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The Carrier Sekani Tribal Council brings together seven member nations to unify our voices and strengthen our inherent indigenous rights, title, and interests in our territories.

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News

BC First Nation Side Deals

CBC AS IT HAPPENS – THE FRIDAY ADDITION – http://www.cbc.ca/asithappens/episode/2011/11/04/friday-november-4-2011/

BC FIRST NATION SIDE DEALS

Which is more important: honouring a long-standing tradition of negotiating treaties — or making a quick deal? B.C. Premier Christy Clark has opted for the latter. And some First Nations people are unhappy about it.  Treaty negotiations with First Nations are typically long and arduous. They often go on for years — sometimes even decades. And in B.C., they’re bound to even take longer. That’s because the province is now less focused on getting treaties signed, and more interested in making side deals with those First Nations that want to do business. Take the example of the Carrier Sekani First Nation in central interior B-C. It recently struck a deal to allow a liquefied natural gas pipeline run under its land. David Luggi is the tribal chief of the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council. We reached him at his office in Prince George, BC.

Which is more important: honouring a long-standing tradition of negotiating treaties — or making a quick deal? B.C. Premier Christy Clark has opted for the latter. And some First Nations people are unhappy about it.

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Homicide Charges Laid in Northern BC Investigation

3 Additional Homicide Charges Laid in Northern BC Investigation


File # 2011-431 – http://bc.rcmp.ca/ViewPage.action?siteNodeId=50&languageId=1&contentId=21421
2011-10-17 09:29 PDT
Statement issued by: Insp. Brendan Fitzpatrick, E Division Major Crime Section

The RCMP is here today to announce that a series of homicide charges have been laid in connection with one investigation dating back to 2009 and two investigations from 2010.

These charges are the result of a 10 month coordinated investigation called Project E-Prelude, a joint investigation led by investigators from the North District Major Crime unit and the Prince George RCMP Detachment Serious Crime Unit. It also involved extensive resources from around the province including investigators and support staff from the E Division Serious Crime Unit, Behavioral Science Group, the E Division Interview Team, Criminal Analysts and a number of specialized RCMP Forensic Laboratories throughout the country. Investigators also took the unusual step of utilizing a Forensic Specialist from the United States to examine specific aspects of the available evidence.

We can announce today that 3 counts of first degree murder have been laid against 21 year old Cody Alan Legebokoff from Prince George in connection with the deaths of 35 year old Jill Stacey Stuchenko, 35 year old Cynthia Frances Maas, and 23 year old Natasha Lynn Montgomery. Legebokoff was arrested this past Friday at the Prince George Regional Correctional Center where he is currently awaiting trial in the November 2010 homicide of 15 year old Loren Donn Leslie from Fraser Lake, BC.

Jill Stuchenko was a mother from Prince George. She was also a talented singer. She was reported missing to police on October 22, 2009. At the time, the Prince George RCMP conducted a missing persons investigation and sought the assistance of the media and the public to help find her. Sadly, her body was found on October 26th, 2009 in a gravel pit off Otway Road in the outskirts of Prince George, BC.

Cynthia Maas was also a mother. She was reported missing by her friends on September 23rd, 2010. Her family was also concerned because they had not heard from her over the course of several weeks. Despite numerous proactive policing initiatives on the part of the Prince George Detachment and North District Major Crime Unit, such as street checks, contact with various organizations and businesses and other search efforts, Cynthia was not found until October 9, 2010, when her body was discovered in LC Gunn Park, also in a remote area of Prince George.

Also a mother, Natasha Montgomery was originally from Quesnel, BC but had been living in the Prince George area. When she failed to connect with her family after a number of weeks, they contacted the RCMP to report her missing. She was reported missing the same day as Cynthia Maas. While her body has not been recovered, investigative findings have resulted in a murder charge in relation to her disappearance.

All four were women loved by their friends and family. All four were homicide victims. As a result of Project E- PRELUDE, all four of these murdered women have been connected to a single suspect.

We have spent the last 24 hours with members of the victims’ families and support services have been provided to help them through this difficult time. It was evident by our meeting yesterday; these women were all very vibrant, talented and loving. They were all mothers, daughters, and aunts and possess large extended familes who miss them tremendously. The families request privacy at this very sad time.

We also respect news of this development and the charges will be met with mixed emotions by the community. These are difficult and complex investigations that require a dedicated team of resources. This group and particularly the RCMP remain committed to ensuring justice is delivered.

