Snuneymuxw First Nation Welcomes Public to Conversation About Douglas Treaties
B. McPherson Grand Chief Shawn Atleo, third from left, and Snuneymuxw Chief Douglas White, fourth from left The Snuneymexw First Nation held the third in a series of information meetings about the historical Douglas Treaties signed in the 1850’s with groups of indigenous people on Vancouver Island. At the time Britain claimed Vancouver Island as a colony, but wished to engage in peaceful settlement and resource extraction. This third in the series was held at the Nanaimo’s main library. The public was treated to native dancers in the Diana Krall plaza before the lecture. The young people carried on in spite of the rain, hail and finally a burst of sunshine and a rainbow over the harbour. Inside the library, the overflow crowd was addressed by Grand Chief Shawn Atleo a...