Current Problems

Environment

BC Government ignores First Nations Forest Strategy

May 1, 2019

BC First Nations Forest Strategy (Draft) May 2019

Guiding principles

  1. To advance reconciliation by recognizing First Nations as governments with an increasing role in the governance and stewardship of forest lands and resources in BC; NOT ADDRESSED
  2. To honour and move forward on the commitments made by the Province to fully implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP- guided by Articles 25-32 and specifically Articles 26, 28 and 29) ) and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls-to-Action (“TRC Calls to Action”); and LIMITED
  3. To respect and promote alignment with case law, including the Tsilhqot’in Decision NOT ADDRESSED

The six (6) goals of the BC First Nations Forest Strategy

Goal 1: Shared Governance and Joint Decision-Making NOT ADDRESSED
Goal 2: A Strong Forest Economy that Supports Meaningful Sharing of Revenues with First Nations NIOT ADDRESSED
Goal 3: Forest Legislation and Policy Development and Reform LIMITED (reference Indigenous involvement NOT collaboration)
Goal 4: Tenure Reform that Recognizes Undrip and Supports a Healthy and Strong Forest Sector NOT ADDRESSED
Goal 5: Collaborative Stewardship and Land Use Planning NOT ADDRESSED
Goal 6: Maximize First Nations Involvement in the Forest Sector NOT ADDRESSED

The BC Government has signed off on full implementation of “A New Future for Old Forest” released on April 30, 2020 that pays lip service to collaboration and engagement with Indigenous people with extremely limited focus on addressing any of the above Guiding Principles and Goals highlighted by the “BC First Nations Forest Strategy “– in collaboration with the BC Government!
https://engage.gov.bc.ca/app/uploads/sites/563/2020/09/STRATEGIC-REVIEW-20200430.pdf

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