Files for BC's Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation
UBCIC president Stewart Phillip warns Premier John Horgan of "Battleground B.C."
https://www.straight.com/news/1186421/ubcic-president-stewart-phillip-wa...
How the B.C. government approached land rights after major court ruling
More than 20 years have passed since the Delgamuukw decision, but Pasternak said the issue of Indigenous land rights has yet to be resolved.
The treaty process has consistently been used to keep First Nations out of the courts, but neither is an ideal venue, she said.
"Indigenous people have been left between a rock and a hard place. There's no policy in place that recognizes their title in a meaningful way, yet litigation is an insurmountable barrier," she said.
The Tsilhqot'in won a court battle in 2014 recognizing their Aboriginal title in B.C.'s Interior, but it cost millions of dollars and took more than 20 years, she said.
With the obligation on First Nations to assert their title claims, it makes sense that some, like the Wet'suwet'en, are choosing to do so through direct action as they try to prevent Coastal GasLink from building its pipeline through their traditional territory.
"The onus remains on First Nations and that cost is untenable for most people," she said.
Gunn said that from her perspective, the provincial and federal governments have tried to maintain the status quo in the decades since the ruling by denying land rights until a First Nation challenges them.
Conflicts could be diminished if negotiations began with the recognition of Aboriginal title rather than discussion about whether it exists, she said.
The B.C. government has been in talks with the Wet'suwet'en for a year on a joint goal of "affirming" Aboriginal title with no real agreement reached.
B.C. Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Minister Scott Fraser said in a recent interview that the talks aren't specific to any project like Coastal GasLink's natural gas pipeline, but they could have implications in the future.
"It's a much larger issue than a particular project, we all agreed it would be a separate process," he said.
"That being said, as we dig deeper into the conflict here, the rights and title issues come up over and over again, and that's still an outstanding issue that we haven't been able to address."
The BC NDP only believes in processes that lead to "certainty". Scott Fraser talks the talk but he doesn't walk the walk. If the Wet'suwet'en, after taking their case all the way to the SCC and winning, cannot assert their rights to object to projects then no indigenous group has the right to say no to anything. The youth leading many of the blockades are well read and understand Arthur Manuel's viewpoint and are willing to step up and continue the fight for recognition of their rights. They have no desire to enter into a process that leads to extinguishment for cash.
Coulthard expects that the ongoing expansion of the Trans Mountain oil pipeline from Edmonton in Alberta to a B.C. marine port in Burnaby, will “meet similar resistance” as the one the country is witnessing in connection with the Wet’suwet’en situation.
Coulthard predicts that protests against the Trans Mountain facility may even gain “more popular support given the proposed right away into the Lower Mainland”.
Asked about the biggest takeaway from the Wet’suwet’en fight and future protests in connection with fossil fuel-related developments, Coulthard said that the “core determinant of these struggles is due to B.C.’s failure to address the land question in the province in a just and honourable way”.
“As a result, B.C. remains on stolen land in the most straightforward sense of the term,” Coulthard said. “And the people who are taking to the streets and taking to the land and to defend their territories are acting righteously against this injustice.”
Blockades a genius in assertion of Indigenous power: UBC-based First Nations thinker Glen Coulthard
Is reconciliation dead? Maybe only government reconciliation is
The politics of the Wet'suwet'en crisis are thorny and dangerous
Trudeau falls back on platitudes; Singh tacitly supports Trudeau
As he belatedly tries to take control of the crisis, and head off any sort of violence on either side, Trudeau has been reduced to uttering bland platitudes.
"On all sides," the PM tells Parliament, "People are upset and frustrated. I get it. It is understandable, because this is about things that matter: rights, livelihoods, the rule of law, and our democracy."
He goes on to recognize the historic and contemporary injustices suffered by Indigenous peoples, including the still-unresolved matter of drinkable water for all Indigenous communities, the gaps in housing and education, and the continued incidence of violence visited on Indigenous women and girls. He then pledges to do better, and asks for patience -- all the while underscoring the fact that the country will not tolerate a rail blockage that endangers key economic sectors for much longer.
His conclusion: "We are in this together: the worker, the senior, the Indigenous leader, the protester and the police officer. Let us have the courage to take this opportunity and take action together, and so to build a better path for all Canadians."
The prime minister is being maddeningly non-specific about what his government plans to do, tangibly, but there is an argument to be made against negotiating in public. Trudeau has senior cabinet ministers working on some sort of solution. He has even, in effect, recruited all opposition leaders, save Scheer, in that effort.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is, on the surface, vigorously critical of the Trudeau government's record on Indigenous reconciliation, which he characterizes as more talk than action. And he -- concretely -- proposes that the prime minister endeavour to meet personally with the Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs.
