Tootfinder

Thank God for the good and sane people defending their traditional territories in BC's north coast.
“As the Rights and Title Holders of the Central and North Coast and Haida Gwaii, we are here to remind the Alberta government, the federal government, and any potential private proponent that we will never allow oil tankers on our coast, and that this pipeline project will never happen,” Slett said."
#FirstNations #CanPoli #CdnPoli #Pipeline #ABPoli #BCPoli #CanPoli
https://globalnews.ca/news/11544657/bc-first-nations-dismiss-pipeline-mou/

Coastal First Nations group (comprising multiple First Nations on the North Coast of BC) tell the Prime Minister to shove it...
“We also made our positions very clear and reiterated those positions around our stance regarding the oil pipeline, and that has not changed.”
OK, not exactly that undiplomatic, but I'm sure the feeling is the same in Alberta. Thank you to these First Nations for having the decency and good sense to stick to their guns.
There will be no more pipelines. None. Ever, in BC. That is the way it must be.
#CanPoli #CdnPoli #ClimateAction #EndFossilFuels #NorthernGateway #FirstNations #BCPoli #ABPoli
https://albernivalleynews.com/2026/01/13/coastal-nations-double-down-on-pipeline-opposition-in-meeting-with-prime-minister/

Trudeau was criticized by some who thought his policies somehow acquiesced to every demand by any First Nation. But really what his Ministry did first was show that there was a way of communication of respect and dialogue.
Clearly the new Federal Minister of Energy has some learning to do if he wants the Federal government to have any chance at a relationship that results in them achieving any of the government's goals.
#CanPoli #CdnPoli #FirstNations #Respect #FPIC
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/energy-minister-hodgson-apologizes-zoom-comment-coastal-first-nations-9.6997207

If you are trying to figure out the Cowichan Lands court ruling and what it means for private property, this article by the CBC's always-excellent court-reporter Jason Proctor, is, again, excellent.
This tidbit was particularly illuminating and should raise questions as to why we are in this state of 'panic' now:
"Back in 2017, Canada's Attorney General sought an order requiring the Quw'utsun to notify third-party homeowners, but the judge overseeing proceedings at the time rejected the application after the Quw'utsun said they weren't seeking title or possession of any private lands.
"However," Justice Jennifer Power wrote, "my decision does not prevent any of the defendants from providing informal notice to private landowners if they wish to do so.””
ie. Richmond, the Province, and others should have told the landowners not only that this court process was happening, but most importantly that *their property titles* were not being threatened!
#Indigenous #FirstNations #BCPoli #CanPoli #Reconciliation #Property
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/cowichan-aboriginal-title-land-ownership-9.6965257

Carney has completely lost First Nations. (Smith never had them of course)
"…they had no choice but to come to Ottawa to make their appeal, and potentially take legal action. “And one thing with First Nations and the courts? We have a very good track record of winning,” Mike Mercredi said.”
I increasingly think the Carney government will fall before July 1st. Making the MOU potentially moot.
#CanPoli #CdnPoli #ClimateEmergency #Oil #Bitumen #ABPoli #EndFossilFuels #FirstNations
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-treaty-8-chiefs-demand-pause-on-pipeline-agreement-threaten-legal-action-9.7011963

The Quw’utsun (Cowichan) First Nation was exactly right in 2017:
""We don’t want to argue about settlers' interests versus First Nations' interests — we want to argue about what the Crown did wrong.””
They knew that if the case was framed as ‘taking over private property rights’, that it would be politicized and a lightning rod for racism and misinformation when that was not the point of their claim, which was against the Crown.
""It would be wrong. It’s wrong morally, it’s wrong legally. It’s pitting interests against each other when the person who caused the problem is the Crown.””
Another excellent report from CBC's Jason Proctor.
#FirstNations #Cowichan #PrivateProperty #Indigenous #RightsandTitle #Land