Tears welled in the eyes of several members of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation on Monday, Aug. 4 as they witnessed their nation’s flag raised in front of the District of Tofino’ municipal hall.

The flag now flies beside the Canadian and B.C. provincial flags, on new flagpoles built for the occasion.

Tofino Mayor Dan Law said after the ceremony that including the Tla-o-qui-aht flag “is just a recognition of its local First Nation territory — a tangible show of respect to not only the people, the land and the government and hereditary chiefs, but this is truth and reconciliation.”

Tla-o-qui-aht Chief Councillor Elmer Frank said the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation donated a flag last year that was erected at the Village Green in Tofino, however that flag was stolen.

Frank said the municipality

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