Re: “Historic Salish paddle returns to B.C.,” May 13.
I think it is complete exploitation of Coast Salish people, Songhees and Esquimalt nations, to have an art dealer try to value something he is selling, on the backs of literal cultural theft from Coast Salish peoples.
It is arrogant and self-serving to present this, using First Nations to increase exposure and value to the item he is going to sell.
This is not the only trade injustice in First Nation works locally, and this needs to change. Maybe it’s time everyone reached out to great chiefs such as Andy Thomas from Esquimalt and Ron Sam from Songhees and get the scoop on the real exploitation here.
This is the same as the city leaving the Nations out of Canada Day for the past three decades. Too many tokens kill sincere relationships moving forward.
Derek Sanderson
Victoria
