By James Peters

Trudeau to visit Tsilhqot’in territory, personally exonerate chiefs hanged during Chilcotin War

Oct 31, 2018 | 11:34 AM

WILLIAMS LAKE, B.C. — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will visit Tsilhqot’in territory on Friday, an event billed as a personal exoneration of six Tsilhqot’in War Chiefs who were hanged by BC’s colonial government more than 150 years ago.

The Tsilhqot’in National Government says this is the first time a sitting prime minister has visited its territory.

The event Friday in the Nemiah Valley west of Williams Lake is by invitation only and all Tsilhqot’in have been invited.

Transportation is being provided from the Williams Lake Stampede Grounds.

Participants are encouraged to dress warmly for the outdoor event.

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The warriors were hanged after a deadly confrontation with colonial road builders during the Chilcotin War of 1864.

After the builders were killed, five chiefs arrived at supposed peace talks near Quesnel only to be arrested, tried and hanged. A sixth chief was executed the following year in New Westminster.

The BC government apologized for the executions in 1993, and Trudeau exonerated the chiefs in the House of Commons on March 26 of this year.

WATCH: The Tsilhqot’in National Government held its memorial for the executed chiefs, Lhat’asʔin, on October 26. (Video Credit: Tsilhqot’in National Government)