British Columbia

First Nations blessing is a bit of a gray area because they are not necessarily performed as a religious practice. Instead of a prayer, it’s interpreted (by those present) more like a First Nations representative formally acknowledging that the decisions about to be made are made with their participation.

It’s a cultural complexity that elders are often also seen as religious leaders and they’ll often speak in religious terms, but their blessing is foremost under the guise of a representative - not a cleric.

As for a regular Christian prayer… its sole purpose is a ritual for those in that religion.

I would say it's because our white-man* laws came after, and the typical indigenous pretext at meetings is acknowledging that we are gathered on the unceded territory. So really they are letting us have a meeting with their blessing/permission.

Also they say unceded as a nice way; instead of juat saying stolen with acts of genocide.

*or woman ~ Monty Python

If you watch municipal or provincial news conferences it’s fairly common to hear a First Nation blessing at its start, like a recent one in front of Nanaimo Regional General Hospital on Tuesday.

What's weird is the video doesn't show it, and the article doesn't quote it. That said, I think if anything, it's a fantastic compromise. Now not only are we removing direct religious action, we're replacing it with something that helps with reconciliation.

I would also argue there's a pretty large difference between people in power using their own religion to open an event like this, and people in power giving space to those without power to open an event.

It's because it's not religion, it's spiritually and culture. Shit bro most of them doing the things are Christians or Catholic