sunrise over a winter landscape, a river is in the foregrpund
Indigenous Nations, Justice

BC gov’t won’t appeal landmark ruling on treaty rights

By Jeremy Appel,  Alberta Native News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The British Columbia government says it won’t appeal a June 29 court ruling that unchecked industrial development in northeastern B.C. violates the treaty rights of the Blueberry River First Nation, the CBC reports.

B.C. Supreme Court Justice Emily Burke agreed with the First Nation’s argument that the constant approval of new energy projects on its territory infringes on the nation’s Charter right to preserve its way of life, describing it as “death by a thousand cuts”.

Blueberry River Chief Marvin Yahey said he’s not against economic development, but that the region’s First Nations should be partners in it. 

“If this is done right, there’s plenty of work for everyone,” he said. 

Meanwhile, B.C. Attorney General David Eby says he agrees. 

“The Province recognizes that negotiation, rather than litigation, is the primary forum for achieving reconciliation and the renewal of the Crown-Indigenous relationship,” said Eby

Top photo credit: Sunrise on the Peace River – photo by Tuchodi via Flickr (CC BY SA, 2.0 License)

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