While these cases are before the courts, I am limited to the amount of information or details I can provide at this time. However, I can confirm that in all three of these new cases investigators were assigned with first locating the missing person. Upon receiving the Missing Person Reports investigators were immediately focused on locating the women and gathering information as to their potential whereabouts. This consisted of a number of proactive policing strategies including street checks, designated patrols, targeting areas and people known to frequent areas these women were known to have attended. Extensive and immediate follow-up was conducted on potential sightings as well as a number of other investigative avenues. In fact, during this time at least one other woman was reported missing. The on-going investigation thankfully located her safe and sound in another city.

When they were located, in the cases of Jill Stuchenko and Cynthia Maas, the crime scenes were examined and the latest in forensic collection and analysis methods were used. In two of the four cases, this also included, as I mentioned earlier, utilizing a forensic specialist from Pennsylvania who utilized state of the art computer technology to forensically examine some of the evidence.

Over the course of the investigation a number of search warrants were executed at two Prince George residences associated to 21 year old Cody LEGEBOKOFF. The vehicle he was driving during the aftermath of 15 year old Loren LESLIE’s November 27, 2010 murder was also painstakingly forensically examined over the course of several weeks. It was a combination of many factors, along with a dedicated team of investigators that has brought us to the point where these additional three charges can be laid.

However, our investigation is not over. We do need the public’s help. In order to assist us with advancing our investigation, we are releasing a photo of Cody Alan Legebokoff and his vehicle.

Legebokoff is described as 21 years old, Caucasian male, 6 feet 2 inches tall, weighing approximately 220 pounds, with blonde hair and blue eyes. His vehicle is described as a Black 2004 GMC ½ ton pickup truck. We also know that he was an avid user of social media and technology. Our investigation indicates he extensively utilized social media and on-line dating to correspond with friends, associates, potential girlfriends and others. He frequently used the on-line name of 1CountryBoy.

It should also been known that Mr. LEGEBOKOFF lived in Lethbridge, Alberta for a short time between June 2008 and August 2009.

We are asking anyone with any information, in particular between the time period of October 2009 and November 2010 to call a special Tip Line that has been established for this case. The number 1-877-987-8477 (TIPS)

We believe there are others out there that may have been in contact with LEGEBOKOFF or these victims and possess information that can assist our on-going investigation.

Released by:

“E” Div. Communications Services
Phone: 604-264-2929
 

Email: bcrcmp@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

The RCMP is here today to announce that a series of homicide charges have been laid in connection with one investigation dating back to 2009 and two investigations from 2010.

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Letter to Premier – September 28th, 2011

Premier Christy Clark —- Read PDF Version
Office of the Premier
PO Box 9041, Station Provincial Government, Victoria, B.C., V8W 9E1
VIA FAX: (250) 387-0087

Dear Madam Premier:

We write to you as organizations directly interested in the crucial human rights concerns at the heart of the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry, established by your government’s September 27, 2010 Order in Council. Regretfully, we write to advise you that this Commission is in serious jeopardy. We are asking for you to intervene in this broken process, meet with our organizations, hear our concerns, and take steps to ensure that the Commission lives up to its vital mandate to determine why so many women’s lives were lost and what can be done to prevent a recurrence of this tragedy.

We would be remiss if we did not, first, thank your government for establishing the Commission of Inquiry. We asked for this Inquiry to take place, and your government established an Inquiry in response. The subject matter being canvassed by this Commission is information we have wanted to be brought before the public for years. This Commission appears to us to represent the sole opportunity for that information to be heard, and for government to reform policy in response in a manner that is constructive, engaged and meaningful for our communities. We want this Commission to succeed, and
we want to participate in it. The success of this Commission means nothing less than the human rights, physical safety and security of girls and women we care deeply about, people who are our friends and family members.

All of our organizations share the goal of ending violence against girls and women. This Commission has as a key mandate identifying the systemic failures that led to brutal violence against women from Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, and failed to prevent it. That violence against this group of vulnerable women continues to this day; the problem has not been solved with the arrest of William Pickton. This Commission is therefore not just a necessary step, but is only one step towards ending violence against women. Its failure and its loss of legitimacy among women and girls and those that support their safety is a disappointing continuation of successive failures of governments to enact meaningful policies to eradicate violence against women, and, in particular, against Indigenous women and other vulnerable and disadvantaged women.

