Category Archives: Justice

Indigenous Nations, Justice

New BC bills welcomed, but UNDRIP implementation moving at a snail’s pace

By Shari Narine, Windspeaker, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Two bills introduced in the British Columbia legislature on Nov. 17 illustrate the province is heading in the right direction, say two First Nations leaders.

However, both BC Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Terry Teegee and Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs president Grand Chief Stewart Phillip say more political will is needed to move the principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples forward at a faster pace.

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Energy, Indigenous Nations, Justice

Wet’suwet’en land defenders say BC, federal inaction prompted enforcement of Coastal GasLink eviction

By Matt Simmons, The Narwhal, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

Wet’suwet’en land defenders and supporters say inaction from B.C. and Canada left them no choice but to enforce an eviction order against Coastal GasLink workers and deactivate road access to the project, a pair of measures that have prompted the provincial and federal governments to call for a peaceful resolution to the blockades.

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Energy, Indigenous Nations, Justice

How the Blueberry ruling in B.C. is a gamechanger for the Site C dam, extractive industries and Indigenous Rights

By Matt Simmons, The Narwhal, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

When B.C. Supreme Court Justice Emily Burke served her ruling on a long-fought case between Blueberry River First Nations and the province in late June, unequivocally determining the B.C. government breached  the Nations’ Treaty Rights by permitting and encouraging widespread  resource extraction, she noted B.C.’s regulatory regime for industrial  development is broken.   

Continue reading How the Blueberry ruling in B.C. is a gamechanger for the Site C dam, extractive industries and Indigenous Rights →
Community, Indigenous Nations, Justice

A First Nation’s 20-year fight to get an RCMP detachment

Terrace Standard, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The remote northwest B.C. First Nation community of Iskut has been lobbying the RCMP and the provincial government for more than 20 years now for its own police detachment but with no luck. 

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Justice, Youth

Teen vandalism escalating in Campbell River

Teen vandalism is getting out of hand in Campbell River 

“In the last year we’ve had teens shoot out people’s windows with pellet guns, throwing rocks through windows, steal or move traffic control devices (creating very dangerous situations on the roadways), breaking fences, smashing peoples lawn lights, and spray painting and keying cars,” said RCMP Cst. Maury Tyre.

Continue reading Teen vandalism escalating in Campbell River →