A First Nations group says the British Columbia government’s plan to suspend sections of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, or DRIPA, represents a “unilateral betrayal” designed to pave the way for its repeal.
The First Nations Leadership Council says Premier David Eby has “broken the trust” built between his late predecessor, John Horgan, and First Nations.
The scathing response comes after Eby sent a letter to Indigenous leaders on Wednesday, saying he regrets not having more time in the legislative calendar to talk about the government’s plans to suspend sections of DRIPA, which has created political and legal friction.
In its statement, the leadership council says the suspension has been “falsely framed” by Eby as “a compromise and an accommodation,” saying its effect is the same as amending the legislation, which First Nations have previously opposed.
It says the proposed pause “will effectively neutralize all positive law obligations” for the current term of the BC New Democrat government.
The council says and “kicks implementation” of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples — on which DRIPA is based — “down the path for a new government to address.”
The suspension plan, which was announced to First Nations leaders by Eby last week, is “a unilateral betrayal and an abandonment of the province’s commitment to principled reconciliation, as well as serving to create a climate of uncertainty,” according to the council statement, issued Thursday morning.
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Eby has said that the government faces “very serious litigation risk” from a December court decision known as the Gitxaala ruling, that says DRIPA should be “properly interpreted” to incorporate the UN declaration into BC laws “with immediate legal effect.”
In Eby’s letter, obtained by The Canadian Press, he tries to explain the predicament his government is in over DRIPA, saying the suspension of parts of the act is necessary because the recent BC Appeal Court ruling on mining rules creates an “untenable degree of legal uncertainty.”
Eby says the ruling means every provincial law can be challenged for being inconsistent with the UN declaration.
The first says the suspension of parts of the act “avoids permanent changes” to the legislation and “preserves the space” for the Supreme Court of Canada to provide clarity about the mining rules decision before any other changes are considered.
But the leadership council’s statement quotes Robert Phillips of the First Nations Summit saying that “suspension is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”
“It is presented as a compromise, but it achieves all the same goals of gutting the Declaration Act in the short term, while the NDP pursues an appeal in court to undermine the Declaration Act in the long term,” he says.
“BC First Nations know this is a false offer and we cannot accept it.”
The legislature votes on the suspension of sections of DRIPA is one government of confidence and the NDP has a single-seat majority, with three Indigenous members.
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Eby said on Wednesday that all his caucus members recognize the importance of the work for the future of the economy.
Several First Nations leaders have already opposed the pause, saying that the government has misinterpreted the legal implications of the BC Appeal Court case.
Eby’s letter said the court decision shifts the process from one where government and nations work collaboratively to one “driven by costly, time-consuming litigation, and it introduces an untenable degree of legal uncertainty.”
“We are already seeing unintended consequences as a result,” he said, noting that multiple litigations have already been filed that ask the courts to align their legal claims with the UN declaration.
“We made these concerns clear when the decision was released in December and we have been engaging with First Nations leaders on a possible approach going forward,” the letter says.
The letter to leaders and chiefs says the government understands they don’t support any amendments to the Declaration Act and “certainly not any unilaterally proposed by government without adequate time to consult and co-operate with First Nations.”
But Eby says this approach does not make permanent changes to the legislation and the suspension is time-limited, automatically expires after a set maximum period and can be ended at any time.
“What I can commit to you is that this legislation is not the end of our conversation — it is a pause designed to protect the space for a better one,” he says.
Phillips of the First Nations Summit has called on the three Indigenous members of Eby’s caucus to either stand down or vote against the pause, but Eby says he has the votes to pass the legislation.
Kem: you must be a renter and union?
You know, since ‘white man’ entered Canada, there were only teepees, wild animal hunting, etc. White man brought civilization to Canada, somewhat at any rate, quit putting the workers and growth down, we will not revert backwards. I’m not a racist, but let’s face the reality of ‘ this land is your land, this land is our land’ – let’s just keep moving forward Mr Eby. There are many very important issues to be dealt with besides this one.
I had Ai do a search. Please Please fact check it.
“Haida, Kwakwaka’wakw, Nuu-chah-nulth” ( who ever those last two are) These groups were known to engage in slave raiding against neighbouring communities. Captives were often women and children who were assimilated into their society to serve as labor for chiefs and to increase the population of the captor nation“
Huh JV No better than these white people you are so racist against.
JV it’s a known historical fact that the
The “Five Civilized Tribes”—the Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole—were the primary Native American groups in the US known for enslaving Black people, particularly before and during the American Civil War“
They were apparently the 3rd largest slavers in American History. Plus PacNorthWest tribes raided kidnapped and enslaved each other all the time.
Look it up.
Man it is so much fun toying with you. You are so unknowable.
It’s time we stop celebrating the history of white settlers in this country and in North America in general. No other race has committed more crimes against humanity than white people in North America. Genocide, Slavery, Ethnic cleansing, Mass murder… not to mention Sexual Violence and Atrocities committed by the church. There’s your white history
Long live the settlers hey guys! 🤣
the never ending money pit, this whole DRIPA and reconciliation scam needs to end
JV – The troll continues, eh?
