Category Archives: Indigenous Nations

Should the BC & Canadian Governments Honour Treaties?

By Roy L Hales

Premier John Horgan blamed the former Liberal Government last month, “They got to the point of no return … It wasn’t about public policy, it wasn’t about energy policy, it wasn’t about the best interests of British Columbians, it was about getting a project past the point of no return.” He approved the Site C Dam project anyway. In so doing, he joined the Canadian Government in sidestepping what may turn out to be the most crucial point in this debate. Should the BC & Canadian governments honour treaties?

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Launching Deep Roots Second Season

According to Volunteer and Fundraising co-ordinator Odette Auger, Deep Roots is important because it is “local, regionally based spoken word programming.” Steering Committee leader David Rousseau says, “it builds capacity and connection around Cortes Radio.” Senior producer Greg Osoba explains, “Deep Roots is both a skill building and story telling exercise to generate original stories from people who have something to say.” To which Klahoose co-ordinator Jacqueline Mathieu adds, “The stories that are going to be developed really do need to be told.” They were talking about Cortes Radio’s premiere documentary series. The station will soon be launching Deep Roots second season.

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Humpbacks Return To Cortes Island

Humpback whales were passing through our area long before Europeans arrived. The first colonial settlement was named Whalteown and Whaletown Road run across the island to Squirrel Cove. There is also a “Whaling Station Bay,” on Hornby Island and “Blubber Bay,” on Texada Island. However up until a few years ago, there have been no humpback whale sightings since 1871. This morning’s broadcast consists of a series of interviews about the humpbacks return to Cortes Island.

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Remove the Broughton Archipelago’s Open-Net Fish Farms

Marine Harvest did not have the consent of local First Nations,  when they set up an open net fish farm off Swanson Island farm thirty-one-years ago.  They did not need it, with a Social Credit government ruling British Columbia. Only this is 2017, the courts recognize aboriginal title, and Premier John Horgan is more conscious of First Nation’s concerns. At the invitation of Chief Bob Chamberlain of Kwikwasut’inuxw Haxwa’mis First Nation, Horgan and three of his top cabinet ministers visited Alert Bay. They met with forty Kwakwaka’wakw (Kwakiutl) leaders, who demanded Horgan remove the Broughton Archipelago’s open net fish farms.

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Stuff

Originally broadcast in Season One of the Deep Roots Initiative, Cortes Radio, CKTZ, 89.5 FM

Our material world is obsessed with acquiring and accumulating stuff. But how much do we all really need? Morgan Tams looks for options and solutions to this omnipresent conundrum.

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