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bananas

(27,509 posts) Fri Jun 27, 2014, 03:45 PM Jun 2014

First Nations, first dibs, says Canada’s Supreme Court

Source: Grist

With just one court ruling, the situation of pipelines in Canada has changed in a big way.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled on a 14-year-old battle over logging rights on Tsilhqot’in Nation territory in British Columbia. Its decision says that any First Nation land that was never formally ceded to the Canadian government cannot be developed without consent of those First Nations who have a claim to it.

To say that this has huge implications for the Canadian oil industry is an understatement. The only thing that stands between Alberta, the province that is the hub of the country’s oil boom, and the Pacific Ocean, which connects Canada to the lucrative oil markets of Asia, is unceded First Nations territory. The Northern Gateway pipeline, which Prime Minister Stephen Harper approved earlier this week, runs along a route that First Nations have already begun blockading, a full 18 months before the pipeline is expected to begin construction.

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There was also an unexpected vote a few days ago by the Vancouver City Council that the city — some of the most valuable real estate in the world — is located on unceded territory. The council declared that it would work with representatives from First Nations to determine “appropriate protocols” for conducting city business.

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Read more: http://grist.org/climate-energy/first-nations-first-dibs-says-canadas-supreme-court/

16 replies

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Highlight:

First Nations, first dibs, says Canada’s Supreme Court (Original Post) bananas Jun 2014 OP

First Nations 'ecstatic' over historic Supreme Court ruling bananas Jun 2014 #1

unanimous ruling a game-changer for all bananas Jun 2014 #2

January 2013: North American First Nations sign treaty promising resistance to tar sands, pipelines bananas Jun 2014 #3

Hell yes!! arcane1 Jun 2014 #4

First Nations hold final 'healing walk' in oilsands: goal has been achieved bananas Jun 2014 #5

Nice job, Canadian SC. Take that Harper and North American oil industry. pampango Jun 2014 #6

Dear Canada: Kelvin Mace Jun 2014 #7

Amen! calimary Jun 2014 #8

plus everything I have...nt DocMac Jun 2014 #10

^^This!^^ BrotherIvan Jun 2014 #16

Recommended! H2O Man Jun 2014 #9

Imagine if Native Americans had a say in what the US Government did to the land.... Spitfire of ATJ Jun 2014 #11

K&R! DeSwiss Jun 2014 #12

Yes yes yes...N/T passiveporcupine Jun 2014 #13

thanks bananas! Cha Jun 2014 #14

Kick. Renewables are cheaper. grahamhgreen Jun 2014 #15

bananas

(27,509 posts)

1. First Nations 'ecstatic' over historic Supreme Court ruling

Reply to bananas (Original post)

Fri Jun 27, 2014, 03:49 PM

Jun 2014

http://www.cbc.ca/news/aboriginal/first-nations-ecstatic-over-historic-supreme-court-ruling-1.2688509

First Nations 'ecstatic' over historic Supreme Court ruling

Aboriginal people across Canada celebrate Tsilhqot'in First Nation's win in Supreme Court ruling

By Connie Walker, CBC News Posted: Jun 26, 2014 4:32 PM ET Last Updated: Jun 27, 2014 8:06 AM ET

It's being hailed as a significant victory for First Nations, and aboriginal people across the country are celebrating today's Supreme Court of Canada decision granting title to more than 1,700 square kilometres of land in B.C. to the Tsilhqot'in First Nation.

"This decision is such a huge, most important decision that I've been a part of." said Tsilhqot'in First Nation Chief Roger William.

William and other B.C. leaders were together in a boardroom in Vancouver when they heard the news.

"I was completely surprised. I can tell you this whole room erupted in cheers and tears after this long hard struggle." said Chief Stewart Phillip, president of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs.

