The First Nations comprising the Maa-Nulth Treaty Group implemented their treaty with BC and Canada. It is the second BC Treaty Process Treaty to be implemented after the Tsawwassen Treaty in 2009. Here’s a round-up of the news: New, April 9, 2011: Treaty opens up a world of opportunity for First Nation (Victoria Times Colonist) [...]
The Tahltan people of northwestern British Columbia are celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Declaration of the Tahltan Tribe. The Declaration was signed on October 18, 1910. It asserts Tahltan sovereignty over traditional lands. The Declaration calls for the settling of treaties, adequate compensation for relinquishing title, and a formalizing of relations between Tahltans and [...]
Conservative MP John Cummins writes a long history of aboriginal title debates since the 1991 Delgamuukw decision. In sum: Recognition of aboriginal title would transfer control of 95 per cent of British Columbia to native leaders who represent little more than three percent of the population. If you own it, control it and have title [...]
The BC NDP have announced they support the idea of recognizing aboriginal title in BC. (The Recognition Act is legislation proposed by the Liberals. It was shelved because of concerns that the legislation was being rushed before the election. More details here.) Sphere: Related Content
The Federal government will sign the Maa-Nulth Treaty (Vancouver Island) on Thursday April 9, 20009. From the WestCoaster.ca: During a ceremony scheduled to take place in Port Alberni Thursday, the federal government will sign the Maa-nulth Treaty. The federal government is the last government to sign the tripartite treaty. Already, the Maa-nulth bands and the [...]
Those are the words of Tsawwassen chief Kim Baird as the Tsawwassen Treaty takes effect today. Also: Will historic treaty turn voters in Tsawwassen? (CTV.ca; April 9, 2009) This Is Your Day (Minister Strahl’s Notes from Tsawwassen Treaty Celebration; April 3, 2009) Feds To Sign Maa-nulth Treaty (Westcoaster; April 6 2009) Historical moment for TFN [...]
From the Prince George Citizen: Delaying the bill is a good idea, scrapping it altogether would be better. I don’t wish to take anything away from the noble objectives of B.C.’s aboriginal community, but resource management is not their strong suit. To be sure, there are pockets of aboriginal leadership out there. The Osoyoos Indian [...]
The Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group (Ladysmith, BC) is back before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on Monday, March 23, 2009. From Brian Thom, a HTG negotiator: In this hearing Canada is making legal arguments that the HTG case is not admissible before the Commission. HTG will be responding to these arguments, emphasizing the failure of [...]
From the Union of BC Indian Chiefs: In response to a growing number of questions, concerns and issues being raised by First Nations, Business and Industry Leaders; Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, Mike de Jong and representatives of the BC First Nations Leadership Council have jointly decided to postpone introduction of the proposed ‘Recognition [...]
My Anthropology of British Columbia students discussed yesterday the proposal of the BC government to legislate aboriginal rights (and title?) into existence. Their responses to the items summarized in news articles listed below were careful and insightful. We tried to consider, for example, what the government has to gain and lose. We tried to consider [...]
