Surrey councillor Jack Hundial produced a motion last month to “develop a meaningful, respectful acknowledgement before every Council and Committee meeting … in recognition that we are settlers here on this Coast Salish Land.” However, Safe Surrey Coalition (SSC) council members, including Mayor Doug McCallum, rejected the motion January 11 in a 5-4 vote. SSC councillor Allison Patton said Hundial was not being “authentic.” While Hundial expressed he was “shocked” after the rejection, McCallum explained, “we [City of Surrey] treat them [First Nations] better in Surrey than anywhere.” McCallum agreed with his fellow SSC councillors Laurie Guerra and Doug Elford that there is nothing wrong with a land acknowledgement; however, it ought not to be legislated, or mandatory, under city policy.