Tag Archives: Gov of BC

Energy, Rivers & Oceans

The Columbia River Treaty today

By Chadd Cawson, The Columbia Valley Pioneer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

In a recent article by the Pioneer, one looked at the history of the Columbia River Treaty and its implications. 2024 will mark the 60-year point since the U.S. prepaid Canada $64 million to ensure flood control operations would be provided. This Treaty remains in place until one party gives a 10-year termination notice, however, its guidelines have been evolving more recently.

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Indigenous Nations

RCMP were planning raids while in talks with Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs about meeting

By Matt Simmons, The Narwhal, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

The images are familiar now, iconic even: Heavily armed RCMP officers use an axe and a chainsaw to break down the  door of a tiny house. 

Indigenous land defenders, their faces  marked with red handprints to symbolize Missing and Murdered Indigenous  Women and Girls, stand inside with arms raised as police aim  high-calibre rifles at them. 

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Indigenous Nations

Nisga’a Nation marks 22nd anniversary of landmark treaty

Terrace Standard, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Nisga’a Lisims Government (NLG) along with the provincial and federal governments commemorated the 22nd anniversary of the Nisga’a Final Agreement.

The landmark treaty, signed on May 11, 2000 after 113 years of lobbying, is B.C.’s first modern treaty. It was also the first in Canada to provide constitutional certainty in respect to Indigenous peoples’ Section 35 right to self-government.

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Communications, Indigenous Nations, Justice

Emails reveal how the RCMP changed its story about arresting journalists in Wet’suwet’en raid

By Matt Simmons, The Narwhal, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

Updated May 9, 2022, at 11:10 a.m. PT: This article was updated to clarify that filmmaker Michael Toledano was restrained with handcuffs after being detained by RCMP on Nov. 19, 2021. He was not initially restrained with zip ties. But he told The Narwhal that police added zip ties to reinforce the restraints after a key broke off in the handcuffs.

As police helicopters moved into unceded Wet’suwet’en territory and dropped off armed tactical officers accompanied by police dogs on Nov. 19, 2021, photojournalist Amber Bracken was reporting live updates.

She was inside a tiny house occupied by Indigenous land defenders and their allies.

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Indigenous Nations

Mamalilikulla First Nation aims to conserve its spiritual home

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The sound of singing and drums rang across the ancestral land and waters central to the origins of the Mamalilikulla First Nation for the first time in over a century on Thursday.

More than 100 members and guests made the long boat journey to Gwa̱xdlala/Nala̱xdlala — (Lull Bay/Hoeya Sound) in Knight Inlet on B.C.’s isolated central coast — to mark the Mamalilikulla’s ceremonial return to the ancient village site as the stewards of their territory. 

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