The federal Liberal party's convention's opening ceremonies Friday night were at times, mind-numbingly tedious.
Speeches ran too long, and too many speakers were shoehorned in between keynotes delivered by illustrious figures such as former prime minister Jean Chrétien, and former United Nations high commissioner for human rights, Louise Arbour.

But the drudgery was also broken by a show-stealing appearance by Chief Ian Campbell of the Squamish Nation.

Campbell took to the stage, telling some 2,000 Liberal delegates the impressive new convention centre where they were seated rested, in fact, upon aboriginal territory belonging to his people.

And he then lapsed into a speech in his native Coast Salish.

After a minute or so, he returned to English, asking delegates: "Did you get that?"

The room erupted in laughter and Campbell proceeded to deliver a riveting song for the gathering.

In thanking Campbell, longtime B.C. MP and former premier Ujjal Dosanjh delivered his own zinger.

"As one Indian to another, I understood every word you said."

Dosanjh is also a prominent member of B.C.'s Sikh community.

— Louise Elliott