Since first incorporated in 1953, the District of Kitimat has always sat within the traditional territory of the Haisla Nation.

The District's place within Haisla Territory has not always been well acknowledged, in fact the establishment of Kitimat as a community with strong industrial development took place largely without any effective, or meaningful inclusion.

Haisla Nation also was not immune to the hardships faced by Nations across Canada through settlement and policies of assimilation, from community displacement, to the residential schools legacy, and to devastating sickness.

Reconciliation, partly, is facing a tough past in a new era of understanding.

The District of Kitimat recognizes the importance of creating a new, stronger relationship with Haisla.

Below we share information about collaborations that have taken place to date between the District of Kitimat and Haisla Nation.

As one aspect of the District’s effort to build and sustain a healthy and positive relationship with the Haisla Nation, the District commits to recognizing its place on the Territory of the Haisla Nation.

Wording

“We/I respectfully acknowledge that we are gathered on the unceded territory of the Haisla Nation.”

When to say it

The above land acknowledgement will be provided at the introductions of:

• Any Regular or Special Meeting of Council, including inaugural meetings.
• Any special meeting or gathering organized by the District, where the general public or external representatives are invited to attend.
• An opportunity where the Mayor or a representative of the District of Kitimat has been invited to provide remarks or a speech within the District of Kitimat or within Haisla Territory.

A written land acknowledgement will also appear within the District of Kitimat Annual Report and within any Master or Neighbourhood Plan, and in the e-mail signature of District employees.

Why do we use it

A land acknowledgement is one way, of many, that the District can continually to show its respect and recognition to the Haisla Nation and to honour their ongoing connection to this land.

The District understands that the harmful policies of the past against Indigenous Peoples are still part of the living memory of the Haisla Nation and these acknowledgements are a means to show in good faith our desire to walk the path of Truth and Reconciliation.

First held in 2005, the Kitamaat Open annual basketball tournament came at a time when both the Haisla and District of Kitimat recognized that the relationship between the communities was struggling.

Ellis Ross, Keith Nyce, and Joe Iannarelli among others came together and brought a team of organizers - the public, District of Kitimat, and RCMP representatives - to the table to realize this vision of a shared event.

It was a snowy January when the inaugural event was held, to modest success. From those humble beginnings it has grown in stature and is a staple competition for many teams. The success of the partnership and tournament comes from the philosophy of ‘cultural spirit’ through sport.

The Kitamaat Open Basketball tournament is the longest-running joint initiative between the communities.

The games are hosted both in the gymnasiums at Mount Elizabeth Middle Secondary School and at the Haisla Recreation Centre in Kitamaat Village.

The tournament has run consistently, except for a three-year gap, from 2020 to 2022, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The District of Kitimat and Haisla Nation worked together with artist Nathan Wilson in the creation of a pole, called Bridging Our Nuyem. This pole was raised next to the new Haisla Bridge on September 30, 2024.

Enjoy the below video highlighting the progress of the pole and its significance to local reconciliation.