No other race has commited more crimes against humanity??? What about the Chinese and the Uyghur’s? Or the Genocide in Rawanda? We could go back further and look at the Mongolians under Genghis Khan…
Not saying that “white” people are innocent, but just look throughout human history… You can find examples of one group attacking another…
Even in Canada, you had FN tribes fighting eachother before colonizing took place. It wasn’t a peaceful utopia, no matter how much you try to convince yourself.
It’s time we stop celebrating the history of white settlers in this country and in North America in general. No other race has committed more crimes against humanity than white people in North America. Genocide, Slavery, Ethnic cleansing, Mass murder… not to mention Sexual Violence and Atrocities committed by the church. There’s your white history
Long live the settlers hey guys!
Happy Loser Day! the only Confederate flag that mattered was the white one. April 9th marks anniversary of the traitorous Confederacy’s surrender at Appomattox C.H. in 1865. The South lost the war, but white supremacists still try to win the PR battle. Even in Canada.. apparently 🤣
Lol the N A Z I S still can’t handle truth
Go away chug stooge
JV “ Slavery, Ethnic cleansing, Mass murder… not to mention Sexual Violence and Atrocities committed”
Oddly pre colonial history with regards to different FNs on others FNs is almost exactly the same.
Except you can torture, kidnapping and cannibalism. Right?
There is pre-colonial history for ya.
There is good reason why they all dislike each other.
Bahaha- 🤣 JV quote “ finally getting the appreciation they deserve“
FN Leaders Quote – “ unilateral betrayal” designed to pave the way for its repeal.” “ The First Nations Leadership Council says Premier David Eby has “broken the trust”
I think JV and Chiefs aren’t smoking the same pipe eh!
Just keep thinking the way you think JV. Your shock and disappointment in the next few month will be pure enjoyment.
Being in the votes and elections!!!
Listen to the N A Z I S whine and cry because the First Nations people in Canada are finally getting the appreciation they deserve. It’s time we stop celebrating the history of white settlers in this country and in North America in general. No other race has committed more crimes against humanity than white people in North America. Genocide, Slavery, Ethnic cleansing, Mass murder… not to mention Sexual Violence and Atrocities committed by the church. There’s your white history
“ A First Nations group says the British Columbia government’s plan to suspend sections of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, or DRIPA, represents a “unilateral betrayal” designed to pave the way for its repeal.” Nice and Thankfully.
So even the FN leaders can now see the change of tide and the bad news delivered by a Human Rights Lawyer.
Go figure.
Repeal is next.
He could hand them a billion dollars, they’d still complain.
JV please remember that the only reason the FN have gotten what they have received so far is due to laws and politicians who were basically voted in and 100s of deals that were arranged behind closed doors, under NDAs without public oversight. That ends soon is my guess. Millions of home owners and voters are angry about this.
Constitutions can and are amended all the time. Laws are changed and removed all the time. This is by the will of the voters of any majority that gains power.
I think you would be really surprised at what the latest batch of young voters really think. Look at the bozo they voted in down south. That was the youth! They are concerned about their future, rights, prospects and opportunities not some small community looking to infringe on their inheritance and rights.
Justin Trudeau was chased out of politics for ignoring the greater public, Poilievre like Rustad is too far right and they only represent the 30% of voters who are furtherest right and the Liberal protest vote.
This is all changes now. Even Carney, against FNs complaining put in a Fast Track Bill.
So I would be counting my chickens before they hatch. Voter will is what democracy is all about. Right or wrong. Look at the suspension of DRIPA in BC.
It’s a start. What can be voted in can be voted out. I highly suspect that when DRIPA suspension goes to vote next week in parliament that it won’t be passed. So therefore a vote of no confidence will occur. Now with that nut Rustad thankfully gone a more moderate Conservative Party should win by landslide. DRIPA Repeal will be a forgone conclusion.
There is no denying the brutal past of colonialism that has happened to many cultures over the past 2000 years. That said that is still no justification for and it’s intellectually irresponsible to, force some retro active guilt and present day collective punishment on people of today for actions of those of the past.
The truth bit is over either now but Reconciliation is mutual not one sided. This needs way better balance.
it needs all of it gone
Don’t believe a word that comes out of Eby’s mouth. It depends on who he is talking to which side of the discussion he his on. He tells people what he thinks they want to hear and then does something totally different
Of course it won’t. Thanks for the land back in advance you racist f**king clowns 🤣
Time to ditch UNDRIP and all DRIPpies. When are the natives going to start reconciling? Seems to be a 1 way street. Considering the panel that put forward the reconciliation demand was 100% native. Odd when they are less than 10% of the population.
They need to cooperate with us, we do not have to consult with them. They are just after the consultation money.