Latest news with #Tŝilhqot'inNationalGovernment
CBC
25-02-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Tŝilhqot'in National Government calls for change to land, water management in wake of 2024 B.C. landslide
Social Sharing The Tŝilhqot'in National Government (TNG) is calling on the B.C. and Canadian governments to uphold and support Tŝilhqot'in knowledge, laws and jurisdiction over its own territory, among other things, in the wake of a landslide last summer. On July 30, a landslide in Nagwentled, also known as Farwell Canyon, blocked the Chilcotin River in B.C.'s Interior, a vital stream for salmon, for six days. The effect the slide had on salmon remains unclear, though the Department of Fisheries and Oceans said in September that very few had passed the landslide area. A new report from the TNG looked at the response from the Tŝilhqot'in and the provincial and federal governments, in an effort to find out what worked and what should happen moving forward. WATCH | Chilcotin River days after July 2024 landslide: B.C. river flows after water spills over landslide 7 months ago Duration 0:56 The TNG is made up of six Tŝilhqot'in communities working together to advocate for the Tŝilhqot'in people. Among them is Tl'esqox Chief Francis Laceese, who pointed out that managing the land and water within the TNG's territory is part of the United Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. "Governments have to change their legislation and their way of thinking," he said. The TNG says the slide signified a "changing of the waters," and a realignment of the relationships between the TNG and other governments. The report touches on the fact that the Tŝilhqot'in Nation is in charge of emergency management when it comes to fires in its territory — but the landslide response was a different story. It says the landslide revealed shortfalls in communication and co-ordination of the emergency response from provincial and federal governments. The TNG says it had to overcome "jurisdictional confusion" and that the province "struggled" to share information about the slide, and as a result, the First Nation's own emergency management was "largely hamstrung" when trying to help residents due to a lack of up-to-date information. Key among the complaints, the report says, was the lack of information sharing. "While the provincial government helpfully arranged helicopter viewings for chiefs and senior staff, the province was reluctant to share monitoring data on a government-to-government basis with the [Tsilhqot'in National Government]," the report says. 'They know what they're doing' The Nation says it wants to ensure it is leading on emergency management within its own territory. Jenny Philbrick, TNG Executive Director, said that while the Tŝilhqot'in started work on the landslide right away, the provincial and federal governments also got involved. "Tŝilhqot'in people and a lot of other Indigenous people have jurisdiction in their own lands, and they know what they're doing," Philbrick said during a news conference on Monday. "Indigenous people should be taking the lead in their own lands." Funding needed Among its four calls to action is money for emergency reserve and restoration funds. The First Nation says the uncertain and delayed funding from the federal government forced it to move forward with "urgent and vital actions to steward the salmon" without a guarantee of support from Ottawa. Philbrick said ongoing funding is necessary, as two subsequent landslides happened after the initial slide, and another is expected. "Another reason why this is so important [is] to make sure that those relationships are good and that there's still funding flowing for future landslides." The TNG also says that given its historical knowledge and expertise in the area and in terms of salmon, it's in the best position to lead on salmon recovery. It's calling on the province and feds to transition the TNG's Emergency Salmon Task Force to a long-term project. The federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans was unable to provide a response to the report before publication.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Chief who transformed Indigenous land claims in B.C. will not run for re-election
The chief who oversaw the transformation of Indigenous land claims in B.C. has announced he won't be running for re-election. Joe Alphonse has served as head of the Tl'etinqox Government for 16 years and has been tribal chair of the Tŝilhqot'in National Government for nearly as long. The Tsilhqot'in represents six First Nations communities in the B.C. Cariboo region and was the first group to win recognition of its claim to a specific area of land through Canada's highest court, in what is commonly known as the Tsilhqotʼin decision. The landmark 2014 ruling granted the nation claim to over 440,000 hectares of land in the B.C. Interior and is regarded as a milestone in recognizing Indigenous rights across Canada. In the years since, Alphonse has played a key role in developing the economy of his nation. He also oversaw the exoneration of six Tŝilhqot'in chiefs who were hanged in 1864 when they were called to what they believed to be peace talks to end what became known as the Chilctotin War but were instead accused of, and killed for, murder. Alphonse himself is a direct descendent of the Grand Chief who led the Tŝilhqot'in during that time, according to the Tŝilhqot'in National Government In a statement posted to Facebook, Alphonse says he is stepping away from politics in order to prioritize his personal health, calling the last 16 years "wonderful, but sometimes turbulent." "It has been a difficult decision to step away, and I hope the community can keep moving forward and build upon what I have established," the statement says. Alphonse was appointed to the Order of British Columbia in 2021 and, in 2022, received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Victoria. An election for the Tl'etinqox Government is scheduled for March 8.
CBC
28-01-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Chief who transformed Indigenous land claims in B.C. will not run for re-election
The chief who oversaw the transformation of Indigenous land claims in B.C. has announced he won't be running for re-election. Joe Alphonse has served as head of the Tl'etinqox Government for 16 years and has been tribal chair of the Tŝilhqot'in National Government for nearly as long. The Tsilhqot'in represents six First Nations communities in the B.C. Cariboo region and was the first group to win recognition of its claim to a specific area of land through Canada's highest court, in what is commonly known as the Tsilhqotʼin decision. The landmark 2014 ruling granted the nation claim to over 440,000 hectares of land in the B.C. Interior and is regarded as a milestone in recognizing Indigenous rights across Canada. In the years since, Alphonse has played a key role in developing the economy of his nation. He also oversaw the exoneration of six Tŝilhqot'in chiefs who were hanged in 1864 when they were called to what they believed to be peace talks to end what became known as the Chilctotin War but were instead accused of, and killed for, murder. Alphonse himself is a direct descendent of the Grand Chief who led the Tŝilhqot'in during that time, according to the Tŝilhqot'in National Government In a statement posted to Facebook, Alphonse says he is stepping away from politics in order to prioritize his personal health, calling the last 16 years "wonderful, but sometimes turbulent." "It has been a difficult decision to step away, and I hope the community can keep moving forward and build upon what I have established," the statement says. Alphonse was appointed to the Order of British Columbia in 201 and, in 2022, received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Victoria.
