Aboriginal Rights

First Nations protests over Canadian Bill C-45

Matthew Campbell

Articles can be found here, here, and here, among other places.

A snippet of one of the articles here:

Approximately 200 people braved the cold to attend a Bill C-45 Prayer Gathering in front of the Saskatchewan Legislature on Sunday. The event was part of a growing opposition from First Nations communities against the second federal omnibus budget implementation bill.

The far-reaching bill includes changes to the Indian Act, the Navigable Waters Protection Act and the Fisheries Act, among others.

According to many First Nations groups these changes will have a drastic and negative affect on their communities and were proposed without proper consultation.

“We hope that Canadian society and the Saskatchewan public will stand with us and not let this happen,” said Chief Barry Kennedy of Carry the Kettle First Nation.

Petition to Protect Maya Lands in Southern Belize from Unauthorized Drilling

Ann Tweedy2 Comments

Please consider signing this petition. The government of Belize is ignoring Belize Supreme Court precedent that confirms that this land is the homeland of Maya communities.

Wall Street Journal article on protections for Mount Taylor in NM

Ann Tweedy

The article describes struggles between the Acoma Pueblo, Pueblo of Laguna, Zuni, and Navajo and ranchers regarding whether Mt. Taylor should be protected from mining because of its sacred character.

BIA to hold Sacred Sites Listening Sessions.

Matthew Campbell

The official announcement can be found here.

First Stewards Climate Change Symposium

Nick Reo

Coastal First Peoples are currently gathered in Washington DC to discuss climate change impacts and response strategies. Symposium details, including live streaming video of presentations, can be found here.

Globe and Mail: All But 2 Recently Appointed Canadian Federal Judges Are White

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here.

Thanks to N.X.

Updated Supreme Court of Canada Aboriginal Law Stats

Peter Scott Vicaire

Here’s the updated stats after the recent decision, R. v. Ipeelee, 2012 SCC 13, where the court revisited Gladue and found in favor of aboriginal interests 6-1.  Individual percentages in favor of aboriginal interests now range from 29.1% (LeBel – 7/24) to 57.1% (Cromwell – 4/7).  

https://turtletalk.blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/supreme-court-of-canada-report-card-2012.pdf

City of Dillingham, Alaska – Proposed Annexation of Nushagak Bay

Matthew Campbell

The City of Dillingham has petitioned to annex a large portion of the Nushagak Bay. The City intends to impose a tax on the sale or use of raw fish within the territory to be annexed.  The Petition has been opposed by several Alaska Native groups that rely heavily on Bay resources.

The Petition and related documents can be found here:

http://commerce.alaska.gov/dca/lbc/2010_City_of_Dillingham_Annexation/

The City also has requested preclearance from the Department of Justice to hold the annexation vote,  pursuant to the Voting Rights Act of 1965:

http://www.justice.gov/crt/about/vot/notices/vnote013012.php

Politician’s Comments Spark Indigenous Rights Protest in Australia

Ann Tweedy

Here’s a news article describing the protest of an Australian holiday commemorating the invasion/arrival of British colonists in 1788. The protest heated up after a politician made some comments about recent progress on Native issues and the consequent lack of continued need for indigenous Tent Embassy in the Capital.

Tribal Comments on Wisconsin Mining Proposal

Nick Reo1 Comment

Related to Matthew’s Dec 13 post on tribal objections to proposed Wisconsin mining legislation, see this post here outlining tribal comments at a recent public hearing. Representatives from several Wisconsin tribes pointed out the failure to consult with tribes about legislation that could negatively impact their treaty rights, tribal lands/waters and culturally significant resources.