Nelson city council will now name four groups in the aboriginal acknowledgement that begins each council meeting.
Until now, the statement has been generic, without identifying any band or nation
But after a change adopted Monday, it will read: “We would like to acknowledge that the land on which we gather is the traditional territory of the Ktunaxa, the Syilx, and the Sinixt peoples, and is home to the Metis and many diverse aboriginal persons. We honour their connection to the land and rivers and respect the importance of the environment to our strength as a community.”
The amendment was made at the urging of outgoing councillor Anna Purcell.
Purcell says her motion was modelled on what Selkirk College does.
However, council tinkered her motion a bit, removing the word “unceded” in “traditional territory.”
At the urging of councillor Bob Adams, who is Metis, council also stuck with “aboriginal persons” rather than going with Purcell’s suggestion of “indigenous persons.”
The original aboriginal acknowledgement was adopted in 2016.