The B.C. governmentB次元官网网址檚 pledge to ensure B次元官网网址渇ree, prior and informed consentB次元官网网址� for land use changes has been targeted by a group of Indigenous communities who want to grow their local forest economies.
The has rejected the provinceB次元官网网址檚 effort to work with them to redistribute Crown forest resources, citing a maze of complicated technical questions sent to First Nations with insufficient time for remote communities to answer them.
B次元官网网址淭he process is being expedited during a time of crisis due to wildfires,B次元官网网址� Chief Bill Williams, president of the council, said in a letter to Premier John Horgan and Forests Minister Katrine Conroy and made public Sept. 9. B次元官网网址淭he timeline for consultation is disrespectful, compressed and expedited, and does not allow for meaningful and informed consultation.B次元官网网址�
is signed by Williams, a hereditary chief of the Seaichem Reserve the Squamish Nation, and supported by the Ashcroft, Canim Lake, CookB次元官网网址檚 Ferry, Williams Lake, Upper Nicola and Little Shuswap Lake Indian Bands, as well as the NisgaB次元官网网址檃 Lisims Government, NkB次元官网网址橫ip Forestry, TB次元官网网址橲eB次元官网网址檏ame Forestry and the Foothills, Fort Nelson, Katzie, Kitselas, Lhtako, LilB次元官网网址檞at, Nuchatlaht, Skin Tyee, StswecemB次元官网网址檆-XgatB次元官网网址檛em, TlaB次元官网网址檃min and Tsay Keh Dene First Nations.
The group say a forest ministry B次元官网网址淏次元官网网址� issued this spring that calls for sweeping changes to forest policy and Indigenous participation was B次元官网网址渄eveloped internally by ministry staff with no input from First Nations.B次元官网网址�
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The letter calls for an extension to the end of 2021 for the consultation. In a statement to Black Press, the forests ministry did not respond directly when asked if the extension is being considered.
B次元官网网址淭he intentions paper is about starting a conversation,B次元官网网址� the ministry stated. B次元官网网址淚t draws upon the extensive engagement weB次元官网网址檝e done with First Nations and others on initiatives like the First Nations Forest Strategy, Interior Forest Sector Renewal, Coast Forest Sector Renewal, Forest and Range Practices Act improvement and the Old Growth Strategic Review.
B次元官网网址淓ngagement will be ongoing in the intentions paper as we work to reshape how forests are managed, and how to increase the participation of Indigenous people in the forest sector.B次元官网网址�
tfletcher@blackpress.ca
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