HAIDA GWAII, BC,
July 25,
2024 /CNW/ - This week, Gaagwiis Jason Alsop, President of the Council of the
Haida Nation, met with federal ministers and Haida leadership to
discuss matters of shared importance.
The Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, Gary Anandasangaree,
reaffirmed the federal government's dedication to driving forward
the legislative process for Bill S-16, An Act respecting the
recognition of the Haida Nation and the Council of the Haida
Nation, and coordinating with the Haida Nation's negotiation
team and provincial officials to determine the next steps for
reconciliation efforts. This crucial piece of legislation, which
has received strong backing from the Government of Canada, the Government of British Columbia, and the Haida Nation, is
currently on third reading in the House of Commons. Once passed, it
will formally recognize the Haida Nation's inherent rights of
governance and self-determination, as well as the Council of the
Haida Nation as the government of the Haida Nation. Additional
conversations took place and will continue in coordination with the
Haida Nation's negotiating team and provincial officials to chart
the next steps to advance reconciliation and recognize the Nation's
relationship with the land.
Arriving earlier in the week, Minister of Environment and
Climate Change and responsible for Parks Canada, Steven Guilbeault, also discussed sustainable
environmental practices with the Haida Nation, including renewable
energy sources, Guardians programs and Haida-led protected areas.
Marine conservation was also discussed, including the recently
announced Great Bear Sea Project for Finance Permanence (PFP),
which involves the Haida Nation, 16 other First Nations within the
Northern Shelf bioregion, Canada
and British Columbia. These
initiatives are a testament to the government's ongoing work in
recognizing Indigenous rights and Traditional Knowledge in land and
environmental stewardship.
The Government of Canada wants
to continue the historic collaboration with the Haida Nation long
into the future. The three-decade-long partnership has enabled the
development of the first co-managed National Park Reserve, Gwaii
Hanas, and serves as a model for Canada and the world. The government also
wants to continue exploring with the Haida Nation other
opportunities for conservation in the Haida Territory, including
new marine protected areas.
Quick facts
- Bill S-16 advances the principles and approach to
reconciliation with the Haida Nation laid out in
the GayG̱ahlda • Kwah.hlahl.dáyaa "Changing Tide" Framework
for Reconciliation. Further, it implements commitments in
the Nang K̲'uula • Nang K̲'úulaas Recognition
Agreement, entered into by the Haida Nation, the Government of
Canada and British Columbia in July 2023.
- The Council of the Haida Nation was formed as a national
government in 1974. The Constitution of the Haida
Nation was formally adopted in 2003. It mandates the
Council to conduct the external affairs of the Haida Nation and to
steward the lands and waters of Haida Gwaii on behalf of the Haida
Nation. This ensures that the Haida relationship with Haida Gwaii
continues in perpetuity.
SOURCE Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs
Canada