B.C. aboriginal leaders decry government relationship in open letter

People once paddled great distances to set up fishingcamps on the land where Liz Logan's family has lived for generationsin northern British Columbia.

But now Tsinhia Lake has yellowed, thefish have died and her family must carry in bottled water to drink.

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The damage from oil and gas industries has prompted Logan, chiefof the Fort Nelson First Nation, to help form an alliance with otheraboriginal leaders against the provincial government.

Thesignatories say concerns about massive developments in theirterritories are not being addressed.

The group, composed of leaders from the B.C. coast to the Albertaboundary, announced its formation on Tuesday with the release of anopen letter to Premier Christy Clark.

"We're trying to get their attention. We're calling for thisgovernment to come back and (agree to) a relationship, because rightnow there is no relationship," Logan said.

It would be as if the government came and took out someone'sbackyard pool without asking, she said.

Historic land deal talks imminent

Chiefs of 10 northern B.C. First Nations have signed the letter,which says the province has ignored significant legal victories byaboriginals and is blocking them from managing their ownterritories.

The letter was sent ahead of talks this week in Vancouver betweenFirst Nations and B.C. politicians on the topic of the historicTsilhqot'in land deal.

The June 2014 court ruling granted aboriginal title to more than1,700 square kilometres of land, but the chiefs say they've seenlittle change in how the province deals with their claims.

"This government is basically refusing to look at the big picture of all the developments that are happening in all of our
respective territories," Logan said.

Among the projects of concern areproposed liquefied natural gasfacilities and the Site C hydroelectric dam, which entered its firstphase of construction in July.

The open letter lists three major reasons the alliance believesFirst Nations' interests are threatened:

• no "new relationship"despite successful court challenges
• the government's refusal toassess potential industrial impacts on the environment
• aprovincial review process that allows industry to set the agenda fordevelopment

"We are not opposed to development," reads the letter, whichcalls on the government for a more civil, legally consistent andlogical approach to project implementation.

Concern over First Nations' rights

The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs said its members are being given"lip service" and will raise those concerns at meetings over thecoming days, said vice-president Bob Chamberlin.

He said First Nations have given up enough benefits for BritishColumbians.

"When will their rights finally be first and foremost?" heasked.

Chamberlin said the alliance's formation is a strong signal thatno progress has been made despite repeated meetings with governmentofficials.

Clark said Tuesday she would refrain from addressing the issuesuntil after this week's talks.

"It is always our goal to make sure we are consulting andaccommodating First Nations fairly, in a way that even goes aboveand beyond the law of the country," she said at an unrelated newsconference.