Stories
Who Are We as Urban Peoples?
82% of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people now live in urban cities and towns throughout BC.
The following videos are of BC Elders who share stories of moving into cities as the first generation of urban Indigenous people to leave home.
Cree
Buzz Morisette
shares his experience with the Friendship Centre movement and who make up urban people.
Nuu-Chah-Nulth
Gitxsan
Wally & Donna Samuel
share their story of struggling to survive in the city, and how their children never lived on the reserve.
Nuu-Chah-Nulth
Marge White
shares how Friendship Centres help to keep culture alive, how so many of us come from places where we lose our culture, and how we are diverse people from all over Turtle Island.
Nlaka’pamux
Ruth Williams
shares how important Friendship Centres are, calling them the gold key for urban Indigenous people.
Kwakwaka’wakw
Nella & Alex Nelson
share how Indigenous people live, how they exist to give back to people in their community.
Kwakwaka’wakw
Pauline Janyst
remembers how they had youth forums… that you can’t build anything in isolation. You need your whole family to succeed.
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British Columbia is comprised of the traditional territories of many distinct First Nations. We are grateful to all the First Nations who have cared for and nurtured the lands and waters around us since time immemorial. We honour their right to be included in all matters related to their territories. We further recognize the Métis, Inuit, and urban Indigenous Peoples living in the territories who make valuable contributions to our collective wellness.