If such a meeting were to happen, it is almost certain the chiefs would, as a pre-condition, insist the RCMP officers now occupying a threatening position in their community stand down. And if Singh would like the RCMP to do what the chiefs want, he might consider calling his fellow NDPer, Premier Horgan.
On the whole, the NDP is having a hard time distinguishing itself from the governing Liberals on this conflict, given that the B.C. New Democrats and the federal Liberals are moving in lockstep on this issue.
The federal NDP was on the money when it urged the Trudeau government to get involved much earlier than it did. Now that the Trudeau government is engaged, however, there is not much daylight between them and the opposition NDP.
NDPers do not, for instance, suggest scrapping the natural gas pipeline project, as do the Greens. The NDP does not even suggest moving the pipeline to the route the hereditary chiefs have proposed, a route the company building the line says would be both impractical and too expensive.
For the NDP -- as for all other parties in the House, save the Conservatives -- what is of paramount importance, right now, is to avoid violence at all costs.
As Jagmeet Singh puts it:
"It is encouraging to see that the prime minister is not calling for police to be sent in. We have seen the consequences of that type of response and we do not want to go there."
https://rabble.ca/news/2020/02/politics-wetsuweten-crisis-are-thorny-and-dangerous
Canada's conservative movement threatens the country more than non-violent blockades
Riveting Video Captures RCMP Raid of Gidimt’en Camp
Newly released footage shows pipeline opponents’ defiance as police march in.
B.C. First Nations village evacuated after blue-green algae found in water source
Why Canada needs an independent Indigenous human rights commission
Natan Obed: B.C.’s provincial UNDRIP law creates a self-reporting obligation, which has proven faulty in the Wet’suwet’en situation
https://www.macleans.ca/opinion/why-canada-needs-an-independent-indigenous-human-rights-commission/
Anti-pipeline rally set to take over Broadway-Commercial intersection Wednesday
The protest rally, titled No CGL & TMX Pipelines! Intersection Action, begins at 5 p.m. at the Commercial-Broadway intersection.
Trudeau is proposing an Indigenous Police Force
B.C. RCMP prepared to leave Wet'suwet'en traditional territory
https://www.straight.com/news/1362871/bc-rcmp-prepared-leave-wetsuweten-traditional-territory
Horgan says cancelling the Coastal Gaslinks pipeline not a option for him
Why not revisit the alternate route. If part of the increased price tag includes a longer route and construction period, that could result in more jobs for a longer period of time. I imagine the Wet'suwet'en members who support the project because of employment opportunities might actually be on board with this.
Agreed
Trudeau convenes meeting with key cabinet ministers, will address the nation over blockades
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-incident-response-group-friday-1.5471095
Wet’suwet’en hereditary chief offers to meet with feds ‘quickly’ to discuss RCMP leaving
https://globalnews.ca/news/6577887/wetsuweten-chief-meeting-offer/
Government asking for an extra $2.1 billion for Indigenous programs
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/indigenous-government-spending-blockades-1.5470670
Protestors appear to be removing their campsite
on railways tracks South of Montreal
Manitoba Metis are against the blockades and Via Rail will resume service on Monday
The Wet’suwet’en standoff may just be a dress rehearsal for what is to come
With every passing day that the situation has remained unresolved, the conciliatory approach favoured by a majority in Parliament has become more out of sync with public opinion.
That disconnect is compounded by the growing sense that the Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs who are leading the B.C. battle may be less interested in participating in talks that could find them on the losing end of the consensus of their own communities than in killing the pipeline.
Is it time to scrap the Indian Act?
Some words of wisdom here
The deeper reason behind Indigenous resistance to pipelines
Stalled shipments prompt calls for compensation to offset financial hit of rail blockades
Amidst National Crisis, Province Gives Unist’ot’en an Ultimatum
Meet with pipeline company within 30 days or decision will be made without you, Environmental Assessment Office says.
However, in a media briefing Friday afternoon the province denied that the report, required as a condition of the company’s 2014 environmental assessment certificate, had been rejected.
Coastal GasLink is required to outline social, economic, environmental, health and cultural impacts of the pipeline on the Morice River Technical Boundary Area, which includes the Unist’ot’en Healing Centre.
The company was unable to do that since 2012, as it had been prevented from accessing the area by Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs and their supporters.
https://thetyee.ca/News/2020/02/21/Wetsuweten-EAO-Ultimatum/
Progress is being made
RCMP ‘temporarily’ close office on Wet’suwet’en land, chief says more talks next week
https://globalnews.ca/news/6584454/rcmp-office-closed-wetsuweten/
Manitoba Metis are against the blockades and Via Rail will resume service on Monday
HOWEVER:
Métis call ourselves otipêyimisiwak, the People Who Own Themselves. Throughout our history we formed governing structures when needed, and then dissolved them when they no longer served their purpose. We are not shackled to the provincial and national organizations that claim to be our voice and our sole legitimate political representation, nor will we be silenced by them. We have always relied upon the political, social, and familial ties we have with other Indigenous nations such as the Cree, Saulteaux, Nakota, and that relationality requires constant care and renewal. We can and should be doing the work to expand these international relationships with all Indigenous peoples within so-called Canada as well as beyond these colonial borders.
