Prince Harry and Meghan ‘right wrongs’ during emotional visit to Squamish Nation, says councillor

Prince Harry was greeted by Squamish Nation families and council as he was welcomed into the Nation's Chief Joe Mathias Centre in North Vancouver, Monday. (Courtesy: Sussex.com)

A recent visit by Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, to the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) was so significant to the community that it not only advanced reconciliation efforts, but rectified wrongdoings made in the past, says an elected councillor.

Harry and Meghan, in B.C. for the 2025 Invictus Games, visited the Nation’s village on the X̱wemelch’stn (Capilano 5 reserve) in North Vancouver Monday.

Squamish Nation councillor Sxwíxwtn (Wilson Williams) says he “had the honour” of escorting the couple from their hotel in Vancouver, across the Lions Gate Bridge, and onto the reserve on Monday morning, where he hosted the visiting couple for a series of cultural and educational ceremonies that would introduce them to the community.

Council staff and local Squamish Nation families welcomed them to the Language Nest where the couple were given a crash course in the Skwxwú7mesh Sníchim, the Nation’s language currently being resurrected within the schoolhouses’ iconic wooden walls.

“They actually got to witness what the teachers do day-to-day, how they work with the children, sing songs with the language, and connect the spoken language to sign language, visually,” recalls Williams.

“It was beautiful.”

While driving to the community Monday morning, Williams had prepared the couple for how intimate a setting the little schoolhouse could be. As a place that creates such a light atmosphere, and a “spiritual ambience,” it might feel surreal to be in there, he had explained.

“When we left the school and I escorted them to the gym for more celebration, Harry said I had been right,” says Williams.

“He said, ‘That’s exactly how I felt when I was in there,’ that it was a fabulous experience, and that he felt much richer after leaving the place.”

At the Chief Joe Mathias Centre, the Duke and Duchess immersed themselves in Squamish Nation culture, weaving cedar wristbands, making drums and singing traditional songs with the lively throng of children that had flocked to greet them.

Around 80 mén̓men (children), ranging in age from five to 13, sang and danced alongside the two as Meghan played the clapper, says Williams.

The elected councillor says he has had “many intimate conversations” with Harry regarding previous visits to Vancouver taken by members of the Royal Family, and how both hoped this one, and all future ones, would play out differently.

Williams says they had regularly touched on the 1939 royal tour of Canada by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, where the Nation was promised time with the royals when they made their final stop in Vancouver, but were overlooked.

Various precious gifts and two newly carved two totem poles had been laid out to welcome them that year, and families were excitedly anticipating a meet and greet, “but the King and Queen just drove through the community,” says Williams.

“They didn’t stop. Our people were heartbroken from that.”

Williams says he shared that moment once again while driving across the Lions Gate Bridge Monday morning, and had explained how Harry and Meghan’s visit this time, interacting with the Squamish youth and working to learn elements of the Nation’s culture and language, was “righting the wrongs” that had been made in years previous.

“This is the moment, I said. You coming to our community, and stopping and meeting our people, and learning about who we are and where we come from, this is it,” says Williams.

“You could tell it meant a lot. Him and Meghan got a little emotional about it, because they realized just how big it is of a moment, not only for us, but for them too.”