Chiefs from four First Nations whose territories make up the riding are responding to recent comments from North Island-Powell River MP Aaron Gunn regarding land acknowledgements.

In a joint message, the leaders - including Chief Darren Blaney of Homalco First nation, owners of 100.7 The Raven - said there is no reason for concern over the practice and urged people not to treat it as controversial.

In a post Monday on X, Gunn suggested that if the federal government believes in the private property rights of Canadians, they should stop opening public meetings with land acknowledgements.

“Doing so reinforces the radical and dangerous legal concept that most Canadians live on ‘stolen land’. This is Canada. One country. For all Canadians.”

The statement from the Chiefs says land acknowledgements are simply a recognition of the history of the place where people are gathering, and do not affect property ownership, mortgages, or land titles anywhere in Canada.

The Chiefs say the acknowledgements have not resulted in any changes to private property and are intended only as a brief moment of recognition of the lands and the First Nations who have lived there for generations.

The message was signed by the leaders of the Homalco, Tla’amin, K'ómoks, and Klahoose Nations.

In their statement, the Chiefs say land acknowledgements are simply about recognizing the history of the territories where people live and work.

The Chiefs say they had two words for Gunn - “Chillax, Bud.”