The sound of the drum echoed through the downtown core of Toronto on Oct. 27. It was the day before an appeal of the class action certification of Brown and Commanda vs. Canada would be heard before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.

Elder believed a solid future comes

Annie Paingut Peterloosie spent the first 25 years of her life living off the land in Nunavut.

She could tell you about the sheer joy of seeing sunlight on the horizon, even if only for a few moments after four months of constant darkness, and about welcoming the sound of streams running over rocks under the snow when warm winds blew.

Off-reserve people want more than just fancy promises in a Throne Speech.They want the BC Liberal government to step up and take action. The BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres is leading the charge to move a commitment from government for an off-reserve Aboriginal Action Plan off the page and make it a reality to improve conditions for 70 per cent of the provincial Aboriginal population. Aboriginal people are BC’s fastest growing demographic, and fare the lowest on almost every social and economic wellness measure.

A news report that stated the Coastal First Nations that oppose Enbridge’s Northern Gateway Project would be willing to take another look at the development is incorrect, said Executive Director Art Sterritt. “We unequivocally maintain our ban on oil tankers on the coast,” he said. Sterritt insists it was Enbridge that spoke of wanting a fresh start with Coastal First Nations.

Chief Justin George of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation has announced his government’s opposition to the expansion of the Kinder Morgan crude oil handling facility proposed for Burrard Inlet. The opposition is based on the assessment of the future risks associated with the project. “Today we are going public regarding current impacts and risks associated with Chevron Canada’s activities and their track record as citizens of the Inlet.”

The West Moberly First Nation says Premier Christy Clark is on the attack against them. Her expressed political support of the Gething Coal Mine Project, slated for operation within the spiritual heartland of West Moberly’s traditional territory, is reprehensible. West Moberly Chief Roland Willson said the community had struck an agreement with mine owners that they would not go forward with the project until they received the blessing of the nation, due to the possible adverse effects on their culture.

Central British Columbia is turning up the heat on the mining industry as the Tsilhqot’in Nation heads to court against Taseko Mines, which has faced protesters at a proposed mine site.

Despite having its controversial Prosperity Mine blocked by the federal government during a review of the initiative, Taseko is challenging that decision in court, and in a separate case, is seeking an injunction against Indigenous protesters blocking test sampling in the proposed mine area south of Williams Lake.

A First Nation fishing community on the North Coast of British Columbia is deeply disappointed after the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed its case last month, upholding a lower court ruling that the group has no constitutional right to conduct an all-species commercial fishery within their territory.

The Nov. 10 decision upheld the 2008 ruling of the BC Supreme Court.

Claims that Canada has violated the Hul’qumi’num people’s human rights by not engaging in fair and just treaty negotiations were presented before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on Oct. 28 at its headquarters in Washington, DC.