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South Okanagan Photos

Okanagan Natives to challenge treaty process

David P. Ball with permission
David P. Ball with permission

Westbank June 30, 2014

The Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) will file legal action against the Province of BC taking direct aim at the British Columbia Treaty Process.

The legal action will challenge an “Incremental Treaty Agreement” British Columbia signed in March 2013 with the Ktunaxa Nation Council to transfer approximately 241 hectares of land near Nakusp as part of an early transfer of lands that will form part of a final Treaty. Despite the fact that the area includes important village sites, hunting grounds, and cultural heritage sites for the ONA communities and their members, the Province did not consult with the ONA before signing the agreement.

“This lawsuit is a direct result of an unprincipled and broken British Columbia Treaty Process that ignores established legal principles, traditional protocols, and the Title and Rights of First Nations,” said Grand Chief Stewart Phillip. “You can’t achieve reconciliation with one First Nation by trampling on the rights of another First Nation. That is the opposite of honourable conduct. Our Title and Rights are not there for the Province to ignore or give away. Our people and communities demanded we take action to protect their Title and Rights and that’s what we’re doing” he added.

Westbank June 27, 2014

The Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs, Okanagan Nation Alliance and Shuswap Nation Tribal Council welcomes the Supreme Court of Canada’s first declaration of Aboriginal title in Canada.

The Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs (UBCIC), Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) and Shuswap Nation Tribunal Council (SNTC) participated as a coalition intervener in this case.
Our nations have been involved legal actions seeking to have our Aboriginal Title and jurisdiction to make decisions about the forests that have sustained our people for thousands of years recognized in the Jules and Wilson actions. That case was on hold pending the outcome of this case. We will now meet to decide our next steps.
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the UBCIC and ONA stated, “Canada’s top court adopted the international law principle of consent. Indigenous peoples in British Columbia have long been fighting for recognition of our rightful place in the Canadian federation. The Supreme Court of Canada has said that it is time to join the modern era of International Human Rights recognition. This decision puts an end to the legal oppression of Indigenous Peoples and enforces our fundamental human rights and freedoms.”