This Commission also represents an important opportunity not just for truth, but for some reconciliation between police and Indigenous and marginalized communities. This Commission in itself will not solve the myriad of issues between police, members of Indigenous communities, and women who live in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, but it will go a distance to better understanding the problems and perhaps healing some old wounds. If this Commission is allowed to fail, which would certainly be the case if it is ultimately seen as illegitimate by affected communities, the result will be to not only aggravate old wounds, but open new ones. For these reasons too, we want this Commission to succeed, and we want to participate fully and meaningfully in it.

Despite our unflinching desire for this Commission of Inquiry to succeed, and for our communities and organizations to be able to participate in it, the people and communities who are intended to be benefited by this process have been made to feel that their participation is not needed, or even particularly desired. This outcome will negatively impact the findings and credibility of this Commission. For example, the unique experiences of women who live in the Downtown Eastside must be heard given the unique intersection of systemic challenges these women face before effective recommendations affecting them can be made. Some groups among us have formally or informally withdrawn because they are not able to participate given the current structure, process and resources. Others are considering whether they can remain involved. These deeply worrying concerns have been largely met by silence from your government, or by reassurance to the larger public that the non-participation of these groups will not affect the legitimacy, effectiveness or the conduct of this Commission.

Our concerns are simple but fundamental: that those with information critical to the inquiry are assisted and supported so that their information can come before the Commission; that the hearings, when held, provide a fair and safe opportunity for those with evidence to share their information and be heard; that groups granted standing have representation by legal counsel of their choice, just as the police do, so that they may probe and engage with the evidence that comes to light; and that, when the hearings are concluded, government will act in a constructive way in reforming policy based on the information collected. It is only through a fair and safe opportunity for truth telling and cross examination of police and government witnesses that the aims of the Commission around preventing violence against women,
ensuring accountability, building trust, realizing reconciliation and creating meaningful policy reform can be achieved.

We urge you to appoint someone senior within government to hold an emergency meeting with every group granted standing in this Inquiry, either in a group, or individually, to determine how this Commission of Inquiry may be fixed. We urge your government to repair the inquiry process based on these consultations so that we may all move forward.

Today is September 28, 2011. The Commission hearings are scheduled to commence on October 11, 2011. We hope to hear from you by October 5, 2011 at the latest.

Thank you, in advance, for your consideration. Please help us protect those we all care about by ensuring the success of this Commission; a process critically important to the people and communities our organizations represent, but ultimately of vital importance to all people in British Columbia and across Canada.

Yours truly,

  • The Family of Dianne Rock
  • The Family of Georgina Papin
  • The Family of Marnie Frey
  • The Family of Cynthia Dawn Feliks
  • The Family of Cara Ellis
  • The Family of Mona Wilson
  • The Family of Helen May Hallmark
  • The Family of Dawn Crey
  • The Family of Angela Hazel Williams
  • The Family of Jacqueline Murdock
  • The Family of Brenda Wolfe
  • The Family of Andrea Joesbury
  • The Family of Elsie Sebastian
  • The Family of Heather Bottomley
  • The Family of Andrea Borhaven
  • The Family of Tiffany Drew
  • The Family of Angela Jardine
  • The Assembly of First Nations
  • Amnesty International Canada
  • The B.C. Civil Liberties Association
  • The Carrier Sekani Tribal Council
  • Don Larsen (of Crab Water for Life Society)
  • The Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre
  • The Ending Violence Association of B.C. (EVA BC)
  • The February 14th Women’s Memorial March Committee
  • First Nations Summit
  • The Frank Paul Society
  • Native Courtworker and Counselling Association of BC
  • The Native Women’s Association of Canada
  • The Providing Alternatives Counselling & Education Society (PACE)
  • The Sex Workers United Against Violence Society
  • The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs
  • The Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU)
  • The WISH Drop In Centre Society (WISH)
  • The West Coast Women’s Legal Education Fund
  • The Women’s Equality and Security Coalition
  • The Aboriginal Women’s Action Network
  • The Canadian Association of Sexual Assault Centres
  • The Coalition of Childcare Advocates
  • EVE (formerly Exploited Voices now Educating)
  • Justice for Girls
  • The National Congress of Black Women Foundation
  • The University Women’s Club of Vancouver
  • The Vancouver Rape Relief Society
  • The Poverty and Human Rights Centre
  • The Asian Women Coalition Ending Prostitution
  • The Provincial Council of Women

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CSTC Supports First Nations Against the Enbridge Pipeline

Dakelh Territory, Prince George, British Columbia.  Canada. – Yesterday Enbridge released information that is has signed non-binding agreements (called ‘Precedent Agreements’) that purport to demonstrate that there are willing buyers of dirty oil sands that might be available if their Northern Gateway Pipeline project is built.  Over 100 First Nations are objecting to the Enbridge pipeline being built through their territories and have vowed to use all legal means to protect their homelands and the pristine ecosystems that are under threat by Enbridge.  The CSTC stands united with all First Nations, local municipalities and Canadian citizens that are opposed to the proposed Enbridge pipeline.

