Aboriginal Rights in Canada

First nations file injunction against Hydro-Quebec

Two reserves (Uashat and Maliotenam) near Sept-Iles, Quebec have filed a motion seeking an injunction against Hydro-Quebec's proposed dam and hydroelectric project over the Riviere Romaine. The project will cost $6.5 billion. According to news reports, Hydro-Quebec and the two reserves were close to a deal that would have given the reserves $115 million but Hydro-Quebec wanted litigation against it in connection with the 35-year-old James Bay project dropped. The band councils would not agree to discontinue the James Bay litigation. Riviere Romaine empties into the north shore of the St. Lawrence River. 

Betsiamites Reserve in Quebec sign revenue sharing agreement

 The Betsiamites Band Council located near Baie Comeau, Quebec on the Betsiamites Reserve, has signed a development agreement with two junior mining companies, Argex Silver Capital Inc. and St. George Platinum Ltd. The development agreement allows the two companies to start mineral exploration on land on or around the reserve in exchange for participation of the Betsiamites first nations if any development projects arise from the exploration. Argex will explore for titanium, iron and vanadium. St. George will explore for several different minerals. 

Chief's salary for tiny reserve nearly as high as Manitoba premier

The chief of the tiny Manitoba First Nation, O-Chi-Chak-Ko-Sipi First Nation at Crane River with about 500 residents is being paid close to the same annual salary as the Premier of Manitoba according to documents obtained by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF). The salaries for the chief and three councillors ranged from $106,000 to $144,000 while the Premier earned $152,000. The First Nation operates on a deficit and has debts of $1.2 million. Earlier in the year, the CTF also disclosed large salaries earned by the members of the band council at the Peguis First Nation. There, salaries ranged from $174,230 to $251,747, with a taxable equivalent of $295,124 to $439,745. Peguis has a population of 7,200. This First Nations is officially known as the Crane River 51 Reserve. You can read more here. 

First Nations in eastern Canada seek compensation for cuts to crab quotas

 Several First Nations from Quebec, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island are calling for a meeting with Gail Shea, federal fisheries minister, for subsidies to offset losses that may result from cuts to the crab fishing quota this year. The Department of Fishers & Oceans has cut the allowable cut of snow crabs by 63% this year to 7,700 tonnes. The crab fishing season officially opened on Friday in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and closes on July 18. French Canadian fishermen from Baie Comeau and Matane have traditionally commercially fished for crab in the Gulf of the St. Lawrence River near Rivière-au-Tonnerre, Quebec, for about 100 years. More recently, aboriginal fisherman have entered the commercial crab fishing trade in Quebec but they have fished there on a non-commercial basis for hundreds of years.

United Nations questions Tsawwassen Treaty

 The United Nations has apparently commented on the process in which the Tsawwassen First Nation Treaty was voted upon, saying that the vote to approve the Treaty may not have been transparent and the election process may not have been fair. The United Nations has no jurisdiction over treaty issues in Canada, however, it was acting upon a complaint filed by a Tsawwassen treaty member to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. 

First Nations seek salmon class action certification

Several First Nations in British Columbia are seeking certification of a class action against the federal government. The Kwicksutaineuk/Ah-Kwa-Mish First Nation, comprised of several bands from northern Vancouver Island, is arguing that the disappearance of wild salmon stocks is occurring from, among other things, fish farming in the Broughton Archipelago. You can read more in the story from the Province here. 

Two First Nations intervene in Supreme Court of Canada oilsands case

The Supreme Court of Canada has granted intervenor status to the Duncan First Nation and the Horse Lake First Nation in the Rio Tinto Alcan Inc. v. Carrier Sekani Tribal Council appeal over additional development on the Alberta oilsands and the consultation of First Nations. "Our traditional territory is being overrun and cut to pieces by oilsands, major pipelines, gas fields and major power projects," said chief Don Testawich of the Duncan First Nation. " Companies are proposing massive projects that will fuel unsustainable oilsands in growth. Development on this scale is making our treaty rights meaningless and threatens our traditional way of life." The Duncan First Nation is made up of the Duncan 151A Reserve and William McKenzie 151K Reserve. The Horse Lake First Nation is made up of the Clear Hills 152C and Horse Lakes 152B Reserves. 

Aboriginal tourism in British Columbia growing

The Montreal Gazette has a story about some of Canada's nicest tourism spots that have ties to First Nations culture and history here. Some of the sites to visit that were included in the article are: (1) Radium Hot Springs - located in the Kootenay National Park. Radium is primarily a sulphate hot spring. It's one of the best hot springs for feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Sir George Simpson, the governor of the Hudson's Bay Company made the first recorded visit to the springs in 1841 - at that time the hot springs was simply a one-person sized dug-out in the gravel. In 1927, the bathhouse was built. The source water is 44° C (114° F) at the source. It is chlorinated and enters the hot pool at 39°. It has a strong aroma from the hydrogen sulphide gas but the aroma is not bothersome; and (2) Cross River Wilderness Centre - located in the Rocky Mountains. The Wilderness Centre is a hotel that offers additional services like a traditional sweat lodge and smoking of the peace pipe.  British Columbia First Nations have an active tourism association with plenty of interesting locations highlighted to visit online here. 

Msoquito First Nation officials charged with fraud

Several members of the Mosquito (Grizzly Bear's Head and Lean Man) First Nation appeared in provincial court today in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, on charges of fraud, theft and breach of trust. The Mosquito First Nation owns the land where the Golden Eagle Casino is situated in North Battleford. The accused members include band chief Clarence Stone, who did not make an appearance, band councilor Clifford Spyglass, and trustees Gerald Bird, Alphonse Moosomin and Eldon Starchief. 

First Nations to Receive Funding for Pipeline Review

According to a story published by the Prince George Citizen, several First Nations, mostly located in British Columbia, are slated to receive about $350,000 in federal funding to participate in a review of a proposed $4 billion 1,170-kilometer oil pipeline from Edmonton, Alberta to Kitimat, British Columbia.