Indigenous Peoples

13/11/15
Author: 
Mark Hume

The collapse of major salmon runs in B.C. this fall and the controversial expansion of fish farming on the West Coast have prompted First Nations to request “an urgent meeting” with newly appointed federal Fisheries Minister Hunter Tootoo.

Chief Bob Chamberlin, chair of the First Nations Wild Salmon Alliance, said the disappearance of millions of pink salmon headed for the Fraser and the collapse of the Adams River sockeye run underscore the need for immediate government action.

11/11/15
Author: 
Brandi Morin
Elder Violet Poitras on the Paul First Nation. The TransAlta generating station sits in the background. Photo: Native Counselling Services of Alberta.

With the world focusing on climate change leading up to the COP21 United Nations gathering in Paris at the end of November, some Indigenous elders in Canada say it’s an issue that they’ve been witnessing unfold for decades.

Francois Paulette from Smith Landing First Nation in the Northwest Territories (NWT) has been speaking out about changes to the landscape in his home territory.

“The north is a very sensitive, delicate place with impacts from pollution to the air and water,” said Paulette.

11/11/15
Author: 
Josh Massey
The Pacific Northwest LNG terminal design showing its proposed location near Prince Rupert on Lelu Island. — Image Credit: Web Photo

A MEMBER of a local environmental group hopes the new federal Liberal government pays attention to a letter it sent calling for the rejection of a planned LNG export plant on Lelu Island near Prince Rupert.

“I am feeling very optimistic about that,” says Christie Brown of Northwest Watch of the switch in Ottawa from the previous Conservative government. “It's exciting to have a new party in power.”

10/11/15
Author: 
Council of the Haida Nation

November 9, 2015

For Immediate Release

Council of the Haida Nation seeks plan to protect oceans

 

The 2015 House of Assembly, the legislative body of the Haida Nation, passed a resolution expressing opposition to British Columbia’s LNG agenda and demanding that the mass export of any fossil fuel through its territory be prohibited.

 

10/11/15
Author: 
Council of the Haida Nation

November 9, 2015

For Immediate Release

Council of the Haida Nation seeks plan to protect oceans

 

The 2015 House of Assembly, the legislative body of the Haida Nation, passed a resolution expressing opposition to British Columbia’s LNG agenda and demanding that the mass export of any fossil fuel through its territory be prohibited.

 

03/11/15
Author: 
Bob Mackin
Artist rendering of proposed Woodfibre LNG plant.

A two-month-old letter from a First Nation that said granting an environmental assessment certificate to Woodfibre LNG would be a "legal error" was finally published after the BC Liberal government gave approval in principle to the project on Oct. 26. But it's unclear whether the First Nation's concerns were ever addressed.

The Aug. 18 letter from the Tsleil-Waututh Nation's chief negotiator to Environment Minister Mary Polak and Natural Gas Minister Rich Coleman urged the government not to issue the certificate before undertaking additional studies and assessment work.

29/10/15
Author: 
Squamish Nation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OCT. 28, 2015

 

SQUAMISH NATION COMMENTS ON PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT'S EA APPROVAL OF WOODFIBRE LNG PROPOSAL

 

NORTH VANCOUVER — After careful review of provincial government decision Monday to issue an environmental assessment certificate for Woodfibre LNG’s proposed $1.6-billion gas export facility, the Squamish Nation (SN) today says it is looking forward to further discussions with the provincial government — on a government-to-government basis.

 

SN spokesperson Chief Ian Campbell points out:

 

28/10/15
Author: 
Martin MacMahon
Rueben George with Tsleil-Waututh nation (Martin MacMahon, NEWS 1130 Photo)

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – A local First Nation is bringing Kinder Morgan and the National Energy Board to the federal court of appeal, as it argues it was not appropriately consulted about the proposed twinning of the Trans Mountain pipeline.

The Tsleil-Waututh Nation hopes to force a restart of the environmental assessment process for that project.

18/10/15
Author: 
Mark Nielsen
Skins Lake Spillway regulates the level of the Nechako Reservoir and the river levels downstream.

The Supreme Court of Canada Thursday denied Rio Tinto Alcan’s appeal of a lower court decision allowing two north-central B.C. First Nations to sue the company over its diversion of water from the Nechako River since the 1950s.

The Saik’uz and Stellat’en First Nations first filed the lawsuit in October 2011, claiming the 1987 and 1997 Settlement Agreements entered into by Alcan and B.C. and Canada are not defences against the claims of the bands, based on constitutional grounds.

15/10/15
Author: 
Cassandra Jeffery
Photo Credit: BC Hydro via BC Government.

A public workshop on the future of the Columbia River Treaty held in Osoyoos has found that the Treaty must be modified to meet the needs of First Nations, growing population numbers, increasing competition for water; fisheries health and environmental values, as well as negative impacts on Canadian agriculture and the impact of a changing climate.

Organized by the Canadian Water Resource Association (CWRA) and the Adaptation to Climate Change Team (ACT), the workshop took place on Wednesday, October 7th at the Sonora Centre.

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