Tag Archives: Tŝilhqot’in decision

Indigenous Nations

Cariboo nation calls B.C. out on misinformation about Aboriginal title

By Andie Mollins, The Williams Lake Tribune, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Tŝilhqot’in National Government (TNG) is calling on governments to set the facts straight around Aboriginal title and to stop what TNG calls fear-mongering.

“It’s been working well, it’s been happening for 11 years…I don’t know why B.C. is not coming forward and sharing those facts” said Jenny Philbrick, executive director of the TNG, about the nation’s own declaration of title.

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Indigenous Nations

With court win, Quw’utsun Nation sees a ‘spiritual homecoming’ after 150 years

By David P Ball,  IndigiNews, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The shoreline at Tl’uqtinus village — once the annual home to more than a thousand people during salmon season — is today a tangle of blackberry bushes and shipping terminals in what is today ‘Richmond, B.C.’

The riverside village of Tl’uqtinus — once the annual home to more than a thousand people during salmon season — is today a sprawl of retail warehouses, mostly unused municipal lots, a Coca-Cola plant, and a fuel facility for the nearby Vancouver International Airport.

Less than 15 kilometres up the “Fraser River” from the Salish Sea, the former fishing village’s once-busy shores are today host to shipping terminals and a tangle of thorny and invasive blackberry bushes.

Last week, Tl’uqtinus village sparked an even thornier public debate over Indigenous people’s right to land — and settlers’ private property — across the province.

The B.C. Supreme Court, after a record-length trial, declared the Quw’utsun (Cowichan) Nation holds title to the 7.5-square-kilometre village site and the right to fish near it — a century-and-a-half after the province sold it to settlers.

Continue reading With court win, Quw’utsun Nation sees a ‘spiritual homecoming’ after 150 years →
Indigenous Nations

Trudeau did more towards reconciliation than all of his predecessors, First Nations Leader says

By Andie Mollins, The Williams Lake Tribune, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

In remembering Justin Trudeau’s leadership, the Tŝilhqot’in National Government (TNG) says it intends to continue working with Canada’s political leaders towards reconciliation.  

In a press release dated Jan. 7, Nits’ilʔin (Chief) and TNG Tribal Chair Joe Alphonse said Trudeau has done more towards reconciliation than all his predecessors combined.  

“From the day he took office, Trudeau made Indigenous issues a national priority, and, for that, he will always be honoured.” 

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Indigenous Nations, Justice

Nation gathers to celebrate historic court victory

Editor’s note: In April the BC Supreme Court recognised the Nuchatlaht First Nation claim to part of Nootka Island. The parcel in question consists of about 5% of their traditional territory, which is now under Nuchatlaht control. Nootka Island is 140 km from Cortes Island, as the crow flies, but there are many unresolved aboriginal rights and title issues in our immediate area. Stories about how these issues are being dealt with, and hopefully resolved, are of great local interest.

One of the evidences of Nuchatlaht agricultural practises cited in the article that follows is culturally-modified trees. In a previous interview, Dr Chelsea Armstrong told Cortes Currents that while she has not heard any reports of them in the traditional territories of the Homalco, Klahoose and Tla’amin people, “really it’s a researcher bias. It’s only where I’ve worked and where my colleagues have worked.”

Windspeaker, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

After its recent historic legal victory—winning the first-ever trial award of Aboriginal title in the British Columbia Supreme Court—Nuchatlaht First Nation celebrated with a community gathering and feast.

The nation invited community members, supporters and friends for speeches, prayer and a shared meal in Campbell River June 1.

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Indigenous Nations

‘It’s all Haida land’: Nation’s title to be officially recognized over the entirety of Haida Gwaii

By Julie Chadwick, IndigiNews, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter.

In a decision that has been more than 50 years in the making, “B.C.” has announced the completion of a draft agreement that formally recognizes the Haida Nation’s Aboriginal title throughout its entire territory of Haida Gwaii. 

Continue reading ‘It’s all Haida land’: Nation’s title to be officially recognized over the entirety of Haida Gwaii →