Tribal Chief David Luggi stated, “It’s been obvious who was behind the financing of this doomed project, and now we have confirmation that Sinopec, a huge Chinese refining company, is one of those interested in the project.”  Luggi continued, “Enbridge is setting up these companies for disappointment, because as far as we are concerned, this project is not going ahead.  They are misleading investors that they are achieving certainty.  Carrier Sekani First Nations have unequivocally said no to this project, and it is not allowed in our territories.”

“Enbridge can be fully subscribed for their delivery of dirty oil to refineries in Asia, however they still do not have First Nations approval,” said Vice Tribal Chief Terry Teegee.  He added, “The unilateral approach of these major project reviews, via the Joint Review Panel and the National Energy Board, are not working for First Nations as they cannot appropriately address our aboriginal rights and title, including our right to be part of the decision-making process.  Our people have reviewed the risks to the proposed project and concluded that it was not worth the risk, and we have said ‘NO’ to this project.”

In 2006 the CSTC completed an Aboriginal Interest and Use Study (AIUS) that examined the impacts from the proposed pipeline.  First Nations in BC are actively seeking to work with investors that are respectful of Aboriginal rights and title, particularly those from the Asia-Pacific region.  The CSTC member First Nations are not adverse to development, but it must be appropriate, respectful and equitable for current and future generations.

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For more information please contact:

Tribal Chief David Luggi: Office (250) 562-6279 e.222. Cell: (250) 640-6622
Vice Tribal Chief Terry Teegee:  Office (250) 562-6279 e.223.  Cell: (250) 640-3256

PDF Version

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Yinka Dene Alliance Reacts to Enbridge Announcement of Commercial Agreements for Proposed Pipeline

NADLEH WHUT’EN, BRITISH COLUMBIA–(Marketwire – Aug. 24, 2011) – Chief Larry Nooski of Nadleh Whut’en First Nation, a member of the Yinka Dene Alliance, made the following statement in response to today’s announcement by Enbridge that it has commercial support for its proposed pipeline and tanker project:

“Enbridge’s pipeline isn’t happening, period. It doesn’t matter who they get a deal with. They plan to come through our territories and we’ve already said no, and we’ll use every legal means we have to stop them. Their proposed pipeline is against our laws because we refuse to put our communities at the risk of oil spills.

Getting industry to support their plan is not going to help them. These lands belong to First Nations and they will never get our permission because our lands and rivers are not for sale.

There are now more than 100 First Nations in western Canada who’ve said no to their pipeline and tankers. From the Rockies to the Pacific, every mile of their pipeline and tanker route goes through a First Nation that has banned their project.

This pipeline is dead in the water.

The Yinka Dene Alliance includes Nadleh Whut’en, Nak’azdli, Takla Lake, Saik’uz, and Wet’suwet’en First Nations in northern BC who have banned the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines from their territories.

Contact Information
Yinka Dene Alliance
Geraldine Thomas-Flurer
Coordinator
(250) 570-1482

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CSTC Responds to Passing of Jack Layton

Dakelh Territory, Prince George, British Columbia.  Canada. – The Carrier Sekani Tribal Council (CSTC) is sadden to learn of the passing of Mr. Jack Layton, NDP leader.  As with many other First Nations and Canadians, the CSTC saw Mr. Layton in high regard as a spirited and genuine leader.  Mr. Layton succumbed to his long battle with cancer this morning at his home in Toronto, Ontario with his family by his side.

Tribal Chief David Luggi commented, “Mr. Layton certainly left his mark in politics, he brought the NDP from the ashes of 13 party seats to an unprecedented 103 seats in parliament today.” Luggi continued, “I think what we should remember about Jack is that he took a stand for the environment and a stand for First Nation’s rights and title in a time when no leader would step up to the plate. He will be missed for sure.”

Vice Tribal Chief Terry Teegee shared a moment when he had a chance meeting with the NDP Leader, “I met Jack Layton for the first time in Copenhagen, Denmark during the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 15) in December 2009.

