Organizing and Agitating

Dogwood Initiative

History shows that the indigenous people world-wide need to fight to maintain – or regain – control of their lands and resources. British Columbia is no exception.

But the trends are positive, a new era of First Nations power and influence is emerging in BC.

But regaining authority over land will not be easy. Land reform never is. But BC First Nations are using a powerful array of tools - specifically challenging the legitimacy of tenures - to regain authority over their territories.

Precedent setting court decisions have given First Nations powerful levers to effect change. But litigation takes a long time and is costly - and the Crown frequently ignores the courts direction – so BC First Nations have strategically taken to the streets to blockade unsustainable logging, mining and drilling operations.

These actions, combined with litigation, negotiations and financial interventions is changing the ball game. But the most powerful lever First Nations have is unity. By working together they can move mountains, or protect them along with thewater, land air and critters on which we all rely.

Political actions by key First Nations have been instrumental in pushing the BC government to begin to make change. The Title & Rights Alliance rally in may 2005  was a transformative event. Despite the aggressive rhetoric following the rally, after 3000 youth, elders and leaders came to Victoria and marched on the legislature, the government began overtures to discuss a potential New Relationship.

Other actions have also had a dramatic impact.

• It took a few years but the  Haida Gwaii uprising which blockaded logging on the island in  2005 led to a process that culminated in the signing of a historic deal in 2007 which protect 50% of Haida Gwaii.

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  Klabana Keepers

  The Tahltan's standoff against Shell Canada in the Stikine/Skeena and their Elders' moratorium on any new projects has stopped Royal Dutch Shell in its tracts in the Sacred Headwaters.
• In October, 2008 the Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group, representing six Coast Salish First Nations, asked the Washington D.C.-based Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to rule on whether the 300,000 hectares of land converted to private property in the E&N Land Grant back in the 1870s was legal.  The 1870’s land grant effectively privatized about one-third of their territory. Robert Morales, chief negotiator for the Hul'qumi'num, said the Hul’qumi’num are taking action because, “international laws say that if aboriginal lands are illegally confiscated, the lands need to be returned, or we need to be compensated.”

Other actions over the last few years also have changed the climate in BC. The Tsawataineuk's blockade against Interfor on BC's coast, the Blueberry blockade against oil & gas road building and exploration in the Peace region, the Tl'azt'en's moratorium on mining, the Xwmalhkwu's battle against fish farms and the coastal nation’s direct action against the herring roe fishery provided the impetus for the BC government to negotiate