B.C. court rules American Indigenous man has right to hunt in Canada

Sinixt hunter Richard Desautel outside the Nelson courthouse in March, 2017. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

Canadian Press, Dec 29, 2017

Judge rules man’s tribe lived on both sides of the border

An American Indigenous man’s right to hunt in Canada has been upheld by a judge because his ancestors traditionally hunted in this country.

Richard Desautel was charged with violations under British Columbia’s Wildlife Act after he shot and killed a cow elk near Castlegar, B.C. in 2010.

Justice Minister Wilson-Raybould tells AFN to prepare for future beyond the Indian Act

Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould meets with media at the AFN gathering in Regina. Photo: Larissa Burnouf/APTN

by Jorge Barrera, APTN National News, July 24, 2017

Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould on Tuesday said First Nations need to prepare for a future that has been set into motion by the Justin Trudeau government that will permanently alter their relationship with Canada.

5 Maliseet chiefs want Sisson mine rejected

St. Mary’s, Tobique, Kingsclear, Oromocto, Madawaska chiefs respond to environmental assessment

By Alan White, CBC News, April 21, 2016

The chiefs of five Maliseet First Nations in New Brunswick are calling for the proposed Sisson mine project to be rejected because of its impact on Maliseet people.

The chiefs of Kingsclear, Madawaska, Oromocto, St. Mary’s and Tobique First Nations issued a statement on Thursday in reaction to a federal study that said the proposed mine would have a “significant” impact on several communities.

B.C. aboriginal leaders decry government relationship in open letter

BC premier Christy Clark speaking at a liquified natural gas promotional event.

Chiefs of 10 northern B.C. First Nations say province ignoring concerns over Site C and LNG developments

By Tamsyn Burgmann, The Canadian Press/CBC News, Sept 8, 2015

People once paddled great distances to set up fishing camps on the land where Liz Logan’s family has lived for generations in northern British Columbia.

Now Tsinhia Lake has yellowed, the fish have died and her family must carry in bottled water to drink.

The damage from oil and gas industries has prompted Logan, chief of the Fort Nelson First Nation, to help form an alliance with other aboriginal leaders against the provincial government.

First Nations rights and title claims: Is it legitimate to call it class struggle?

By Brad Hornick, rabble.ca, July 10, 2014

A healthy majority of First Nations in British Columbia have joined the opposition to federal government approval of the Northern Gateway tar sands pipeline, arguing that it fails to respect the human rights of Indigenous peoples and violates Canada’s legal obligations under both federal and international law. In particular, the “right to exclusive use and occupation of land” and the “right to choose to what uses land can be put” — is specifically excluded from Joint Review Panel’s mandate. The federal government has failed its “duty to consult and accommodate” Indigenous peoples’ right to “free, prior and informed consent.”

An added dimension to the Northern Gateway pipeline fight was a recent landmark Supreme Court of Canada ruling on aboriginal title to ancestral lands. As part of the ruling, the Supreme Court said the government of B.C. had “breached its duty to consult” when it allowed for timber harvesting licenses to forestry companies in Tsilquot’in territory in the geographic center of the province. There was no consultation and no permission granted by the Tsilquot’in for logging done on their territory, and so a lengthy court battle that began in 1983 led to a recent court decision in their favour.

Many First Nations believe the Tsilhqot’in ruling will strengthen their land claims and maritime title to the coastal waters through which bitumen-laden super tankers would navigate. The official line from the president and chief executive of Enbridge is that the ruling will have no influence on the future of the Northern Gateway pipeline. But there is some suggestion that fossil fuel companies are worried that this high-court decision broadens First Nations’ rights and title and threatens billions of dollars worth of new projects.

Northern Gateway pipeline: First Nations outline constitutional challenges

“Grand Chief” Stewart Phillips of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs.

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip says at least 9 legal challenges have been launched

By Mike Laanela, CBC News, July 14, 2014

Several B.C. First Nations are launching at least nine court challenges to try to block Enbridge’s Northern Gateway pipeline, leaders revealed at a news conference this morning in Vancouver.

The First Nations leaders said they will argue the proposed pipeline and its recent approval by the federal government is a constitutional violation of their aboriginal land rights in their respective territories, particularly in light of the Supreme Court of Canada victory last month by the Tsilhqot’in First Nation.