He was very supportive of our opposition to the oil sands expansion via the Enbridge pipeline proposal.  He’s also been supportive of a tanker ban on the coast.”  Teegee remarked, “Mr. Layton was a great advocate and supporter of people without a voice, whether it was the homeless or the environment, he leaves a legacy we can all reflect on for inspiration.”

Tribal Chief Luggi concluded, “Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Layton’s family during their time of bereavement.”

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For more information please contact:

Tribal Chief David Luggi: Office (250) 562-6279 e.222. Cell: (250) 640-6622 Vice Tribal Chief Terry Teegee:  Office (250) 562-6279 e.223.  Cell: (250)
640-3256

PDF Version

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Rejection for Burns Lake’s Ditni Yoh project

By Rebecca Billard – Burns Lake Lakes District News
Nearly, but not quite.

This is the outcome for the Ditni Yoh Green Energy project that was to be located 26 kilometres East of Burns Lake. The project was submitted to BC Hydro’s phase two call for bioenergy, making it through to be one of seven that were short listed, but was not chosen in the final round. The four projects chosen are located in Fort St. James, Fraser Lake, Merritt and Chetwynd.

Ditni Yoh was to be a $140 million investment in the local area that would have provided between 20 and 60 full time jobs. The proposed 35 megawatt plant would have produced enough energy to supply power to 33,000 homes, which was more power than Burns Lake required from a residential standpoint, so the majority of the power was to go back to the grid.  This is the second blow for the project. It was originally submitted to BC Hydro in 2008 as part of the phase one call for bioenergy and was also passed over.

The phase two submission had been revamped and new partnerships had been formed between Western BioEnegry Inc. who is a 100 per cent owned subsidiary of Dalkia Canada, and six local First Nations groups collectively called the Lakes District Native Economic Development Corporation. The six First Nations include; the Burns Lake Band, Lake Babine Nation, Skin Tyee Nation, Nee Tahi Buhn Band and the Stellat’en First Nation. Harvie Campbell, director of Western BioEnergy Inc. who was working on the project said he is very disappointed that the project was not chosen to move forward.

“It is a personal disappointment as so many good friends including First Nations and local councillors worked to move the project forward,” he said. Campbell said it was a competitive process and Ditni Yoh was not chosen as the fibre supply costs were too high.

“The fibre sources for the four projects that were chosen were less expensive than they were for Ditni Yoh, but not by much, which made them more attractive to BC Hydro.” Campbell said for now it is tools down for the project but he went on to say that if the opportunity presents itself in the future the project could be resurrected.

“We are still prepared to support the project. It is very unfortunate because it was a very good, solid project and it had a lot of community support behind it.”

“We did everything we could think of [to have the project selected].” However all is not lost for Western BioEnergy Inc. with two of their  three short listed projects selected in the final four. The Merritt Green Energy Project and the Fort St. James Green Energy project will surge ahead now that BC Hydro approval has been given.

“The region did not completely lose out because the West Fraser Mills Ltd. Fraser Lake Sawmill Biomass project was chosen as one of the four,” Campbell said, adding that it is still a blow to Burns Lake.
Burns Lake Band Chief Albert Gerow said to Lakes District News that he is equally disappointed the Ditni Yoh project was not chosen.

In a media release he said Ditni Yoh would have had an initial injection into the local economy of $140 million dollars along with significant construction jobs, long term plant jobs, as well as fibre supply jobs. “Spin off opportunities would have been significant.”
He continued to say, the community of Burns Lake is heavily dependent upon the forest industry. “By adding a bioenergy plant to the Lakes District, alongside Babine Forest Products and Decker Lake Forest Products, it would have helped to stabilize the local economy by adding some diversification.”

“All this is now lost due to the decision of BC Hydro.”

“This is a project that has been in the works for over four years. When BC Hydro first started the Green Energy Initiatives, First Nations were not even considered as potential partners or even on the radar screen. Then BC Hydro came back with call for proposals which had a requirement to include First Nations.”

We felt that the Ditni Yoh project would be a shoe in, because not only did we have First Nations participation, but we had a total of six First Nations as potential partners.”
Chief Gerow said that having secured a 400,000 m3 annual license from the Ministry of Forests, as well as secure backing from Western BioEnergy Inc. and Dalkia Canada as well as the participation of six First Nations should be a feather in the cap of BC Hydro, to show that they are working with First Nations.

