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All Chiefs Assembly United in Rejection of Proposed Legislation: The Legislation is Dead
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Press Release - August 28, 2009
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(Coast Salish Traditional Territory/Vancouver, BC - August 28, 2009) -
Chiefs and leaders came together this week in a BC All Chiefs Assembly
to discuss the proposed Recognition and Reconciliation legislation.
The Assembly unanimously endorsed an action strategy to be implemented
by an Indigenous Title Action Group on a provincial, national and
international level.
“When we travelled through the province, to the many regional sessions
and community meetings, we consistently heard the deep concerns of the
potential impacts of the proposed legislation on our Indigenous Title
and Rights. Our people and leadership judge the Province not by their
words but their continued actions that infringe on their territories
and resources. The Province of British Columbia cannot and does not
have jurisdiction over our Indigenous Title and Rights and as such the
proposed legislation is dead,” said Grand Chief Edward John of the
First Nations Summit Task Group.
“The Assembly is calling for an immediate implementation and
enforcement of our Indigenous Title and Rights as called for by the
United Nations’ Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,” said
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President of the Union of BC Indian
Chiefs. “Clearly the Premier and his government have not acted
honourably through the course of the so-called ‘New Relationship.’
Indigenous communities demand substance not empty platitudes. Rather
than breaking down the outdated legal barriers and the archaic colonial
attitudes of the bureaucracy, Indigenous communities, such as the Xeni
Gwet’in or those of the Common Table, are facing deliberately
constructed and illegal denial strategies of their Title and Rights in
court and in their negotiations. That must stop.”
“This week’s All Chiefs Assembly has strengthened our unity to work
collectively on the outstanding and unresolved title issues of this
province. We call on the Province of British Columbia to immediately
change its deplorable conduct and fully implement on an honourable
basis our Indigenous Title and Rights that are constitutionally
recognized and judicially reaffirmed. We have reaffirmed that our
Title and Rights are inherited from our ancestral origins as Indigenous
Peoples and we recognize our inherit responsibility to bestow our Title
and Rights to those unborn,” concluded Chief Nelson Leon, BCAFN
spokesperson.
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For more information:
Grand Chief Edward John, FNS, (604) 926-9903
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, UBCIC, (604) 684-0231
Chief Nelson Leon, BCAFN Spokesperson, (604) 922-7733
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