Kwakwaka'wakw

I asked a Tsilhqot’in friend to write about the how the court decision impacted his people and by extension all negotiating Kwakwaka'wakw Nations under the BC Treaty process. Russell is finishing up his Masters thesis in Indigenous Governance at the University of Victoria. His response is broken into several sections that outline the court case, how it impacts the BC treaty process and finally Russell's personal reflection on the subject. I want to extend my gratitude for this important piece of writing. It will be helpful in further understanding our position as a Nation negotiating under a illegitimate treaty process. _________________________________________ To Chiinuuks & people of the land I want to express my thoughts and share information concerning two divergences that have yet to converge. The BC Treaty Process and the Supreme Court decisions resemble two routes to playing politics in trying to gain recognition for the land that we still belong. While the province ...

This can have a dramatic impact on the way we deal with forestry and other industries within our territories. Individual clan territories must be considered before outside companies extract resources. This is to ensure that no one clan bears the burden of the extraction. __________________________________________________ FORESTRY - http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080828.BCTREE28//TPStory/National Natives gain more influence over logging Province failed to adequately accommodate Gitanyow when issuing licences, court rules ROBERT MATAS August 28, 2008 VANCOUVER -- Natives will have significantly more clout over forestry in British Columbia after a court ruling that found the provincial government renewed licences granting the right to log in public forests in northern B.C. without meaningful consultation or adequate accommodation of aboriginal interests. The B.C. Forestry Ministry failed to acknowledge the distinctive political features of the Gitanyow First Nation...