He said, “Burns Lake was the epicenter of the worst natural disaster B.C. forests have ever seen and something I would not want our grandchildren’s, grandchildren to experience. The unprecedented attack on lodge pole pine trees by the mountain pine beetle devastated the forests in the Lakes District. Lakes District forest alone have had 80 per cent of the pine trees killed, provincially over 17 million hectares has been decimated.”

“The bioenergy plant which we worked on for Burns Lake would have  been a healing process in utilizing some of the beetle killed trees in a beneficial way.”  Chief Gerow said he will now be working with consultants to determine where to go with the project.

“Obviously I hope that we can come to an early resolution with the cooperation of BC Hydro,” said Chief Gerow, adding that he will now be approaching BC Hydro asking for an explanation, despite hearing that the project was denied due to fibre supply costs. Chief Gerow also said he will be taking the matter to Nechako Lakes MLA, John Rustad.

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Some Candidates Forum

By Ruth Lloyd – Caledonia Courier
Published: August 13, 2011 12:00 PM
Updated: August 13, 2011 12:24 PM

http://www.bclocalnews.com/news/127659008.html

Ten candidates running for four spots on the Nak’azdli Band Council came out to speak and answer questions at the all candidates forum in Kwah Hall.

While one candidate showed up only to decline the nomination, five other candidates did not make it to the forum.

Fellow candidate Anne Sam did defend the absence of Peter Erickson, who she said was committed to the community but was out on his family’s keyoh, and would not have missed it for anything else. She urged those present to keep an open mind to the absent candidates, given the timing of the forum, which was later than usual. The forum fell when many families go out onto traditional keyoh territories to take part in a summer harvest.
The candidates present each made a speech and then the floor opened up to questions from the audience.
Candidate Kenny Sam made a passionate appeal in his speech regarding land rights.

“That’s our land and we have to fight for it,” he said.

Harold Prince, former councillor and former chief spoke passionately about education. He spoke partly in Dakelh (Carrier), and then announced he has made the commitment to be alcohol and drug free.

Tim Erickson also spoke strongly about alcohol and drug use, saying his priorities are education and housing. He challenged his fellow candidates to set an example for the community by leading a healthy lifestyle.
“We have to, as a generation, start making our footprints out there.”

The focus of many of the questions was on education, youth and culture, especially language.

Anne Sam spoke about getting the community engaged and informing them about education so people can have a say and so their children can succeed in the system.

The approach suggested by Rosemarie Sam to empower the youth was to encourage them to get engaged in the issues, and to educate young people on their rights so they can be proactive.

The Enbridge Northern Gateway proposed pipeline was also raised as an issue for the community, with Anne Sam explaining the role she has been playing in working on the Headwaters Initiative, which opposes the pipeline.

“We’re working with other First Nations to gather support and say ‘no’ to Enbridge,” said Anne Sam.

Kenny Sam is part of a registered intervenor group in the Enbridge Northern Gateway Joint Review Panel process.

He said he will be opposing the pipeline, which would cross his keyoh, through this process.

Most of the candidates present also brought forward ideas for helping to preserve the language.

The candidates are running for four council member openings, each of which would be for a two-year term.

There are a total of eight council members and one chief on the Nak’azdli Band Council.

The election will beheld on August 18.

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FNLC Supports Re-Appointment of Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond as Representative for Children and Youth

OPEN LETTER: FNLC Support for the Re-Appointment of Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond as the Representative for Children and Youth in BC

PDF copy: http://www.ubcic.bc.ca/files/PDF/2011July27_FNLCtoPremierClark_ReappointRCY.pdf

Premier Christy Clark
Province of British Columbia
PO Box 9041, STN PROV GOVT
Victoria, BC, V8W 9E1

Dear Premier Clark,

We are writing to express our full support for the reappointment of Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond as the Representative for Children and Youth in British Columbia.

The BC Assembly of First Nations, First Nations Summit and Union of BC Indian Chiefs have supported Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond¡¦s comprehensive work since her appointment in November 2006. During this time, Ms. Turpel-Lafond has provided much-needed critical insight into the current state of the child protection system through a number of in-depth reports and investigations, and has provided recommendations to both the federal and provincial governments regarding issues such as child poverty and the Youth Criminal Justice Act. As a judge, lawyer, mother, professor, and Aboriginal woman, Ms. Turpel-Lafond possesses incredibly unique and highly skilled experience for the position of Representative for Children and Youth.

