B次元官网网址淚 am tired of managing poverty.B次元官网网址�
The words of Lake Babine Nation Chief Wilf Adam were quoted by both Aboriginal Relations Minister John Rustad and Premier Christy Clark at their second annual meeting with aboriginal leaders around the province.
In her closing remarks, Clark repeated her aim to continue economic development and resource revenue sharing that have dominated the governmentB次元官网网址檚 approach in recent years.
B次元官网网址淟etB次元官网网址檚 eliminate poverty in First Nations communities,B次元官网网址� she said, adding B次元官网网址渢he only way we can fight poverty is to grow the economy.B次元官网网址�
Not surprisingly, ClarkB次元官网网址檚 chosen example was the potential of liquefied natural gas development for the Haisla Nation near Kitimat.
That and similar proposals require new gas pipelines. And as is customary in B.C., what people most often hear about are threats and wild claims regarding protests such as the UnistB次元官网网址檕tB次元官网网址檈n camp near Smithers, set up to block a gas pipeline.
There was a round of this in late August, after Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the militant Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs claimed hundreds of RCMP officers were about to descend on the camp. This echoed previous false claims made by self-styled anarchists such as VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 Zoe Blunt, who has been organizing outside support for the camp for the last couple of years.
(Blogger Greg Renouf has tracked the , and followed Blunt's for years.)
Media jumped at the prospect of another Gustafson Lake-style confrontation. This prompted an unusual statement from Cpl. Janelle Shoihet of the North District RCMP.
B次元官网网址淭o clarify, the B.C. RCMP has no intention of B次元官网网址榯aking down the campB次元官网网址� set up by the UnistB次元官网网址檕tB次元官网网址檈n,B次元官网网址� she said, emphasizing that police are not taking sides or acting as security for pipeline exploration crews being harassed by protesters, who have token support from a couple of dissident members of a WetB次元官网网址檚uwetB次元官网网址檈n clan.
Four elected chiefs of the WetB次元官网网址檚uwetB次元官网网址檈n issued their own statement, to correct media coverage that represents the UnistB次元官网网址檕tB次元官网网址檈n as speaking for their communities.
B次元官网网址淥ur Nations support responsible resource development as a way to bring First Nations out of poverty and bring opportunities for our young people,B次元官网网址� said Burns Lake Band Chief Dan George.
WetB次元官网网址檚uwetB次元官网网址檈n First Nation Chief Karen Ogen said job and benefit agreements for the Coastal GasLink pipeline were entered into after careful consideration, and she objected to protests from outsiders, some from outside the country.
B次元官网网址淪ustainability means standing on our own two feet, providing our young people with good paying jobs, and reducing the 40 to 60 per cent unemployment we now experience,B次元官网网址� Ogen said.
Haisla Nation Chief Councillor Ellis Ross has no time for crude oil projects, but he has been working towards gas-related development as long as anyone.
Ross in support of the elected WetB次元官网网址檚uwetB次元官网网址檈n chiefs in their efforts to resolve the dispute with UnistB次元官网网址檕tB次元官网网址檈n members.
B次元官网网址淥pposition is the easiest job in the world,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲hat is difficult is finding an answer when a First Nations mother has concerns about her childB次元官网网址檚 future.
B次元官网网址淧oliticians are quick to shout out sound bites and get into camera shots, but where are the cameras when another First Nations member takes their own life or when they pass away from highway/alcohol related deaths?B次元官网网址�
Ross noted that recent court decisions have put B.C. aboriginal leaders in the best position they have ever had, with governments and development project proponents coming to them B次元官网网址渨ith inclusion in mindB次元官网网址� after decades of resource development that has passed them by.
You wouldnB次元官网网址檛 know it most days, but First Nations along both the Coastal GasLink and Pacific Trails gas pipelines .
More aboriginal leaders are getting tired of managing poverty, and misguided protesters.
Tom Fletcher is legislature reporter and columnist for Black Press. Twitter:
