Prince Harry holds talks with First Nations chief over commitment to Canada’s indigenous people

Prince Harry says ‘our collective journey through truth and reconciliation is an important one for all of us’ – ETHAN CAIRNS/The Canadian Press

The Duke of Sussex has held talks with a First Nations chief about the Crown’s historic commitment to Canada’s indigenous people, as the Duke tells of his hope that “we can depart and return as friends”.

The Duke, who was in Vancouver for an event to promote the Invictus Games, said he hoped to learn more about Canada’s reconciliation process, adding: “Our collective journey through truth and reconciliation is an important one for all of us.”

One chief told The Sunday Telegraph that, while “a lot of politicians say it but they don’t mean it”, Prince Harry has offered to resume discussions next year.

The Duke’s father, who is King of Canada and head of the Anglican Church, is considered a key part of discussions about reconciliation, and has previously called for the “pain and suffering” of indigenous people to be recognised.

In 2022, during a visit to Canada, the then Prince Charles said he had been “deeply moved” by meeting the survivors of the residential school scandal, in which children were taken from their families and in many cases abused at church-run institutions.

“All leaders have shared with me the importance of advancing reconciliation in Canada,” he said.

“We all have a responsibility to listen, understand and act in ways that foster relationships between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples in Canada.”

Harry and Meghan greet Squamish Nation councillor, Wilson Williams, and Chief of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, Jen Thomas, at the One Year to Go Invictus Games dinner in Vancouver – ETHAN CAIRNS/The Canadian Press

His younger son Prince Harry has now taken his Invictus Games to the country for a winter sports tournament in 2025, spending three days in Vancouver and Whistler this week to promote it.

Chief Wayne Sparrow, of Musqueam Nation, told The Sunday Telegraph that it “means a lot” to be able to host the next Invictus Games, the event for wounded and sick veterans and military personnel, on their land in British Columbia.

He said: “Especially with the Crown with the reconciliation, it means a lot. The very first time I met Prince Harry, he said ‘I want to learn more about the reconciliation’.

“A lot of politicians will say it but they don’t mean it and now I have the opportunity in the next year to have those discussions [with Prince Harry].”

Next year’s games will be hosted on the traditional territories of the Lílwat, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations in Canada.

Reconciliation, the ongoing process of establishing and maintaining respectful relationships with indigenous peoples, has been at the forefront of the Invictus 2025 campaign, with the Duke and Duchess attending events with Chiefs and youth ambassadors.

In a speech at a banquet to celebrate “one year to go” until Invictus, the Duke told guests: “These games have been so warmly welcomed by our Four Host First Nations, who have opened their arms and land to each of us, not only tonight but in the lead up to and during the Games next year.

“From the bottom of my heart, I thank you. Your generosity is cherished.

“Our collective journey through truth and reconciliation is an important one for all of us, and as we come here to learn, my hope is we can depart and return as friends.”

The Duke and Duchess were led into the room by representatives from the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, who sang and drummed in traditional regalia.

Dancers from the Tsleil-Waututh Nation perform – ETHAN CAIRNS/The Canadian Press

Chief Sparrow added that he hoped to surprise the Duke next year with a special staff, which he said had been given to the Musqueam community by a representative of the late Queen Elizabeth II to represent “the commitment that the Crown was going to look after us”.

“I’m going to talk to our community member that holds the staff and have it there [at Invictus Games] and see if we can have some of those discussions because it was granted to our leader at the time,” he said.

“I would like to have him see it and the story behind it, that would be cool.”

As Canada’s head of state, the King and the monarchy have a direct link and storied history with the indigenous peoples in the country.

Chief Sparrow added: “It’s just stuff like that that we can talk about with Harry because it was the commitment that the Crown was going to look after us… A lot of [those commitments] fell by the wayside but now there’s an opportunity as we grow and move forward that we can still correct the wrongdoings and put them behind us.”

When the Duke first announced that the seventh Games was to be held in partnership with the First Nations, he pledged that it would be “in the spirit of truth and reconciliation with indigenous communities”.

His most recent visit saw him continue to honour the commitment, beginning with a reception on the first night of the tour with First Nations youth ambassadors at the Squamish Lílwat Cultural Centre in Whistler.

A statement later published on their new sussex.com website stated that the couple “recognise the significance of the First Nations communities welcoming the Invictus Games onto their sacred land and are thankful for the warmth and hospitality”.

Chief Sparrow said that it marked the first time he felt as if a large sporting event organisation wished to “walk side by side” with the First Nations in their planning – as opposed to the 2010 Olympics in which he said they felt like an “afterthought”.

Speaking after Prince Harry had thanked them in his speech, the Chief said: “When the Invictus Games came, they came at the very beginning asking us if we were going to support them and we did right away.

“Now we’re all walking together side by side – we learn from each other and we try to make it a better place not just here but across the country and across the provinces.”

He added: “I look forward to working with Prince Harry, so we can have those discussions.

“The general public needs to know more about what truly happened and the people with the louder voices are the ones that can help us make those changes.”

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