Indigenous Peoples

A treaty signed 116 years ago promising First Nations the right to pursue traditional lives is a key part of a legal challenge to the B.C. government’s approval of the Site C dam.

The Prophet River and West Moberly First Nations, along with the McLeod Lake Indian Band, opened arguments in the Supreme Court of B.C. on Thursday, saying that if BC Hydro’s $8.8-billion dam goes ahead, it will have devastating impact on their ability to hunt, trap and fish, which is already compromised because of resource developments in the Peace River region.

QUEBEC CITY–Standing at the head of the line, drum in hand, Melissa Mollen-Dupuis and several First Nation drummers took their first step forward. Behind them, an estimated 25,000 people followed.

“I say we need programs for people who are addicted to petrol and money,” said Mollen-Dupuis. “Just like we do for people who are addicted to alcohol and drugs.”

Mollen-Dupuis is a seasoned environmental activist.

The Innu from Mingan on Quebec’s North shore is a staple in environmental marches.

In today’s climate action march, she was walking for a new purpose.

. . . The bill "isn't really about terrorism," but about preserving economic and power relations in Canada, Palmater said.

Citizens have worked too hard to create treaties, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and international laws that protect basic human rights to toss it all away "because we wanted to protect some corporate economic interests," she added.

Her arguments were echoed by Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs, who said the bill would dangerously expand powers of Canada's security agencies without making people any safer.

The B.C. government’s abrupt decision to rescind its approval of a new B.C. treaty commissioner has opened a significant rift with the federal government and aboriginal groups it says it wants to do business with. But the politics and the personalities involved in the reversal have obscured the government’s intention: To back away from the treaty negotiation process it sees as a costly endeavour that has produced precious few results over the past two decades.

The Trondek Hwechin First Nation says documents indicating that the Yukon government is pursuing a draft strategy for hydraulic fracturing represent a serious breach of trust.

A presentation by the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources that was intended for caucus recommends the government focus on fracking — notably in the Eagle Plain basin in northern Yukon, and the Liard basin in the southeast corner of the territory. 

The Harper government is trying to win support for its pipelines and resource agenda by pushing First Nations to sideline their aboriginal rights in exchange for business opportunities, documents reveal.

The news that Canada’s Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs is working to this end by collaborating with the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is sparking strong criticism from grassroots Indigenous people.

A rally was held Feb 5 outside Ft. Langley on unceded Kwantlen Territory in response to Kinder Morgan drilling near the Salmon River @ 22926 Rawlison Crescent, home to endangered species, in preparation to build the proposed Trans Mountain Dilbit (Tar/Oil Sands Heavy Crude) Export Pipeline through the area.
A further march and rally is planned for Fort Langley, details TBA.

Another court challenge involving Enbridge’s $7.9-billion Northern Gateway oil pipeline project was filed Tuesday, bringing the total to 19.

The suit in B.C. Supreme Court by the Coastal First Nations group (representing several First Nations including the Haida and the Metlakatla) and the Gitga’at First Nation was added to a growing list of court challenges over the controversial project, which received federal approval last June.

All the other court challenges have been filed with the Federal Court of Appeal.

The Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (ACFN) is unsatisfied with the recent decision to dismiss their judicial review of the Federal approval of Shell Canada’s Jackpine Mine Expansion project, according to a press release. The ACFN argued the project approval process failed to uphold proper and adequate consultation and as result has harmed the nation and its rights.

With notes from: wildernesscommittee.org / vancouversun.com / rooseveltinstitute.org

Nine B.C. First Nations have now signed revenue-sharing agreements with the B.C. government or benefit agreements with the companies proposing LNG or LFG [liquid fracked gas] projects.

The Wet’suwet’en, Skin Tyee, Nee Tahi Buhn, Nisga’a, Metlakatla, Lax Kw’alaams, Haisla, Kitselas and the Huu-ay-aht First Nation.