Thursday, June 27, 2013
www.northislandgazette.com 5
Rights denied, band claims from page 1 14,000 hectares of private forest land by WFP under its forest stewardship plan nearly five years ago. The Kwakiutl Nation met with the province following the decision, but was told it had surrendered its title and rights under the 162-year-old Douglas Treaties, the release stated. The Kwakiutl, in turn, claimed the ruling was a blatant minimization of the treaty and a denial of aboriginal title and rights. “We wanted to achieve accommodation and to require the governments to respect and fulfill Douglas Treaty obligations, including protecting historical village sites, some of which are located on the land covered by the forestry decisions,” Kwakiutl Chief Rupert Wilson said. In the summer of 2011, members of the Kwakiutl Nation embarked on a symbolic protest of the provincial government’s move, briefly blockading the BC
“We wanted to achieve accommodation ...” Chief Rupert Wilson
Ferries dock in Port McNeill and marching from the dock to the offices of the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources Operations to continue with dancing and singing. The judge ruled last week, however, that the province had met its duty to consult with the band, and that the Kwakiutl First Nation should have been more responsive to the province’s and WFP’s efforts to engage. The decision also noted that so much time had passed since the two forest stewardship decision had been made that undoing them now would have “wide-ranging negative economic consequences on the forest industry.” The ruling was a disappointment to the Kwakiutl, but the band took some solace from the fact the judge expected the province
and Canada to now begin “honourable negotiations” with the Kwakiutl to address constitutional rights. “On behalf of the Assembly of First Nations national executive, I commend the Kwakiutl Indian Band and all First Nations in Douglas Treaty territory and across the country for asserting their title and rights,” said Shawn Atleo, AFN National Chief. “And for continuing to pursue negotiations to address constitutional rights in ways that they can drive their own futures in their territories.” The Kwakiutl release also noted the obligation of the Crown to survey and protect the band’s village sites and enclosed fields for Kwakiutl use has not been met, “leaving the Kwakiutl people 0.2 acres per person of reserve land, as compared to an average of 33.023 acres per per-
son for First Nations across B.C.” In the wake of the ruling, the Kwakiutl received prompt support from not only AFN, but First Nations leaders across the province. “The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs stands in solidarity with the Kwakiutl Indian Band and all Douglas Treaty First Nations in their complete rejection and repudiation of the Province of B.C.’s deeply offensive legal arguments that the Douglas Treaties represent an extinguishment of their aboriginal title and rights interests,” said Grand Chief Stewart Thompson, the UBCIC president. “We call on Premier Clark, Minister Rustad and Minister Thomson to immediately meet with the Kwakiutl First Nation to commence negotiations to achieve fair and just accommodation for commercial forestry in Kwakiutl territory, including compensation for accommodation denied to Kwakiutl due to B.C.’s now-illegal position of denial.”
AROUND TOWN
District of Port Hardy
2012 Annual Report The 2012 Annual Report will be available on-line on the District of Port Hardy website on June 30, 2013 and will be presented to the public at the July 23, 2013 Regular Council Meeting at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers. www.porthardy.ca
Just for You PORT HARDY SECONDARY SCHOOL YEAR-END AWARDS 2012-2013 Perfect Attendance Award for the Year Sydni Burns Laura Chilson Rory Korhonen Patrick Miller William Miller
Excellent Attendance Award for the Year (5 or Fewer Classes Missed) Tyler Collins – Semester 2 Matthew Roulston Principal’s Honour Roll (Student(s) who achieved a 90% average or better for the year) Grade 8 Rebekkah Ankenmann Kathleen Gough Olivia Haysey Brandon Sparling Maya Waldstein Grade 9 Sydni Burns Grade 10 Alexandra Southgate
3rd Annual
North Island Cops for Cancer
Golf TourNameNT
Saturday, July 6 • 10am Shotgun Start Seven Hills Golf Club • • • •
4 person best ball format $60 per person. Includes 18 holes of golf followed by dinner, prizes Silent Auction held during dinner Dinner tickets only $20 per person Please register early as space is LIMITED!!
To register call Seven Hills Golf Club - 250-949-9818 For information call Darren Regush - 250-284-3353 or email darren.regush@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
All proceeds benefit the Canadian Cancer Society Tour de Rock JOIN the FIGHT!!!
copsforcancerbc.ca
Grade 11 Wai Ching Sze-To Grade 12 Carter Crawford Kiri Birmingham – Semester One Science Achievement Award Carter Crawford Rotary Club of Port Hardy Service Above Self Award Robby Heavenor
Honour Roll (Students who achieved an 80% average or better for the year) Grade 8 Laura Chilson Nathan Gough Jacob Heller Reylen Joy Pascua Nathan Sandeman Brandon Tobin Patrick Traverse Grade 9 Norah Brown Quentin Frost Rory Korhonen Bethany Martineau Joshua Nelson Abby Traverse Grade 10 Adam Gough Alexandre Howard Allison Johnston Robyn Kufaas Daniel Szpakowski Grade 11 Kevin Cloutier Defoy Brodie Johnson Alisha MacDonald William Miller Kyle Sparling Christian Wood Grade 12 Robert Heavenor Leah Holmes Claire Jones – Semester One Liam Knutson Maximilian Pakulla Marshall Perkovich
Top All Round Student Carter Crawford
Academic Award of Excellence
Governor General Award 2012 Felicia Stagg
Grade 9 Sydni Burns
Grade 8 Maya Waldstein
Grade 10 Alexandra Southgate Grade 11 Wai Ching Sze-To Grade 12 Carter Crawford