Tsilhqot’in Nation granted full Aboriginal title to its territories a first in Canada – BiV
Within hours of a June 26 Supreme Court of Canada decision confirming aboriginal title of the Tsilhqot’in First Nation, the Tahltan First Nation announced it too planned to launch an aboriginal rights and title claim.
And in both cases, the main drivers behind the push for recognition of their rights to land in their territories are mines that neither First Nation want.
The landmark Supreme Court decision confirms the Tsilhqot’in’s title to land in its traditional territory, and finds the Government of B.C. breached its fiduciary duty when it issued licences to harvest timber in Tsilhqot’in territory in 1983.
“We are the only Indians across Canada that actually own land,” said Tsilhqot’in Chief Joe Alphonse. “This gets us one step closer to being independent. We don’t want to live on handouts. We want to be able to govern our own people.”
