|
The Title & Rights Alliance brings together First Nations leaders from across British Columbia. The Alliance came into being at a conference in Prince George on October 22 and 23, 2003, following an initial conference in Kelowna on September, 2003. Our plans and actions are co-ordinated by a steering committee, with advice from a technical team.
|
The Title & Rights Alliance resulted from two historic unity conference that brought together First Nations from across British Columbia to discuss the provincial Crown's sweeping amendments to the Forest Act and to the legal framework for forest practices, land use planning and land designations without meaningful consultation and accommodation of indigenous peoples.
The first gathering was hosted by the Okanagan Nation Alliance in September 2003, bands and tribal nations from around the province developed a "Joint Statement From Participating Nations." In the Joint Statement participating representatives pledged to work to develop and implement a coordinated and integrated Action Plan that would combine legal, financial and political strategies to protect the integrity of the land and resources and advance Aboriginal Title and Aboriginal and Treaty Rights.
In October, at a follow-up meeting hosted by the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council, the Joint Statement was ratified and a coordinated Action Plan was developed and affirmed unanimously by participating representatives - the L'heidli Action Plan. A four-person steering committee consisting of Guujaaw, Grand Chief Edward John, Justa Monk, and Chief Stewart Phillip was tasked with guiding the process. This includes implementing the short-term action items in the Action Plan, further developing the medium and long-term actions, planning and organizing the next Building Alliances meeting, and continuing to work to secure the financial resources necessary to implement the Action Plan. Over 400 First Nations leaders, including youth and elders, from throughout B.C. took part in the second in a series of historic unity conferences. The Joint Statement developed from the meetings in Kelowna on September 11-12, 2003 was signed by those in attendance, and calls upon the province to repeal recent land and forest legislation not structured to accommodate Aboriginal Title and Rights. The legislation gives more authority to corporations to manage forests and police themselves. |
