Meeting the First Nations

A firm focus of the tour was to connect with Canada’s First Nations. In the tiny community of Bella Bella, the Duke and Duchess met the indigenous Heiltsuk people, and in Yukon they headed up into the mountains where the Carcross/Tagish Nation greeted them with a colourful display of dancing. Afterwards on Montana Mountain, where the royal couple watched local kids enjoying a youth mountain-biking facility, Prince William was bowled over by 48-year-old local Gwen Wally, who asked him for a hug and was delighted when he agreed. “I’ve loved you since you were born,” said Gwen, who also received a hug from the Duchess. “This is the top of my bucket list.” In Haida Gwaii, Kate and William joined the crew in a Haida war canoe to arrive on Graham Island. There they were gifted scarves trimmed with sea otter fur and looked at traditional hand-carved totem poles and canoes.