The Shíshálh Nation Lands and Resources Decision-Making Policy released in May

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 government has applied over many years,” said shÌsh·lh Chief Garry Feschuk. “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.” BCAFN Regional Chief Jody Wilson-Raybould congratulated Feschuk 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. The policy document calls for proponents to engage “long before a formal request for decision is made,” and to demonstrate respect for the shÌsh·lh governance process.