It is troubling to hear that a court has ordered the removal of First Nations members at a barricade on land that is claimed to be unceded.
Unless the Government of Canada or the province can prove treaty agreements have been reached on traditional land of our native peoples, the Court should conclude it is unceded, and therefor under the care and control of the First Nation whose territorial claims have not been proven to have been surrendered.
This court case does nothing to help in reconciliation or nation to nation governance goals, but rather inflames the situation. Have we learned nothing in over 150 years of colonialism?
The court is putting the wants of a corporation and/or government ahead of First Nations claim; money ahead of environmental and other less tangible ideals, practices and beliefs as well as the people resident in that area.
This court decision, during a time when the Government of Canada is pursuing reconciliation and a nation to nation approach on governance, contributes to neither.
It is more than time that respect for First Nations and their pursuit of protecting the air, land and water of Canada is demonstrated, because if the air, land and water of Canada is polluted, spoiled and degraded, habitation on this planet is jeopardized.
Just ask the scientists how long we can live without these three basic items: air to breath, land to grow our food, and water to hydrate our bodies.
Roberta Marshman
Saanich
