B.C. First Nations chiefs tell MP to chill on land acknowledgment criticism, saying it’s symbolic and doesn’t affect property rights.

Four B.C. First Nations chiefs—Tla'amin, Homalco, K'omoks, and Klahoose—told Conservative MP Aaron Gunn to “chillax” after he criticized federal land acknowledgments, calling them harmful to private property rights. In a joint statement, the chiefs said the practice is symbolic, harmless, and does not affect land titles, mortgages, or property ownership. They emphasized that acknowledgments recognize Indigenous history and presence without altering legal rights or returning land, and noted no such changes have occurred despite recent agreements like the one with the Musqueam First Nation. The chiefs urged that discussions on land acknowledgments be guided by Indigenous voices and not politicized.