A Path to Reconciliation Through Traditional Healing
In a significant step toward reconciliation, the Heiltsuk Nation hosted a traditional washing ceremony on Sunday, November 16, 2025. The event, held at the Heiltsuk Nation's Big House in the remote community of Bella Bella on British Columbia's central coast, marked the formal resolution of a human rights complaint filed against TD Bank by Sharif Mohammed Bhamji, an Indigenous Muslim man.
The ceremony was attended by TD Bank executives, Heiltsuk hereditary leaders, community members, and Bhamji's family, signifying a collective effort to address the harm caused.
The Incident That Sparked the Complaint
The case originated in May 2021 when Bhamji attempted to open a bank account at a TD branch in the Clayton Heights area of Surrey. Bhamji, whose mother is from the Heiltsuk Nation in Bella Bella and whose father is from India, presented his new, federally issued Indian status card as identification.
Instead of accepting the document, bank staff denied him service, claiming the card was fraudulent. The situation escalated when the police were called and later visited Bhamji at his home. This experience left Bhamji feeling that his intersecting identities were not accepted, stating, "I'm Muslim and East Indian. I have a Muslim name. I'm also Indigenous. But I can't be both while banking at TD."
In 2022, Bhamji and the Heiltsuk Tribal Council jointly filed a complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Commission against the financial institution.
Terms of the Settlement and a Hopeful Future
The subsequent settlement includes confidential financial compensation for Bhamji. It also designates funds to support the Heiltsuk Nation's urban support team, which assists community members living in the Greater Vancouver area. Additionally, TD Bank covered the costs associated with holding the washing ceremony.
As part of the resolution, TD Bank has improved its training and internal processes regarding the acceptance of Certificates of Indian Status, a change that satisfies all parties involved.
Heiltsuk Chief Councillor Marilyn Slett emphasized the importance of the washing ceremony, explaining that such rituals are conducted to relieve trauma and allow individuals to move forward from negative experiences. Ahead of the ceremony, Bhamji expressed his relief, saying, "I'm happy that we're able to do this here. I'm glad there's some closure to the situation and hopefully with this, there'll be some changes made."
He added that closing this chapter through a traditional practice connected him to his roots and provided a sense of peace for himself and his family.
