The provincial government and the Tahltan Central Government have announced that they have entered into the first consent-based decision-making agreement under the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People’s Act.
This agreement looks to honour Tahltan’s jurisdiction in land management decisions in its territory.
It also aims to advance reconciliation, and provide clarity and predictability for the Eskay Creek Revitalization Project.
The province added that the two governments will be working together to change B.C’s traditional approach to environmental assessments.
“This will mean less uncertainty, more reconciliation. It will remove restrictions through economic growth and it will help us to build investor confidence,” said Premier John Horgan.
President of Tahltan Central Government Chad Norman Day said that he feels honoured that the Tahltan are the first to sign an agreement like this.
“It’s extremely important that moving forward that Tahltan rights, Tahltan decisions, Tahltan values are at the heart of all of these projects. It’s important that we build these structures and that we do it properly.”
Section 7 of the Declaration Act provides a mechanism for B.C to recognize in law Indigenous jurisdiction and decisions with the provincial statutory decision-making framework.
Meanwhile, Section 7 of the Environmental Assessment Act provides the enabling legislation required under the Declaration Act for the decision-making agreement between the Tahltan and the Province.
Files from Lindsay Newman, MyBulkleyLakesNow
Something going on in the Prince George area you think people should know about?
Send us a news tip by emailing [email protected].
