FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron at a smudge walk in Regina in June. Photo by Manfred Joehnk.
The Chief of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations says a recent Federal Court of Appeal ruling is another legal example of government and industry’s duty to consult.
Last week the court of appeal overturned federal approval of the Northern Gateway Pipeline citing a lack of consultation with affected First Nations.
The pipeline would travel nearly 2000 kilometres bringing bitumen from Albert to B.C.’s coastline.
Ottawa initially gave the go-ahead to the project after a National Energy Board joint review panel gave its approval, however the government was also supposed to meet a constitutional requirement to consult with Aboriginal peoples. According to the appeals court the government failed in that obligation.
Several British Columbia First Nations were parties to the appeal.
FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron says the ruling should be “eye-opening” to both industry and government. Simply put the FSIN Chief says the ruling supports duty to consult.
“Our Indigenous people on our traditional lands need to be respected, we must be consulted and thirdly we must be full partners for resource development of any kind,” said Chief Cameron.
“How many court rulings do we have to win in order for industry and government to fulfill their treaty obligation when it comes to inherent rights.”
Chief Cameron says the ruling will also help the FSIN better serve the 74 First Nations they represent in Saskatchewan when dealing with resource development.
(With files from the Canadian Press)