THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL HAVE RECENTLY BEEN HONORED WITH CANADIAN ABORIGINAL GIFTS DURING AN OFFICIAL DINNER HELD IN THEIR HONOR. THE ROYAL COUPLE WERE EACH DRAPED IN 'FIRST NATIONS' BLANKETS AND CEDER WREATHS WERE PLACED ON THEIR HEADS AT THE EVENT. THE PRINCE WAS ALSO GIVEN AN ORNATELY CARVED WALKING STICK BY BRITISH COLOMBIA'S LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR STEVEN POINT AND THE PROVINCE'S PREMIER GORDON CAMPBELL, DURING THE EVENT HELD AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE IN VICTORIA. THE HEIR TO THE THRONE ADDRESSED THE GATHERED DIGNITARIES AND PRAISED BRITISH COLOMBIA'S LEADERSHIP IN TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE. HE TOLD THE GUESTS THE PROVENCE HAD SHOWED 'REMARKABLE LEADERSHIP' BY SETTING LEGALLY BINDING TARGETS FOR GREENHOUSE GASES. THE PRINCE ADDED: "IN EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE WE HAVE FORGOTTEN THAT WE ARE PART OF NATURE. WE CANNOT HAVE OUR OWN ECONOMY WITHOUT NATURE'S ECONOMY. FIRST NATIONS PEOPLES UNDERSTAND THAT BETTER THAN EVERYONE ELSE." THE BLANKETS PRESENTED TO THE COUPLE WERE FROM A FIRST NATIONS TRIBE CALLED COAST SALISH. BLANKETS ARE ONE OF THE MOST PRIZED POSSESSIONS FOR CANADA'S INDIGENOUS PEOPLE. ONE WAY TO HONOR SPECIAL GUESTS IS TO GIVE A BLANKET TO RECOGNIZE THEIR SERVICE TO THEIR NATIONS AND THE COMMUNITY. THE WOVEN BLANKET SYMBOLIZES WARMTH, SAFETY AND PROTECTION, A NECESSITY FOR LIFE YET IT ALSO SIGNIFIES WEALTH AND STATUS. THE COMPLEXITY OF THE DESIGN AND THE QUALITY OF WOOL USED IN THE WEAVING GIVE IT ITS VALUE. THE BLANKETS CAN ALSO SIGNIFY 'STEPPING INTO A NEW LIFE'. THE HEADBAND IS PLACED ON THE INDIVIDUAL AS PROTECTION AND A REMINDER TO FOCUS ON WHAT IS TO TAKE PLACE.
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