Assembly of First Nations Supports Two BC First Nations Seeking Judicial Review of Coastal Gaslink Pipeline Decision that Ignores First Nations' Inherent Title and Rights

OTTAWA, Dec. 23, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Perry Bellegarde expressed his support for the decision by Nadleh Whut'en First Nation, and Nak'azdli First Nation to go to court to challenge the B.C. government's decision to issue an Environmental Assessment Certificate for Transcanada's proposed Coastal Gaslink Pipeline Project. 

National Chief Bellegarde said, "I understand the frustration of Nadleh Whut'en and Nak'azdli First Nations who have made every effort to provide the Crown critical information about the impact of this project on their inherent ("Aboriginal") title and rights and to discuss what needs to be done. Unfortunately, this environmental assessment process, like so many others, is simply not designed to properly consult with First Nations as peoples with governments and to respond appropriately."

The National Chief added: "First Nations are not mere 'Aboriginal groups', nor are we 'stakeholders' whose views can be simply received by the Crown and then ignored with impunity. Current approaches to managing the Crown's constitutional duties to First Nations are not working and do not meet international human rights standards that recognize our right to self-determination in our traditional territories. First Nations governments are prepared to work with other governments in Canada to design better development decision-making processes that reflect our status and rights as peoples with inherent title and lawmaking authority."

The territory of the Nadleh Whut'en and Nak'azdli First Nations and other members of the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council (CSTC) is already greatly affected by gas and pipeline development. This new project would have a significant and lasting impact on their people, territory and inherent rights and title. In a December 18 press release announcing this court challenge, both First Nations and the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council said the regulatory process had failed First Nations by not responding to their submissions on requirements for protecting their constitutionally protected rights and title. Several independent studies were commissioned by the CSTC that demonstrate the need for better cumulative effects assessments, as well as identifying procedural failures of the B.C. environmental assessment process to adequately address the protection of First Nations inherent title and rights.

The Assembly of First Nations is the national organization representing First Nations citizens in Canada.  Follow AFN on Twitter @AFN_Comms, @AFN_Updates.

Link to media release of Carrier Sekani Tribal Council:
http://www.carriersekani.ca/news/judicial-review-of-coastal-gaslink-pipeline-filed/

SOURCE: Assembly of First Nations

Jenna Young Castro, AFN Communications Officer, 613-241-6789 ext. 401, 613-314-8157, [email protected]; Alain Garon, AFN Bilingual Communications Officer, 613-241-6789 ext. 382, 613-292-0857, [email protected];