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| Prince William Duke of Cambridge helps row a traditional war canoe in Haida Gwaii, B.C., on Sept. 30, 2016. Chris Jackson/Getty Images |
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were welcomed to the Haida heritage hall by more than a dozen chiefs and elders.
Young dancers in brightly coloured and beaded costumes performed a dance to honour the survivors of Canada’s residential schools and their personal journeys.
They also did a dance that highlighted the many animals that provide spiritual, cultural and life-sustaining sustenance to the Haida. One dancer wore a full bear costume and rose up and roared like a bear during the dance.
Inside the hall, William spoke in the Haida language and remarked on the long relationship between the Crown and the Haida.
“Thank you very much for having us here,” he said.
“It is an honour for me to be here with you to see your traditions remain strong.”
Seven paddlers who helped take the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to the Haida Gwaii village of Skidegate wore teal-coloured T-shirts with the words No LNG on them. Some of the dancers who performed wore anti-oil development shirts under their costumes, reading: No pipelines. No tankers. No problem.
Dirk Meissner, The Canadian Press
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