebrated, and acknowledged all year round.

The orange flag is raised at City Hall from September 1 to 30 in recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, held annually on September 30. The orange flag is a symbol of our ongoing commitment to Truth and Reconciliation.

September 30 is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It is an opportunity to commemorate the history and ongoing trauma caused by residential schools and to honour those who were lost and the survivors, families, and communities who continue to grieve. This is a federal statutory holiday and as such, the City of Terrace offices will be closed in honour and recognition.

In September 2021, the City of Terrace purchased an orange flag for the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. This flag is raised annually at City Hall on September 1 and remains raised for the duration of September, with the exception of being lowered to half-mast on September 11 for Firefighters’ National Memorial Day, September 25 for Police and Peace Officers’ National Memorial Day, and September 30 for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The orange flag is a symbol of our ongoing commitment to Truth and Reconciliation. In 2023, since the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is on a Saturday and the statutory holiday will be observed on October 2, this flag will remain raised at City Hall until October 2. 

September 30 is also Orange Shirt Day. Show your support by wearing orange at work, school, or when out in the community. Learn more about Orange Shirt Day here.

The Orange Path is a movement that helps each person shape their path toward reconciliation. Start your journey here.

Indigenous Corporate Training has put together a list of 10 things you can do to support Indigenous communities every day.

See the many travel ideas to support Indigenous tourism. Explore Indigenous Tourism BC here.

Use Whose Land or Native Land to learn about the territory where you live, work, or play.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission ran from 2008–2015 and provided those directly or indirectly affected by the legacy of the Indian Residential Schools policy with an opportunity to share their stories and experiences. The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation has become the permanent archive for the statements, documents, and other materials the Commission gathered, and its library and collections are the foundation for ongoing learning and research. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission's final report details 94 calls to action. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a direct response to Call to Action 80, which called for a federal statutory day of commemoration.

Read a concise history of the relationship between Indigenous Peoples and Canada in this report from the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples.

See more about what the Government of Canada is doing to advance reconciliation and renew the relationship with Indigenous peoples.

Learn about the statutory holiday in British Columbia.

Discover some amazing Indigenous athletes.

Join, donate, or learn more about Terrace's Kermode Friendship Society.

Volunteer with Reconciliation Canada.

Explore titles in the National Film Board of Canada's list of Indigenous Cinema.

Discover Indigenous Made Films through Reel Canada.

Watch locally produced film Adaawk, about the Highway of Tears.

Watch The Secret Path.

Learn about the 60 languages belonging to 12 language families and where they are being used in Canada.

See a map of the approximate locations of First Nations in BC here and here.

Find Indigenous awareness training for your workplace.

Check out this #IndigenousReads list for books for children and adults.

Here's a list of 48 books by Indigenous writers to read to understand residential schools.

See what’s going on locally by following:

• Kitsumkalum: https://www.facebook.com/kitsumkalum
• Kitselas: https://www.facebook.com/KitselasAdmin/
• Gitxsan: https://www.facebook.com/GitxsanDevelopmentCorporation/
• Nisga’a Lisms: https://www.facebook.com/NLGNisgaaNation/
• Haisla: https://www.facebook.com/HaislaNation

Follow Reconciliation Canada.

Follow the Government of Canada’s Indigenous Facebook page.