Year 2000 marked by defiance and frustration

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March 9-The community of Ahousaht feasted on a young grey whale that drowned after becoming entangled in a net pond. It was the first grey whale taken ashore at Ahousaht for consumption since 1963.

March 10-Hereditary chief of the Squamish First Nation, Joe Mathias passed away in Vancouver. Mathias dedicated much time and effort to Native rights and was a member of the First Nations summit task group from 1991 until his death. He was 56.

April 28-The provincial court dismissed charges laid against six Metis men under the Wildlife Act when the judge ruled they were exercising their Aboriginal right to hunt. The court decision was a major victory in the fight to recognize that Metis people have a constitutionally-protected right to hunt unfettered from provincial regulations and restrictions.

May 25-Victoria was overtaken by Aboriginal protestors, demonstrating to bring attention to the failing treaty negotiations in British Columbia. It was an historic occasion as three disparate Aboriginal political organizations set aside differences to attend the rally called Celebrating Our Survival.

May 31-After signing an agreement-in-principle in 1999, the Sechelt band, the only First Nation to reach stage five of the BC treaty process, served notice it was abandoning treaty negotiations and heading back to court to resolve its land claims. The announcement sent treaty negotiations across the province into a tailspin and prompted speculation that the entire process was about to crash and burn.

July 14 to 16-The United Native Nations elected Scott Clark as the organization's new president. A member of the Beecher Bay First Nation and a citizen of the Coast Salish Nation, Clark had held the position of vice president from 1996. He became the UNN's 11th president since the organization was founded in 1969.

Nov. 9-A Supreme Court of Canada decision ruled that Native land is worth less than non-Native land. The decision said the Musqueam Band could not charge rent at current land value because people renting reserve property are subject to restrictions and limitations, including having no real opportunity to influence band government decisions. The Supreme Court estimated the worth of the land at 50 per cent of neighboring land.

Nov. 24-Aboriginal artists from British Columbia nab the top awards at the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards held in Toronto. Fara won Best Female Artist for the CD Pretty Brown and George Leach won Best Male Artist for his CD Just Where I'm At.