The Prime Minister鈥檚 Office says Justin Trudeau will apologize directly to members of the Tsilhqot鈥檌n community today for the hangings of six chiefs during the so-called Chilcotin War more than 150 years ago.

Trudeau is also scheduled to meet with leaders of the tribal council and community members at Chilko Lake in British Columbia鈥檚 central Interior for a smudging and brushing off ceremony, gifts, traditional feast and bear dance.

The visit follows a 鈥渟tatement of exoneration鈥� that Trudeau made in the House of Commons in March, during which he apologized for the hangings before Tsilhqot鈥檌n leaders who gathered in the parliamentary chamber and said he would accept an invitation to do so again in their territory.

The incident stems from a deadly confrontation with a white road-building crew that had entered Tsilhqot鈥檌n territory without permission in 1864.

After the workers were killed, five chiefs attended what they were led to believe would be peace talks at the invitation of government representatives, but instead they were arrested, tried and hanged, and a sixth chief was executed the following year.

The Tsilhqot鈥檌n have long disputed the government鈥檚 authority to execute the six chiefs as criminals, describing the confrontation as an altercation between warring nations.

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The Canadian Press

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