FSIN Chief Bellegarde says Tsilhqot’in decision ‘bolsters’ treaty argument for resource revenue sharing
Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Chief Perry Bellegarde said Thursday’s Supreme Court of Canada ruling acknowledging the Tsilhqot’in have Aboriginal title over a vast swath of land will “bolster” the argument for resource revenue sharing in territories covered by the numbered treaties.
APTN National News
Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Chief Perry Bellegarde said Thursday’s Supreme Court of Canada ruling acknowledging the Tsilhqot’in have Aboriginal title over a vast swath of land will “bolster” the argument for resource revenue sharing in territories covered by the numbered treaties.
“It comes back to the treaty itself and the understanding of the treaty that we would share the land resource wealth only to the depth of a plow,” said Bellegarde. “Anything beneath that is not on the table.”
The Supreme Court granted a declaration of Aboriginal title to a First Nation for the first time in the historic ruling handed down Thursday. The ruling covers 1,750 square kilometres of Tsilhqot’in land.
The ruling acknowledged Indigenous nations can claim occupancy and control over vast swaths of land beyond specific settlement sites, provides more clarity on Aboriginal title and sets out the parameters for government “incursion” into land under Aboriginal title.
The ruling is expected to have an immediate impact on territories not covered by numbered treaties. Most of B.C. is not covered by treaty.
Parts of Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories are covered by the numbered treaties and the Crown position has always been that First Nations surrendered their territories under these treaties.
Bellegarde, however, said none of the original Indigenous treaty signers believed they were surrendering anything and only agreed to share the land and its resources.
“We didn’t give up everything to the Crown,” said Bellegarde. “With the passing of this decision, it will bolster our argument to set up a formal process to deal with this unfinished treaty business.
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