Indigenous communities remember John Horgan, 1st premier in Canada to enshrine UNDRIP into provincial law [Video]

Indigenous communities throughout B.C. are mourning the death of former premier John Horgan, a man who many knew long before he began his career in politics. 

Tsartlip First Nation Chief Don Tom said Horgan played lacrosse with his father, former chief Chris Tom, and he played basketball with and against many Nuu-chah-nulth members on Vancouver Island. 

“John Horgan went fishing with many of our members here in Tsartlip, here in the early 70s,” he told CBC’s All Points West host Jason D’Souza.  “We’ve known John for a long time.”

But it was during his time in politics that he had the opportunity to make a lasting impact on the provincial government’s relationship with Indigenous communities.

One of his most significant accomplishments during his time in office was the 2019 passing of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) — making B.C. the first province …