Despite being a BCWF member and director, and posting this in the BCWF sub-forum, the following is a personal position, not an official BCWF position.
As many of you know and understand, the relationship between First Nations and Canada have always been difficult. It has also changed significantly over time and those changes and the disagreements that fuel those changes are, for better or worse, becoming much more mainstream.
Change is always difficult and often painful. Sometimes the pain its not distributed fairly, even if the need for change is valid.
First Nations have very valid concerns that must be addressed and should not be dismissed. Reconciliation between First Nations and the balance of Canadian society is a good thing, and it is needed.
However, it is becoming increasingly clear that one feature of reconciliation is different degrees of hardship will be inflicted upon parts of society that probably don't deserve it. This leads to rising tensions and hot tempers.
It would be wise for the hunting community to avoid getting excessively emotional in our response, and instead work hard at reasonable accommodation with all of our fellow citizens. There are many sides to every story and nothing is black and white. First Nations are not going anywhere, and they will have increasing control over access to the land base in the future. The hunting community will have to concentrate on maintaining and enhancing that access. If you have a problem with the concepts of Aboriginal title or reconciliation, please take that somewhere else while the rest of us concentrate on access. If you want to scream right now and smash your keyboard, take a breath. We need to channel our anger productively.
Aboriginal title is a real thing. It is established in law and tested at the Supreme Court of Canada. Nobody can simply close their eyes to that fact and wish it away. The extent of Aboriginal title has still not been clarified and First Nations, provincial and federal governments still do not agree on all aspects of it. There is still lots of work for the courts to do on this score, and it won't be resolved quickly.
In the meantime outdoor recreationalists of all stripes require access to the land base. Aboriginal title and land claims are directly related to the land base and sovereignty over it, and that is where an important piece of the rubber hits the road.
It's been said that the Covid virus speeds up the future. That is certainly the case today in BC. Several Indigenous groups seem to have linked concerns about the virus with the claim to inherent land rights, and as a result BC resident hunters will be facing First Nations restrictions on access to the landbase as well as tho marine environments.
Indian Reserves, treaty lands and Aboriginal Title Lands are, for all intents and purposes, private property. It is legal for First Nations authorities to restrict access to them, and it is very reasonable to restrict access to First Nations communities in an effort to combat the virus.
That said, restricting access to large swathes of the landbase is in not a requirement of fighting the virus. It appears to some observers that some First Nations are using the virus to pursue the larger goal of First nations sovereignty and control of traditional territory by restricting access to the landbase.
The BCWF (and, I think, all reasonable people) understand and support the actions taken by First Nations to protect their communities.
At the same time I think most reasonable people do not support attempts to restrict resident hunting, angling and recreating throughout traditional territories or on Crown land. A fuller, official statement on this will likely be emerging shortly.
A wide variety of restrictions have been announced by several First Nations including Tahltan, Taku River Tlingit, Tsilhqot'in, Haida and Sekwelwas have announced their intent or have actually begun restricting access.
It is imperative that you contact your MLA, your MP and any appropriate government minister, both provincial and federal.
Let them know your thoughts on this matter.
Remember to control your emotions and be reasonable. Hot headed comments that are or can be spun as racist are not going to help anyone achieve anything.
Ask them what they plan to do to resolve this incipient conflict peacefully while maintaining the right of access to the landbase for licensed, regulated resident hunters.
Send an email or letter to your MLA. Write it yourself or use this text:
"It is important for B.C. residents to have access to public wilderness. While reconciliation is an important goal, it will not be achieved by dividing British Columbians. First Nations' restriction of access to Crown land is unacceptable. What do you propose doing to resolve this source of conflict in a timely manner that ensures the right of BC residents to peacefully enjoy the beauty of our province?"
You can find your MLA's email address here: https://www.leg.bc.ca/learn-about-us/members
Also send it to:
-Premier John Horgan at premier@gov.bc.ca
-the leader of the opposition Andrew Wilkinson at Andrew.wilkinson.MLA@leg.bc.ca
- Minister Doug Donaldson, Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development FLNR.Minister@gov.bc.ca ,
- Opposition Critic MLA John Forest, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development john.rustad.MLA@leg.bc.ca
-Adam Olsen, interim leader for the Greens at adam.olsen.MLA@leg.bc.ca
and...for good measure and since he's engaged us here on this forum in the past, send a copy to Andrew Weaver as well at andrew.weaver.mla@leg.bc.ca
Your MP may well say "Hey, not my circus, not my monkeys". Don't buy it. Raise a ruckus. You can find your MP's address here: https://www.ourcommons.ca/Members/en/search
Reconciliation is going to happen. Aboriginal title will be resolved. We are not going back in time. The provincial government is not really negotiating on the behalf of outdoor recreationalist stakeholders. We need to pick that ball up and run with it. We sign petitions and swamp newspaper polls here all the time.
Make this grouchy old ******* smile by starting any comments with "Done, contacted my MLA and the rest of the people on the list. Now let me tell you how wrong you are about some of this Rob!"
