The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy? Dzawada’enuxw demand removal of their traditional territory from the Great Bear Rainforest

PRESS RELEASE

The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy? Dzawada’enuxw demand removal of their traditional territory from the Great Bear Rainforest

(Friday, September 30, 2016) This week the Great Bear Rainforest, declared the “jewel in the crown” of Canada’s protected areas when it was established early in 2016, was endorsed as part of the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited B.C.’s central coast during their Canadian tour.

The Great Bear Rainforest overlaps with the territories of more than 20 separate First Nations, yet not all of the nations were equally involved in negotiations or equally satisfied with its outcome. This information is not shared with the public when celebrating this achievement. The Dzawada’enuxw Nation has stated our concerns repeatedly about having our territories included in this ‘area’ without sufficient engagement.

How can the Province of BC create a plan that (1) draws a line around so many first nation territories, and only engage in a consistent way with certain aggregations of nations; and (2) proclaim to the world that they are proactive in protecting this ‘jewel’ while in fact continuing to promote industrial use of the area?

“While everyone can admire a beautiful white bear and its habitat, our territories south of this area but still within the government drawn ‘GBR Boundary’ remain open to heavy industrial impact from fishfarms” said hereditary leader and chief councillor Willie Moon “This is hypocritical, and an affront to our nation, and how can we agree to ‘a common vision of the land’ when government continues to outright ignore nations who raise valid concerns. “

The Dzawada’enuxw have yet to receive a response from our March 10, 2016 letter to BC Premier Christy Clark where we expressed our concerns with the announcement and celebration of the Great Bear Rainforest Agreement.  An excerpt from that letter below reads;

‘We did not celebrate the recent Great Bear Rainforest Agreement announcement, and take exception to the inclusion of our traditional territories in the publicly released media coverage. The province continues to engage only with select aggregations of First Nations, while not offering the same level of engagement or financial resources to engage at the table on a level playing field to all other nations. The Dzawada’enuxw First Nation, as part of the Musgamagw Dzawada’enuxw Tribal Council have throughout the years tried to initiate this discussion with the Province of BC, that we are not engaged in a meaningful way, and despite the press coverage and tremendous financial support given to aggregations such as Nanwakolas, you have not offered our nation the same opportunity for meaningful engagement and measurable progress in planning and discussions regarding land and marine based decisions regarding our traditional territories.

As a remote, non-treaty first nation, who has not moved from our ancestral lands, we struggle daily to maintain our community in these changing times. We feel we are not represented at all at any of your ‘tables’, and are at a loss as to why in 2016 this continues to be the status quo.”

As the government continues to ignore our concerns, the Dzawada’enuxw Nation must now demand the removal of our traditional territories from the Great Bear Rainforest area which now has been included without our consent to be part of the ‘Queens Commonwealth Canopy’.

For More Information Contact:          Chief Willie Moon:  250-974-3623   Office: 250-974-3013