Carrier Sekani Tribal Council

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.

News

Collaborative Project Help First Nations Take Part in Carbon Markets

The International Institute for Sustainable Development has issued two reports as part of the First Nations Carbon Collaborative to help build the capacity of First Nations to take part in existing and emerging carbon markets.

The collaborative is a community-driven initiative spearheaded by IISD, the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources and three First Nations living within Canada’s frontier forests.

Undefined carbon rights and a lack of experience prevent First Nations from accessing carbon markets, even though many of them live within and around the boreal forest region that stores 30 per cent of the world’s carbon, according to 2007 research by Woods Hole Research Center.

The literature review indicates there is little information about First Nations in Canada and carbon markets and that this void will need to be filled before First Nations can become active carbon market participants.

The best practices review found that local ownership enhances potential carbon market benefits, well beyond job creation. The review highlights the need to establish realistic timeframes, as capacity building can take considerable resources and time to deal with such issues as governance, transmitting local and traditional knowledge, operational training, youth development and succession planning.

As an initial capacity-building activity, the University of Toronto’s Centre for Environment in cooperation with the First Nations Carbon Collaborative will be hosting a free First Nations and carbon webinar series every Wednesday from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. (EST) beginning April 20 and ending May 25, 2011.

Webinar topics will include carbon 101, indigenous rights to carbon, emissions trading policies/legislation in Canada, carbon financing, offset projects and First Nations case study carbon projects. Assembly of First Nations Grand Chief Shawn Atleo will open the webinar series. Grand Chief Edward John, the North American representative to the United Nations Permanent Forum, will also be a guest speaker.

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For more information please contact IISD project manager Vivek Voora (204) 958-7797 or IISD media and communications officer Nona Pelletier (204) 958-7740.

http://www.iisd.org/climate/land_use/fncc.aspx

CSTC Supports a Full Transparent Inquiry into the Pickton Murder Cases

DAKELH TRADITIONAL TERRITORY/PRINCE GEORGE, BC – The Carrier Sekani Tribal Council (CSTC) is pleased to hear that there will be a public inquiry into how the Vancouver Police Department and RCMP and other agencies managed the disappearances of women from the downtown eastside (DTES).

Vice Tribal Chief Terry Teegee stated, “it’s good to hear the Attorney General made the right decision to hold a public inquiry, however, it must be transparent and must seek to resolve the root problem of the matter which includes the relations between the police force and aboriginal people.” Teegee adds, ” there is a systemic issue in how the police force engaged the DTES women, which relates to not only the life style of the women, but also their class in society, which I believe was one of the reasons none of the tips were followed up or why there were no resources provided to solve these cases.”

Tribal Chief David Luggi stated, “We hope that this inquiry can provide answers and some sort of closure for the families of the women from the DTES.” We must also never forget that there are well over 500 women who are murdered or missing in all of Canada.” Luggi concluded, “the CSTC are also advocating for an inquiry into the Highway of Tears Murders and why none of them have been solved.”

Many of the women murdered by Robert Pickton were of aboriginal ancestry, one in particular, is from the Carrier Sekani community of Takla Lake, her name is Jacqueline Murdock. Jackie, as she was commonly known as, had her DNA remains found on the Pickton farm, however, Pickton has never been charged with her murder. A memorial service for Jackie will be held in Prince George on Friday September 24 at 10 am at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Prince George, BC.

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For more information, contact:
Vice Tribal Chief Terry Teegee at 250-562-6279