We encourage all Elders, leadership, and youth from all First Nations throughout British Columbia to join us in Victoria. Strong participation from First Nations will help maintain the building momentum that began at the Kelowna and Prince George meetings. Strong participation will send an unmistakable signal to the Province—and the industries operating on our territories—that the ongoing infringements of our Title & Rights will not be tolerated. See the full advisory.

Public Information Meetings. Prior to the Title & Rights Alliance conference in May (exact date TBA), First Nations should consider organizing public information meetings, similar to the meeting the Okanagan Indian Band is holding in Vernon on April 28.

As the Okanagan Band has stated, such meetings will help the public to better understand the Title & Rights Alliance conference that will be held in Victoria in May.  If these types of forums were held throughout the Province, they would complement the Victoria conference and add significantly to its impact.

An important part of our Title & Rights initiatives is public education.  It is important that we take the initiative to educate the public and this is one method that our community will be using.  The Alliance encourages all communities to do the same

The Steering Committee and Technical team can provide resource materials and advice for organising such a meeting. Information can include:

• a brief history of your Nation or Band;
• a brief history of Crown/Aboriginal relations in BC;
• a primer on the current legal environment in BC as it relates to Rights and Title;
• a priimer on what steps need to be taken to reconcile Crown and Aboriginal Title; and
• a statement of the benefits to the non-Aboriginal community of reconciliation.

Days of Action. First Nations around BC should begin preparing for the next Title & Rights Alliance- coordinated local day of action. On the first day of action, February 16, First Nations across B.C. issued news releases pointing out the inadequacy of the Throne Speech and budget, and putting government and industry on notice that "business as usual" can't continue. Actions included protests in Kamloops and the Spallumcheen Nation's declaration of an Indigenous Protected Area in their territory.

The next day of action has not been set yet, but we suggest First Nations continue to prepare for it. Among the actions:

• Information slowdown pickets on major transportation routes through First Nations territories (only if it is safe) ;
• Pickets at local MLA offices;
• Identifying sensitive areas to declare as Indigenous Protected Areas .

Haida/Taku Appeals. The Title and Rights Alliance Steering Committee encourages all chiefs, elders and youth to go to Ottawa to support the Haida and Taku River Tlingit when they appear before the Supreme Court of Canada to defend their Aboriginal Title and Rights. A strong showing of support is important as the issues being decided will have a significant impact on all First Nations in British Columbia.