Importantly, Ms. Turpel-Lafond has acted as a strong advocate for Aboriginal children, who are disproportionately over-represented among children in care, and who comprise the most vulnerable sector of society in BC. We continue to recognize Ms. Turpel-Lafond’s unwavering commitment to address the underlying and cross-cutting root causes of the inter-generational poverty that characterizes a tragically high percentage of Aboriginal families in BC. Her tireless passion to work in partnership and make change has resulted in an accord with the provincial government to work cooperatively together and, most recently, has resulted in a Memorandum of Understanding with the First Nations Education Steering Committee. She refuses to accept that any child should be in an unsafe and unsupported environment, and also continues to clearly articulate the need for adequate supports to be provided to caregivers.

The enormously important and valuable work of Ms. Turpel-Lafond is just beginning, and she must be able to continue her effective advocacy for improving the lives of children and youth in British Columbia. Further, she must be able to continue providing much needed oversight and recommendations to the Ministry of Children and Family Development, and to establish opportunities for joint dialogue. Once again, we strongly urge you to reappoint Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond as the Representative for Children and Youth.

Yours truly,

FIRST NATIONS LEADERSHIP COUNCIL

CC:
Honourable Mary Polak, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation
Honourable Mary McNeil, Minister of Children and Family Development
Mr. Adrian Dix, Leader of the Opposition, BC NDP MLA

Select Standing Committee on Children and Youth:

  • Chair, Joan McIntyre, BC Liberal MLA
  • Deputy Chair, Claire Trevena, BC NDP MLA
  • Member, Mable Elmore, BC NDP MLA
  • Member, Kash Heed, BC Liberal MLA
  • Member, Gordon Hogg, BC Liberal MLA
  • Member, Douglas Horne, BC Liberal MLA
  • Member, Leonard Krog, BC NDP MLA
  • Member, Kevin Krueger, BC Liberal MLA
  • Member, Richard T. Lee, BC Liberal MLA
  • Member, Nicholas Simons, BC NDP MLA

Special Committee to Appoint a Representative for Children and Youth:

  • Chair, Colin Hansen, BC Liberal MLA
  • Deputy Chair, Mable Elmore, BC NDP MLA
  • Member, Rob Howard, BC Liberal MLA
  • Member, Maurine Karagianis, BC NDP MLA
  • Member, Ben Stewart, BC Liberal MLA
  • Member, Dr. Moira Stilwell, BC Liberal MLA
  • Member, Claire Trevena, BC NDP MLA
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UBCIC and Carrier Sekani Tribal Council Withdraw from BC’s Missing Women Commission of Inquiry

Coast Salish Territory/Vancouver, BC – This morning the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) and the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council (CSTC) informed the office of Commissioner Wally Oppal, Q.C of their formal withdrawal from the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry.

“Initially, the UBCIC was deeply troubled by the extremely narrow and restrictive terms of reference, the tight timelines and was shocked by the unilateral appointment of BC’s former Attorney-General Wally Oppal as Commissioner,” said Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President of the UBCIC. “From the start, it appeared there was an incredibly low and impenetrable funding ceiling for this Inquiry. In truth, the decisions and sheer hypocrisy of the Christy Clark Government have effectively slammed the door to this Inquiry.”

Terry Teegee, Vice Tribal Chief of the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council stated “Premier Christy Clark recently hosted a First Minister’s meeting where she stated publicly that the safety of First Nation women was of paramount concern. If that is the case, we must learn from the errors of the past. We must listen to those families who endured the silence of authorities when their loved ones went missing. We must pursue answers to the many questions of the missing and murdered women not only in Vancouver but along the Highway of Tears in the North.” Teegee further stated, “This was an opportunity for the Christy Clark Government to demonstrate that the safety of First Nation women, and their families, matter to this government. With the full involvement of all the participants, this Inquiry, and the full and meaningful implementation of its recommendations, could have been a small but significant measure of justice.”

“We thank Commissioner Oppal for his efforts to expand the scope of the Inquiry and to seek the necessary resources from the Province to allow all participants to contribute equally to the Inquiry,” said Grand Chief Phillip. “Our hearts and prayers go out to the families who lost their loved ones and to their many friends who worked hard with community organizations for a full and exhaustive inquiry to address their many concerns. We continue our commitment to them and to work with them to ensure justice will one day be served. We will not abandon them.”

