Building trust in B.C. aboriginal relations – Globalnews.ca

VICTORIA – An admitted bureaucratic blunder by British Columbia’s government that incensed First Nations at a liquefied natural gas summit called for an immediate “chief-to-chief” meeting to patch things up, says Premier Christy Clark.

Clark said she quickly rearranged her schedule before an Asian junket last April to get to Fort Nelson for what she considered a necessary overture in the ever-evolving, always-sensitive relationship with First Nations.

The personal touch was part of an ongoing government-attitude adjustment on First Nations relations, as the links between aboriginals and natural resources grow stronger, especially since last week’s Supreme Court of Canada ruling which makes it easier for First Nations to establish title over lands.

Clark, in an interview with The Canadian Press, said she needed to get up to Fort Nelson to apologize to the chief and council for the gaff, which the government reversed within 24 hours.

Read more: http://globalnews.ca/news/1423632/building-trust-in-b-c-aboriginal-relations/