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.

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.

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.

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 concerned about pipeline leaks and the threat to the environment, as well as the dangers of supertanker traffic that would transport the crude to buyers internationally.

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 the cultural heritage of the Snuneymuxw First Nation,” the Union of BC Indian Chiefs wrote in an open letter to BC Hydro.

Funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation will allow the Chiefs of Ontario to take a key environmental assessment initiative to the next level. The foundation will provide $116,900 over the next two years to support the second phase of a training program, which will help build the capacity of First Nations to align the processes of environmental assessments with negotiations regarding resource extractions.

Winnipeg has highest urban Aboriginal population

The Wabano National Centre of Excellence has been officially opened and is now providing the National Capital Region’s Aboriginal community with a centre dedicated to its needs. The new centre will be run by the Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health, which provides a wide range of social services, health supports, and youth programs for Ottawa’s 35,000 Aboriginal people. In its 14 year history in Ottawa, Wabano has had dramatic success in creating programs that reduce local homelessness, poverty, unemployment, addiction rates and family violence among Aboriginal people.