For further information please contact:
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President, UBCIC (www.ubcic.bc.ca) (250) 490-5314
Terry Teegee, Vice Tribal Chief, CSTC (www.carriersekani.ca) (o) (250) 562-6279, (c) (250) 640-3256

PDF copy: http://www.carriersekani.ca/images/uploads/docs/cstc/UBCIC_CSTCPress
_WithdrawfromMWCI_072711.pdf

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Ottawa bargaining in bad faith on land claims, native groups say

MARK HUME
VANCOUVER— From Wednesday’s Globe and Mail
Published Tuesday, Jul. 26, 2011 12:22PM EDT
Last updated Tuesday, Jul. 26, 2011 9:46PM EDT

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-bargaining-in-bad-faith-on-land-claims-native-groups-say/article2110067/

Native organizations have accused the federal government of negotiating in bad faith by imposing deadlines and making “take-it-or-leave-it” offers to bands trying to settle specific land claims. The allegations were made in a lengthy document released Tuesday by the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, the Nlaka’pamux Nation Tribal Council and the Alliance of Tribal Nations. The Assembly of First Nations echoed the concerns, with National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo calling on Ottawa to clarify the situation.

“First Nations are naturally concerned about any apparent attempt that may diminish or deny our lawful claims,” said Mr. Atleo. The organizations say that, in an effort to clear up a backlog of specific claims, the government is pressuring bands to settle by threatening to “arbitrarily cut off negotiations.”

The government, however, contends it is just working expeditiously to clear up claims that otherwise might be left unsettled for years. “First Nations raised concerns in the past about the slow pace of progress in resolving outstanding claims,” Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan said in a statement issued by his office. “To address their concerns, we have adopted a new approach to speed up claims resolution. This includes three-year time frames for negotiating settlements.”

He said bands that can’t negotiate a settlement within three years can still go before the Specific Claims Tribunal, where a panel of judges can make a decision. The tribunal was set up recently to give bands a place to appeal if their claims were rejected by the Specific Claims Board. The board has 471 claims before it.

The analysis by native organizations states the government is now putting pressure on bands by “insisting that negotiations be substantially competed within three years, after which Canada will cease negotiating.”
The report accused the government of adopting “a highly adversarial, technical and legalistic approach to specific claims rather than a collaborative one… It is, in short, negotiating in ‘bad faith.’ ” The government is pursing a strategy of “partial acceptance,” in which it offers to open negotiations only if large parts of the claim are abandoned, the analysis said.

“In some of these cases, Canada does not offer to negotiate, but sets out a pre-calculated figure or formula which is offered as part of an ‘expedited settlement.’ There is no offer to negotiate or even talk,” it said. A spokesman for the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs who asked not to be named said bluntly worded “take-it-or-leave-it letters” are being received by bands across the country. Specific claims are separate from broad-based land claims and generally deal with issues such as the removal of land from reserves or other individualistic legal matters.

For example, one of the claims before the Specific Claims Tribunal deals with the alleged failure of the government to pay annual treaty annuities to members of the Beardy’s and Okemasis bands, near Duck Lake, Sask. The bands claim their Treaty 6 payments were unfairly stopped for several years, to penalize them because the Northwest Rebellion of 1885 started near their reserve. No Beardy’s or Okemasis band members were ever convicted of taking part in the rebellion.

In another case, the Huu-ay-aht First Nation, on Vancouver Island, is seeking compensation for timber removed from reserve lands in 1918. Jodi Wilson-Raybould, Regional Chief for B.C. for the Assembly of First Nations, said specific claims are often legally complex and reach back over many years. Such cases, she said, might not be resolvable within the three-year window the government seeks to impose.

“We want to ensure there is no arbitrary cut-off of negotiations,” she said. “Negotiations aren’t negotiations if there is a game of take-it-or-leave-it being played by one side.” 

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CSTC 30th Annual General Assembly

“People, Purpose, Passion” The Pathway to Success.

  • View AGA Poster.pdf
  • Click here to read the 2010/2011 Annual Report
  • Click here to read the AGA Agenda – October 6, 2011

October 6th, 2011
Wet’suwet’en First Nation
Decker Lake Hall
Starts at 9 a.m.

For more information, please contact Mariam Louie at 250-562-6279

Carrier Sekani Tribal Council 30th AGA – “People, Purpose, Passion: The Pathway to Success”
Please join us at Decker Lake Hall, Wet’suwe’ten First Nation, Thursday, October 6th, 2011
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

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Suite 200 - 1460 6th Avenue
Prince George, BC
V2L 3N2

Phone (250) 562-6279
Fax (250) 562-8206
info@carriersekani.ca

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