The shíshálh (Sechelt) First Nation has created a policy document that is being hailed by the leader of the BC Assembly of First Nations as an important tool for Aboriginal governance.
The shíshálh Nation Lands and Resources Decision-Making Policy, released May 10, is a 58-page document that spells out the Nation's guiding principles and processes for decision-making on land-use matters.
"This policy brings together in one document many of the decision-making practices and principles our government has applied over many years," Chief Garry Feschuk said in a statement. "It identifies how our title and rights relate to the decisions we make, and our requirements for how the Crown and proponents seeking to use the lands and resources of our territory will engage with us."
In an emailed response to the press release, BC Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Jody Wilson-Raybould (Puglaas) congratulated Feschuk, council and citizens of the shíshálh Nation on the document's release.
"This is a substantial and important piece of work - one that all our Nations will look to and benefit from," Wilson-Raybould said. "Thank you for your leadership and for sharing."
The policy document calls for proponents to engage "long before a formal request for decision is made," to demonstrate respect for the shíshálh governance process, and to support the process.
"It is shíshálh's requirement that the cost of shíshálh considering a request for a decision through its process will be borne by those seeking to engage with shíshálh concerning that decision," the document says.
Decision-making factors include examining requests "through the lens of shíshálh knowledge" and assessing a project's "degree of alienation and impact." Other factors are cumulative impacts; mitigation, restitution and benefits; sustainability; and the precautionary principle.
"Where the impacts of a proposed activity are unclear, we will err on the side of caution in accordance with the precautionary principle, rather than risk environmental damage to the lands and resources," the document says.
It also includes companion documents such as the shíshálh Nation heritage policy and forestry protocol.
"We think the clarity and transparency it offers about how our government makes decisions is of benefit to everyone," Feschuk said. "We invite all governments and proponents to read the policy and learn about it."
Workshops and information sessions are also being planned.
The document can be viewed online at www.secheltnation.ca.
