Last Thursday morning, (June 26) I was on the 7:20 a.m. ferry back to Sechelt to work when I received a BBM text message “Good morning, we won whooo.”
I looked up at my cousin Rochelle and our communications coordinator Michael Morgan who were sitting directly across from me and I repeated, probably big eyed too, “We won”…and as we celebrated as a trio.
I didn’t think it was going to happen. I doubted the process and as a result I assumed — wrongly — a belief that the eight Supreme Court judges were going to be swayed by a Conservative federal government and a strong corporate sector, but this was not the case. Eight Supreme Court judges of Canada unanimously voted in favour of the Tsilqot’in, a First Nation’s people, six communities representing 3,000 people from the Central Interior of B.C. in a landmark court decision that recognizes their Aboriginal title (1,750 sq km), defined to be “broad and liberal.”
B.C. Chief Jody Wilson-Raybound referred to this ruling as “a game changer” in Canada as Aboriginal rights and title is recognized, and the shift from consult to consent is the transformation within the legal language in the long fought out title case that dated back 150 years.
“ I find the language used so fascinating, that this would bring certainty where the reverse decision of recognizing Aboriginal rights and title on a minute, postage-stamp scale would continue our present political uncertainty as political tension and protest would continue long drawn out battles,” she said.
These are the same public political and legal battles that are halting the largest economic projects ever endeavored in our country. The relationship between Aboriginal peoples, our land and Canada has reached a seismic shift once again and yet interpretation is everything. Already media outlets are stating that Ottawa and provincial government’s can and will still regulate economic activity, just not so freely as in the past. Government must deal fairly is what First Nations have interpreted in the ruling. There is now a more clearly defined process.
How we deal with this at the community level is really up to us.
Many First Nations have started the process of asserting this court ruling.
For us here on the Coast, I imagine there is going to be a lot more dialogue within the leadership and I believe we have leadership at the both the district and regional level that will work with the Sechelt Nation. I expect positive outcomes and stronger relationships.
The Sechelt Nation would like to thank the many Sunshine Coast community members and leaders from the District of Sechelt, Major John Henderson, councillors Alice Lutes and Darnelda Seigers and from the Sunshine Coast Regional District, directors Garry Nohr and Frank Munro for joining us on Thursday for our celebration and salmon barbecue.
Thank you to our cooks who whipped us up a fine meal of sockeye salmon in record time to feed our 150 guests at the House Hehiwus (House of Chiefs).
We would like to extend our gratitude to our guests and friends who joined us in celebrating a monumental day.
huy! xets’míts’a
Editor’s note: Candace Campo writes twice a month for Coast Reporter on the history and events of the Sechelt Nation.
