On June 27th 2014, Aboriginal Leaders were brought to ‘cheers and tears’ after the supreme court ruled that the Tsilhqot’in First Nation has title 1,750 square kilometres of land in south central B.C. The tribal park would cover about 3,120 square kilometres and protect cultural, heritage and ecological values, according to the Tsilhqot’in, while connecting to five surrounding provincial parks. Although the ruling also made it clear that economic development would continue with consent, if not then the crown has proven that the project has a “compelling and substantial” public interest.
From personal perspective, the First Nations were deprived of their lands and properties before and I think this is a great progress in the Canadian-First Nations relations. I agree with Jody Wilson-Raybould, regional B.C. chief of the Assembly of First Nations, when she says “This will be a game-changer in terms of the landscape in British Columbia and throughout the rest of the country where there is unextinguished Aboriginal title,” said Jody Wilson-Raybould, regional B.C. chief of the Assembly of First Nations. This has to be the wake-up call for governments, both the provincial and federal governments, and we look to Mr. Harper to actually see this as the fundamental impetus to sit down at the table and truly and meaningfully move towards reconciliation.”