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NEWS
BRIEFS
WTO picks up on first nations'
argument
BY FP STAFF
A decision by the World Trade Organization on the ongoing softwood
lumber dispute between Canada and the U.S. has referred to a brief
submitted by the B.C. Interior Alliance in its decision.
The WTO decision picks up the key argument of indigenous peoples
that stumpage constitutes the provision of a good under the Subsidies
and Countervailing Measures Agreement of the WTO and that as a result
duties can be imposed.
As a result Canada lost its protest of the recently imposed U.S.
countervailing duties imposed on Canadian softwood imports.
Neskonlith Band Chief Arthur Manuel says the implications of the
decision increases "uncertainty" for Canadian softwood
producers for their failure to take Aboriginal title in account
and imposes an obligation to consult with first nations regarding
their proprietary interest in lands and resources.
Art Manuel: live in Tokyo
BY FP STAFF
Tokyo, Japan-Chief Art Manuel has taken the battle over Sun Peaks
Resort to the land of the Rising Sun.
The Neskonlith Indian Band chief headed to Japan in mid-November
to "educate, lobby and seek support" for the international
campaign to stop the expansion of the resort.
Japanese super-corporation Nippon Cable hold ownership over the
British Columbia resort.
Manuel's itinerary included meeting with the Japanese Environmental
Lawyers Foundation and the NGO Peace Boat, as well as holding two
lectures, "Economic Development and Indigenous Peoples Rights"
and "Canada's Indigenous Peoples and Development: Can We Let
the Japanese Company Continue Its Outrage?"
"I am not against development but our Aboriginal land question
needs to be dealt with first... otherwise, investors and market
agencies will be marketing in stolen goods," Manuel said.
Manuel and members the Skwelkwek'welt Protection Centre have been
locked in an ongoing Aboriginal land and title battle with resort
developers, claiming that it is located on traditional Secwepemc
Territory.
New ICC commissioner appointed
BY FP STAFF
Jane Dickson-Gilmore has been appointed to the Indian Claims Commission.
An associate professor at Carleton University's Faculty of Law,
where she teaches Aboriginal Community and Restorative Justice,
Dickson-Gilmore's knowledge of human rights and Aboriginal issues
was welcomed by Chief Commissioner Phil Fontaine.
The Indian Claims Commission is a temporary independent body established
in 1991 to inquire into specific land claims rejected by the federal
government on the request of first nations.
Ontario funds Aboriginal corporations.
BY FP STAFF
A total of $1.6 million dollars has been doled out to 15 Aboriginal
organizations in the province to continue employing community-based
Partnership Development Advisors (PDAs) working on the development
of business opportunities between the Aboriginal community and the
corporate sector.
Groups including the Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centre,
the Southern First Nations Secretariat and the Metis Nation of Ontario
say the funding will allow them to more fully capitalize the emerging
desire of Aboriginal people to participate in economic opportunities.
First Nations Summit wants Pickton
case open to public
BY FP STAFF
Vancouver B.C.-Chiefs and leaders of the First Nations Summit are
calling on the B.C. Courts to deny an application by Robert William
Pickton's lawyer to close his preliminary trial on murder charges.
Pickton has been charged in the disappearances and deaths of a number
of women from the Vancouver area, many who were Aboriginal.
"The Summit is deeply concerned that the families of the victims
will be denied access to the preliminary hearing," said Grand
Chief Edward John. "The families and victims have already gone
through enough trauma without having to worry about access to legal
proceedings."
Coon Come calls for action on
water
BY FP STAFF
Ottawa Ont.-Saying the issue of safe drinking water on first nations
has been "studied to death" AFN National Chief Matthew
Coon Come is urging immediate action to clean up water supplies
on reserves.
"This ticking time bomb of tainted water has literally been
studied to death," he said.
A recent report from the Canadian Press says that Indian and Northern
Affairs admits there are deficiencies in most first nations water
systems and that the present level of funding and training to improve
the problem is insufficient.
Health Canada has confirmed that 103 of over 1,100 first nations
water systems pose serious health risks and have been issued boil
water advisories by the department.
$70 million, anyone?
BY FP STAFF
Calgary, Alta.-The $4 billion Mackenzie Delta project-a proposed
natural gas pipeline venture that could see major economic payoffs
for Aboriginal interests-is currently hinging on the approval of
a hefty loan guarantee agreement to proceed.
A $70 million loan guarantee is needed to ensure the early participation
of Aboriginal interests in the project. Fred Carmichael, chairman
of the Aboriginal Pipeline Group, met with federal negotiator Roland
Priddle in mid-November to discuss options before Priddle returned
to Ottawa to give his recommendations. Priddle is a former head
of the National Energy Board.
The APG was formed last year by Aboriginal interests in the Northwest
Territories. The group signed an agreement with a consortium of
petroleum corporations-ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil Canada, Imperial
Oil Ltd. and Shell Canada Ltd.-that would offer a one-third of the
stake in the project.
The $70 million would represent APG's share of the project's preliminary
design work.
In every aspect, the Mackenzie Delta proposal is an ambitious project
that could generate billions of dollars for northern communities.
It would see the construction of a 1,350 kilometre natural gas pipeline
to run south from the Beaufort Sea, through the Mackenzie Valley
and into Alberta.
If all of the green lights are in fact lit, the line could be flowing
gas by 2007.
Pringle is expected to make his recommendations to Ottawa this month.
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