[LINK] "B.C. First Nations vow to ‘work together’ with resource industries ..."

[rfmcdonald]

The Province carries Jeff Lee's Postmedia News article reporting on the interest of First Nations groups in British Columbia--and likely elsewhere--in getting economic benefit from their new land claims.

The landmark Supreme Court of Canada decision involving the Tsilhqot’in First Nation fundamentally alters the relationship between native bands and all forms of government, municipal leaders were told Tuesday.

But rather than inject uncertainty into how governments deal with native governments, the ruling helps define for the first time how they can work together, Tsilhqot’in leaders told the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention.

“The Supreme Court of Canada decision only encourages strong relationships with our neighbours,” Chief Percy Guichon of Alexis Creek First Nation told a packed audience of nearly 1,000.

Referring to the many resource-based industries that want access to their lands, Guichon said his community wants to support economic development. “We need to find ways to work together, to work together on these difficult topics. We live side by side,” he said.

The June 26 court decision finding that the Tsihlqot’in Nation has rights and title to 1,740 square kilometres of land west of Williams Lake has opened questions about how this affects local governments.

“Don’t be fooled by the brevity of the decision. I think this is the most significant legal case ever decided in British Columbia,” lawyer Gregg Cockrill told the UBCM convention. “It has big implications for B.C., and big implications for the rest of Canada as well.”