'We're put first again': Why swearing in a new B.C. premier on Musqueam territory matters

David Eby will be sworn in as B.C.'s 37th premier on Friday — but he'll be the first to do so on Musqueam Indian Band territory.

The Musqueam Community Centre, on the nation's land southwest of Vancouver, was chosen as the venue for the ceremony over the traditional location of Government House in Victoria.

"I am excited to be taking this important step close to home where my family and the people who have always supported me live," said Eby said in a news release. 

"I am very grateful to Chief Wayne Sparrow, the Musqueam councillors and the Musqueam people for hosting this ceremony in their home community. Because of their efforts, this event will be a powerful symbol of a shared vision for a province that delivers results for all British Columbians, in close partnership with Indigenous peoples."

The ceremony had originally been planned for Government House, but CBC News later learned the venue was unavailable on Nov 18. 

Former Musqueam chief Gail Sparrow said holding the swearing-in on Musqueam land demonstrates that Eby will be a champion for Indigenous rights.

"It's a great honour for us because now we're put first again," she said. "We're First Nations. We should be put first on the issues with our lands and our development and also in our partnership we have with the government and the people of British Columbia."

She said the choice of venue was Eby's idea.

A land acknowledgement is commonly made at the start of B.C. government events, recognizing the people whose land the event is held on — a practice many have called meaningless if the words don't come with action.

"They're just words. They don't mean anything," Sparrow said.

"This means something," she added, referring to Friday's ceremony.

On Thursday, outgoing premier John Horgan said his greatest achievement during his time in office was the passing of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP) into B.C. law.

Sparrow said she believes Eby will continue, and improve upon, the NDP government's commitment to reconciliation. 

"I think David is going to finally show for us that he's going to live up to his word of recognizing reconcili-action," she said. "All too often these leaders get in and they talked the talk, but they don't want to walk to walk."