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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made a stop in Squamish during their recent trip to Canada in a move that has cast dirt on the royal family. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made their way to Canada this month for their annual participation in the Invictus Games, a sporting tournament for injured military veterans that Harry founded a decade ago. During the trip, the duo attended several games on the lineup, cheering their favorite teams and encouraging these athletes. They also got to spend time on leisure activities like skiing whilst packing on the PDA in full glare of the paps.
Aside from these public outings, though, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made more impactful outreaches during their stay in Canada. The parents of two most notably visited the Squamish nation in Vancouver British Columbia, Canada last week. They spent time at the Indigenous language nest, relating with other parents and families, grooming their kids to become ingrained in the Squamish language and culture.
Squamish Nation Grateful to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for Meaningful Visit
Prince Harry and his wife were treated to a traditional ceremony with dancing and singing, a welcome fitting for members of the royal family. The royals even joined the fest with drums and clappers of their own, looking relaxed and in high spirits throughout their stay. The Squamish Hereditary Chief Ian Campbell shared photos and clips from the impactful visit on Instagram, showing the two interacting with the locals. He captioned the post,
“Great to meet the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Usiyam for visiting our language nest and for being inclusive of our MST families throughout the Invictus Games. Reconciliation.”
In one pic, Prince Harry and his wife posed with parents from the Squamish community and their young kids at the “language nest.” Another photo showed the couple, each holding a baby affectionately with cheerful smiles. The two did not hesitate to get their hands and clothes dirty as they joined in on play sessions with parents and their toddlers, enjoying every moment. The trip ended with an elaborate farewell performance from 90 students from the Capilano Little Ones School. For the Squamish people, this visit from Harry and Meghan, despite having no royal affiliations, had a deeper significance.
Harry’s Visit Healed Old Wounds Among Squamish People
Speaking to Town & Country, a Spanish spokesperson Wilson Williams explained how the community considered the visit from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle special because, for them, it was a long overdue recompense for the royal family’s past wrong against the community. He explained how Harry’s ancestors, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth failed to honor a visit to them during their 1939 tour of Canada, making all the community’s preparations to receive them in vain. Generations of Squamish people have borne that disappointment deep in their hearts ever since, even though eight decades have passed and the original perpetrators are long deceased. He recounted,
“Squamish Nation were advised that the royal family would stop, so Chief Capilano’s son carved two totem poles and then built an arch over Marine Drive. Our people had a bunch of gifts. When people come and visit, we gift them. It was heartbreaking for our people.”
While the royal family never made amends for the disappointment, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s visit to the small Squamish community over eight decades later is the next best thing. Hence, this visit from the two exiled royals presented a chance for community members to let go of their long-held resentments. Wilson added,
“We live in a spirit of reconciliation, we’re living it right now. We broke a lot of barriers. We cleared a big path for our Indigenous people to say: ‘Hey, this is righting a wrong. We want to meet these people.'”
In the Spirit of Reconciliation
With such indigenous history highlighting Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s latest Squamish tour, getting to fulfill what the royal family fell short on for decades despite their exile is a big slap on the monarchy. Although it is unclear whether or not the Sussexes knew of the existence of such a history before the visit, the community spokesperson made a point of telling them the story while they were there. The Squamish Nation also lavished the duo with gifts befitting of royals, including the Squamish language dictionary, an Indigenous children’s book, and the national history book, making the visit seem more diplomatic than casual.
Adding salt to injury, Harry’s wife flaunted this royal-like treatment on social media after the trip, sharing photos and videos showcasing their warm Squamish welcome onto their “sacred land.” For most netizens the message was quite clear: What the royal family could not accomplish as an institution in 8 decades, Harry did in a day, and all it took was an exiled Prince and his African-American bride.
