Raven's Eye

Spookw has appealed a decision by the British Columbia Supreme Court that provides the Gitxsan Treaty Society (GTS) with 30 days to come under compliance with Section 85 of the province’s Society Act, which would then make the society a legal body.

In 2008, Gitanmaax Indian Band was joined by Gitwangak Band Council, Glen Vowell Indian Band and Kispiox Band Council, forming the Spookw,…

For its part, Kinder Morgan is moving ahead with the federal regulatory process for the twinning of the oil pipeline from Edmonton to Burnaby, B.C. “As Trans Mountain develops its application and project, Trans Mountain is committed to building upon its 60-year operating history and the relationships it has developed with Aboriginal groups, communities, landowners and stakeholders along the…

Tsleil-Waututh Nation is pleased that British Columbia has rejected Enbridge’s Northern Gateway pipeline, saying the proposal doesn’t address the province’s environmental concerns. “It reassures us that the people of British Columbia are being heard when it comes to the health of our environment,” said Chief Maureen Thomas, Tsleil-Waututh Nation. “We feel certain that when the province applies…

Hupacasath First Nation was in court June 5 to June 7 in its effort to put a halt to the Canada/China Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement. The nation argued that Canada has a duty to consult with First Nations before it ratifies the FIPA. Canada however says there is no change to domestic laws and there is no impact on First Nations rights so the duty to consult is not…

The B.C. First Nations Health Authority is looking for beefy chiefs to help raise the awareness of healthy eating and physical fitness in the province’s First Nations communities. Leadership has been invited to take part in the Beefy Chiefs and Champions Challenge to boost their health and reach a healthy weight. It’s a fun way to get people thinking about their health. “We want people to…

On the evening of May 29, more than 150 local leaders and citizens of Nanaimo came together to share their visions of how the city can build stronger responses to racism and advancing reconciliation between the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal populations. The community discussion was one of the responses to the events of March 27 when a letter to the editor in the Nanaimo Daily News sparked a…

Aboriginal Affairs Canada is refusing to continue federal transfer payments to the Yekooche Nation until the community resolves its leadership issues. But the federal government department is not getting involved in the situation, AANDC says. A group from within Yekooche held demonstrations in Fort St. James, Prince George and Vancouver at the offices of AANDC June 14. AANDC will not record…

The name of Vancouver Island’s Saanich nation – WSÁNEC, as they spell it – means “emerging people.” And today, a remarkable re-emergence of traditional names is occurring in the peninsula they call home.

More than 10,000 years ago, explained elder WEC’KINEM (Eric Pelkey), the Creator warned inhabitants of an impending Great Flood, but only a handful heeded his warning: Build giant…

The Shíshálh Nation Lands and Resources Decision-Making Policy, released in May, spells out the shíshálh (Sechelt) First Nation’s guiding principles and processes for decision-making on land-use matters, and it’s being hailed by the BC Assembly of First Nations as an important governance tool. “This policy brings together in one document many of the decision-making practices and principles our…

Squamish and Lil'wat First Nations want Whistler’s Official Community Plan overturned. The nations have initiated legal action in BC’s Supreme Court for a judicial review of the Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development Bill Bennett’s recent decision to approve the OCP. The decision was made just prior to the writ being dropped in the provincial election. The petition filed in…

Children of the victims of serial killer Robert Pickton are suing the BC government, and the government has responded by saying the lawsuit may stall work on recommendations made by the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry. The BC Civil Liberties Association and the Union of BC Indian Chiefs reacted strongly to the government’s statement. “We are extremely concerned and disgusted that the…

The Gitga'a First Nations turned away an Enbridge spill-response survey crew in May saying the crew was not welcome in the territory. Enbridge’s Northern Gateway Pipeline Project is yet to be approved, and many First Nations along the 1,800-kilometre-long pipeline route oppose its construction, which will transport heavy crude from Alberta across northern B.C. to Kitimat. First Nations are…

Members of the Snuneymuxw First Nation were furious in May after it was discovered a heritage site was damaged by a crew working for BC Hydro. An ancient petroglyph was damaged when a heavy machine operator drove over it. The location of the petroglyph was well known, and since 1970 recognized as a heritage site. “This is an affront to the dignity of First Nations and completely disrespects…

On April 10, Tsawwassen First Nation members voted
for 23-year-old Bryce Williams—again—to make him their chief. It’s the second time in seven months that Williams has been elected to the position, having the first time overturned because of a discrepancy with the advertised election date. Both times Williams defeated former long-time chief Kim Baird, this time by only 20 votes. “He beat…

Tsleil-Waututh-Waututh, a First Nation community in the lower mainland   of British Columbia, wants a moratorium on any new pipelines until an emergency-response protocol can be improved. The demand was made after Suncor Energy Inc. failed to notify Tsleil-Waututh First Nation, located along the Burrard Inlet, after a spill of about 225 barrels of a soybean-based diesel fuel at the company’s…