The Carrier Sekani Tribal Council (CSTC) is pleased that Andrew Weaver, of the B.C. Green Party, and John Horgan, of the NDP, have come together and reached an agreement to combine their parties’ 44 seats and provide BC with a stable minority government.
These parties’ commitment to work together on key issues, such as defending the environment and creating “good,” sustainable jobs, is a shift away from the short-sighted Liberal government’s economic strategy which will leave the people of British Columbia extracting themselves from destructive and expensive projects designed to prop up a globally catastrophic industry.
In the spirit of cooperation and reconciliation, CSTC calls on the newly forming government of BC, upon securing its position, to immediately implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, to enact the 94 Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and to begin to implement the principles and provisions of the Supreme Court of Canada’s ruling in Tsilhqot’in Nation v. British Columbia.
Both the Green and NDP party platforms support massive change with First Nations in BC by recognizing Supreme Court of Canada decisions. As Green Party leader Andrew Weaver said during the election campaign, “now is the time to reset the relationship (with First Nations in BC)”.
Let’s now advance and deal with resolving Crown and Aboriginal title and bring certainty for all British Columbians. This will pave the way for responsible resource development in Carrier Sekani territories, which will provide an economic engine for our economies.
“The leaders of the Carrier Sekani First Nations look forward to working with both parties and their government representatives to continue and expand negotiations as determined in the Collaboration Agreements and the new Pathway Forward Agreement,” states Tribal Chief Terry Teegee. “We anticipate that the Government-to-Government talks will resume quickly and a Comprehensive Reconciliation Agreement addressing Indigenous Rights and Title will be reached in a timely manner.”
– 30 –
Contact: Tribal Chief Terry Teegee, CSTC Office : (250) 562-6279; Cell: (250) 640-3256
http://darac.sg-host.com/wp-content/uploads/2017-05-29_BC_Green_NDP_Agreement.pdf