As Métis, affiliated with provincial Métis organizations or not, we the undersigned reject these positions taken by the MNC and MMF. We assert and affirm our support for Wet’suwet’en Land Defenders, now and in future struggles. We recognize and thank all those who have acted in solidarity, especially recognizing the leadership of the women, youth, and Two-Spirit organizers who have mobilized to help protect and support our human and non-human kin. These brave defenders are fighting for us and the generations to come. We stand with you. We unreservedly condemn the actions of the RCMP and join our voices with our Wet’suwet’en kin to insist that the RCMP be withdrawn from Wet’suwet’en Yintah. We voice our solidarity with land defenders, Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike across the country and even internationally. We call upon the provincial and federal governments of Canada to cease hostile police actions against land defenders both on Wet’suwet’en territory and those putting their bodies and futures on the line in solidarity. We call upon these settler governments to meet with the Hereditary Chiefs in nation-to-nation talks and to respect the tenets of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent. Finally, we call upon all Metis provincial and national organizations to take up our responsibilities as a nation who have felt the full weight of military occupation and forced expropriation of our lands and to immediately take an unequivocal position of solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en people and Hereditary Chiefs. We refuse to let the false promises of state recognition take precedence over our responsibilities as Indigenous people to all our relations.
https://apihtawikosisan.com/2020/02/metis-statement-of-solidarity-with-wetsuweten-land-defenders/
Canada loves the rule of law (unless we’re talking Indigenous rights)
For the vast majority of this country's history, the rules have been flagrantly broken when it comes to Indigenous land and rights
https://thenarwhal.ca/canada-loves-the-rule-of-law-unless-were-talking-indigenous-rights/
Worth repeating little boys.
‘That’s not the way of our ancestors’: Wet’suwet’en matriarch speaks out about pipeline conflict
Wet'suwet'en member wants protesters to 'back down'
..so lets talk about the boys
- trudeau, marc miller, horgan, fraser, heyman, eby, cgl, male dominated rcmp, male dominated canadian intellegince that is corordinating with cgl....
Actually let's talk about solutions
Fort Nelson First Nation lands permit to transform aging gas field into geothermal energy project
The nation hopes the plant, which has the potential to produce both electricity and direct heat, will inspire other northern communities to follow suit
Tsilhqot’in First Nation opens B.C.’s largest solar farm
The project, which will generate enough energy to power 135 homes and $175,000 in annual revenue, is being celebrated as an important milestone in the nation’s economic independence
https://thenarwhal.ca/tsilhqotin-first-nation-opens-b-c-s-largest-solar-farm/
Heiltsuk rising: inside the cultural resurgence of one B.C. First Nation
A new Big House and land-based healing centre mark a remarkable moment for the Heiltsuk people
https://thenarwhal.ca/heiltsuk-rising-inside-the-cultural-resurgence-of-one-b-c-first-nation/
Another day, another blockade, this time in Vancouver East
Canada's conservative movement threatens the country more than non-violent blockades
Hopefully this ends peacefully, eh!
Tyendinaga Mohawks say they've been given midnight deadline to clear camps
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/tyendinaga-mohawksd-eadline-1.5473346
Trudeau convenes Incident Response Group amid blockade arrests
'We don't want to block the Mercier Bridge,' say Kahnawake protesters
But this morning's convoy, which comes after the Ontario police carried out a raid in Tyendinaga, "shows the potential of what we could do if we wanted to."
'We don't want to block the Mercier Bridge,' say Kahnawake protesters
But this morning's convoy, which comes after the Ontario police carried out a raid in Tyendinaga, "shows the potential of what we could do if we wanted to."
So what could a BC cabinet minister do about this?
Start preparing for a Lions Gate Bridge shutdown?
Hereditary chiefs, protesters arrested at rail blockade in northern B.C., say witnesses
Transport Minister confirms police will be 'moving in' on new blockades
Robert Jago on First Nations Resistance and Where It Leads
The Indigenous writer on ‘alarmist’ coverage of today’s protests, and Canada’s past blockades to preserve colonialism.
https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2020/02/25/Robert-Jago-Is-Canadas-Most-Dangerous-Blogger/
Politicians and Columnists Still Don’t Seem to Get the Wet’suwet’en Crisis, so Let’s Review
A look at the governance, and what a treaty might do.
https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2020/02/25/Politicians-Columnists-Dont-Get-Wetsuweten-Crisis-Governance/