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bananas

(27,509 posts)

2. unanimous ruling a game-changer for all

Reply to bananas (Original post)

Fri Jun 27, 2014, 03:51 PM

Jun 2014

http://www.cbc.ca/news/aboriginal/supreme-court-s-tsilhqot-in-first-nation-ruling-a-game-changer-for-all-1.2689140

Supreme Court's Tsilhqot'in First Nation ruling a game-changer for all

A case of 'national importance' empowers First Nations, but may complicate big resource projects

By Amber Hildebrandt, CBC News Posted: Jun 27, 2014 5:00 AM ET Last Updated: Jun 27, 2014 7:11 AM ET

The Supreme Court decision on Thursday granting the land claim of a B.C. First Nation is not only a game-changer for many aboriginal communities across the country, but also for the government and the resource industries.

The unanimous ruling granted the Tsilhqot’in First Nation title to a 1,700-square-kilometre area of traditional land outside its reserve, marking the end of a decades-long battle.

But it also clarified major issues such as how to prove aboriginal title and when consent is required from aboriginal groups, which will affect negotiations on major projects such as the Northern Gateway pipeline.

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Here’s a look at who is affected by the ruling and how.

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bananas

(27,509 posts)

3. January 2013: North American First Nations sign treaty promising resistance to tar sands, pipelines

Reply to bananas (Original post)

Fri Jun 27, 2014, 04:04 PM

Jun 2014

http://www.democraticunderground.com/101654143

arcane1

(38,613 posts)

4. Hell yes!!

Reply to bananas (Original post)

Fri Jun 27, 2014, 04:13 PM

Jun 2014

bananas

(27,509 posts)

5. First Nations hold final 'healing walk' in oilsands: goal has been achieved

Reply to bananas (Original post)

Fri Jun 27, 2014, 04:20 PM

Jun 2014

http://www.cbc.ca/news/aboriginal/first-nations-hold-final-healing-walk-in-oilsands-1.2689176

First Nations hold final 'healing walk' in oilsands

Organizers say walk has helped create awareness about oilsands in Fort McMurray, Alberta

By Eriel Deranger, Melina Laboucan-Massimo, for CBC News Posted: Jun 27, 2014 10:41 AM ET Last Updated: Jun 27, 2014 11:03 AM ET

Walking through the oilsands is nothing like flying over the oilsands, or driving past them.

Starting today, June 27, hundreds of First Nations people from across Alberta, Canada and the rest of the world will meet in Fort McMurray, Alberta and walk for the last time past a Syncrude upgrader, past tailings ponds and heavy haul trucks.

For the fifth year straight, we will smell the crude oil and toxic plumes, especially if the wind pushes back south. Some walkers, as in past years, will be forced to stop walking due to breathing difficulties or bloody noses. We will walk at ground zero of the oilands, surrounded by vast oilsands mines.

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This year is the last healing walk, not because the oilsands will stop expanding tomorrow, but because our original goal has been achieved. First Nation communities, once isolated and at times fearful to talk about oilsands and their impacts, are no longer alone.

<snip>

pampango

(24,692 posts)

6. Nice job, Canadian SC. Take that Harper and North American oil industry.

Reply to bananas (Original post)

Fri Jun 27, 2014, 04:25 PM

Jun 2014

Living in the US it's hard to imagine such a positive consequential decision coming from our SC.

Kelvin Mace

(17,469 posts)

7. Dear Canada:

Reply to bananas (Original post)

Fri Jun 27, 2014, 04:44 PM

Jun 2014

May we borrow you Supreme Court? Ours is very, very broken.

calimary

(81,127 posts)

8. Amen!

Reply to Kelvin Mace (Reply #7)

Fri Jun 27, 2014, 04:54 PM

Jun 2014

You're being kind and diplomatic, Kelvin. Our Supreme Court is just frankly fucked.

I'm impressed with Canada! Seems like this is really the only decision that could have been made. WE are interlopers on the tribes' land. THEY were here first. And as far as I've seen and studied - THEY are the ones who respected the land and its lifeforms and know how to live harmoniously with it, rather than needing to dominate it so forcibly, thoughtlessly, and wastefully. Wish we could be more like them, in so many ways.