NEWS RELEASE October 16, 2014 BC Treaty Commission Report Fails to Reflect the Importance of Aboriginal Title (Unceded Coast Salish Territory / Vancouver, BC) The British Columbia Treaty Commission (BCTC) issued its Annual Report on October 7, 2014 cryptically titled Recommendation 8 in reference to the tripartite recommendation regarding so-called overlaps made in the BC Claims Task Force Report, issued almost a quarter of a century ago. The Task Force Report is a foundational document of the failed BC Treaty Process. We are very disappointed to see the BCTC issue a report less than three months after the Supreme Court of Canadas Tsilhqotin decision, providing the impression that the decision does not require wholesale change in the Crowns approach to negotiations with First Nations, said Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs. The Tsilhqotin decision affirms the efforts of more than a century of advocacy by our peoples seeking to re-establish First Nations relationship with their territories. It firmly establishes First Nations consent over decisions impacting our territories as a fundamental legal principle of Canadian constitutional law. UBCIC Vice-President Chief Bob Chamberlin stated that While the BCTC report discusses the Tsilhqotin decision, it is primarily aimed at propping up its own ineffective and broken process, rather than affirming the Courts direction that we are now moving into an era of recognition based on the principle that Aboriginal Title is real, meaningful, and territorial in nature. Chief Chamberlin stated further, What seems to be lost in the Report is that one plausible reason the Supreme Court of Canada made the declaration of Aboriginal Title it did was the Courts frustration and loss of patience in relation to the failed Treaty process. Courts have been imploring politicians for decades to get on the right path of recognition and respect. The Court finally stood up and fundamentally rejected the dismal policies of the Crown including the Crowns impoverished and wrongheaded approach to treaty negotiations mandates. Kukpi7 Judy Wilson, UBCIC Secretary-Treasurer said, The Tsilhqotin Decision shakes to the core the Crowns assertion of ownership over our territories. It upends established patterns of Crown denial in a way that should entirely reconfigure discussions such as those in the BC Treaty Process. The BCTC report ignores this simple clear fact in a way that calls into question the Commissions relevance into the future, and the utility of a process that appears incapable of grappling with the changing context we are in. Kukpi7 Wilson continued, For a Report to focus exclusively on overlaps, at this late date, after close to a quarter of a century of failed talks, and after First Nations have borrowed heavily in good faith to sit a table to resolve century old conflicts, is not reflective of the historic moment we are in. Title has been recognized, and it has a broad and territorial nature, and the processes and mandates for negotiations must change to reflect that reality. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Grand Chief Stewart Phillip (604) 684-0231 Chief Bob Chamberlin (604) 684-0231 Kukpi7 Judy Wilson (604) 684-0231 This release is online at: ubcic.bc.ca/News_Releases/UBCICNews10161401.html
Posted on: Thu, 16 Oct 2014 12:00:01 +0000
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