Klappan Strategic Initiative (KSI) - Technical Report

From Tahltan Central Council:

“The Klappan is extremely important for the Tahltan community. It is our water, it is our food, it is our land. The report empowers our community by putting our values and  concerns into a document co-written and signed by the Province.”

In late December, the Tahltan Central Council (TCC) and Province of British Columbia jointly released a draft Klappan Strategic Initiative Technical Report.

The report was presented to the Tahltan communities last fall by the Klappan Strategic Initiative (KSI), which is partnership between the province and TCC designed to bring a collaborative approach to land and resource issues in the area. The draft report is now released to the public and gives all Tahltans more opportunity to review the report and provide your feedback.

The report explains both Tahltan and Provincial perspectives of the Klappan. It includes traditional cultural, environmental and economic values and concerns.

The report is not a land-use recommendation. It is a summary of both Tahltan and Provincial perspectives of the Klappan and will help facilitate an informed government-to-government discussion. By sitting down with the Provincial Government to outline our values and priorities, we are helping to ensure a long-term plan and protection for the Klappan.

In the report, the province recognizes that Tahltans are stewards of the Klappan. This will help the Tahltan Nation to ensure any proposed development in and around the Klappan will happen on Tahltan terms, and will be informed by values documented in the report.
 

More information can be found here: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/main/ksi

Source: http://www.tahltan.org/sites/default/files/newsletters/TCC_Newsletter_Jan2015_JF_v9_web.pdf

 

Still Strong

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BC should keep Shell’s gas drills out of the Sacred Headwaters for good: Skeena Swimmer

One year after the BC government put a moratorium on Shell’s coalbed methane drilling project in northern BC’s Sacred Headwaters, support for permanently protecting the area remains strong.

That’s what southern British Columbians are hearing this week from Ali Howard, the 33-year-old who in August became the first person to swim the length of the 610-kilometre Skeena River. Howard is in Vancouver and Victoria presenting a multimedia show of her trip.

“Our communities applauded the government’s move to put a drilling moratorium in place last year,” said Howard. “Now, with our province in the global spotlight, the BC government has the perfect opportunity to implement permanent safeguards for this remarkable area.”

The Sacred Headwaters is the shared birthplace of the Skeena, Nass and Stikine Rivers – three of British Columbia’s most important wild salmon rivers. Shell wants to drill over 1,000 coalbed methane gas wells in the Headwaters’ sensitive subalpine ecosystem, which residents fear will harm wildlife and salmon spawning habitat.

“Northwest residents have clearly demonstrated that they will not allow a project such as Shell’s to proceed under any circumstances,” said Shannon McPhail, executive director of the Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition. “Permanent safeguards for the Headwaters would be welcomed by a broad cross section of our communities.”

This is a message Howard heard many times over the course of her historic swim.

Read More: Here
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Tahltan Elders Declare a Moratorium on Resource Development

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Tahltan Elders Statement—Issued in Spring 2005:

"Dena nenn Sogga neh 'ine"

We, the Tahltan People, historically a sovereign nation have occupied our traditional territories since time immemorial. Our culture is organized through a matrilineal clan system. This has always been and remains our broad governing structure. Tahltan Elders held the responsibility to uphold Tahltan beliefs, customs, values and laws for future generations.

Our inherent rights are given by Creator and cannot be diminished or removed by any law including discriminatory government legislation such as the Indian Act. The clan, elders, families and Tahltan People have been marginalized and fragmented by settler society and the genocidal practices of church and state. Tahltan land remains Unceded territory, which has never been surrendered or taken in war or conquest. We will defend in any way necessary our rights and freedoms, to be self-determining.

Today, we Tahltan People face numerous massive development projects. Agreements have been negotiated in secret between Indian Act chiefs, the Tahltan Central Council and government and industry. The promise of jobs does not compensate for loss of land, resources and impacts on the environment and people. This is not only a violation of Tahltan law; it is a fundamental violation of our rights under the Canadian Constitution. No indigenous culture could survive the combined impact of the proposed projects. Our land, and the creatures that depend on that land, would be devastated. Our Tahltan People would be devastated.

Therefore, it is both our right and our responsibility, as Tahltan Elders, to reclaim our legitimate place within Tahltan law and custom. The actions of chiefs and councils, Tahltan Central Council, and others who purport to represent Tahltan interest, have forced us to occupy the Band offices in Telegraph Creek. These non-represented individuals and bodies have exceeded their authority and no longer have the confidence or trust of the Tahltan People and therefore can no longer represent us.

Our responsibilities as Tahltan Elders require us to inform all those who would come to this land and desecrate it for their own financial gain that you can no longer negotiate agreements in secret. Tahltan Elders are the true, legitimate governing body. We will apply Tahltan laws to stabilize, build, and strengthen our nation. We will protect our way of life and Mother Earth from further harmful assaults.

We, the Tahltan Elders are the stewards of our homeland, which we have continued to sustain and hold in trust for future generations make this solemn declaration:

We assert our aboriginal title and inherent rights to the land and resources within our traditional territory.

We declare a complete moratorium on resource development in our territory until

a. the leadership dispute has been resolved,

b. a fair, just, and legitimate process is developed which honours Tahltan custom and law;

c. all Tahltan members are consulted, informed and give final approval of development

Prior to any future development in Tahltan Territory, legal agreements must be negotiated with Tahltan Elders that ensure Tahltan People equitable share in revenues generated and are involved in all aspects of decision-making.

All agreements negotiated with industry and government to date, because of the absence of the participation and consent of the Tahltan Elders and Families, are hereby declared void

Medu

Tahltan Elders

Read More: Here

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‘Sacred Headwaters’ Endangered

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The headwaters of the Skeena, Nass, and Stikine Rivers – so important in Tahltan history and culture - have made the annual list of endangered rivers, compiled by The Outdoor Recreation Council of BC. The Council lists the headwaters at #6 due to the possibility of coal-bed methane mining.

Source: Tad McIlwraith
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Shell Go Home

On Aug 21, 2007 the Tahltan elders of Iskut and Telegraph creek blockaded Shell from resuming their destructive Coalbed Methane operations in the Sacred Headwaters.

This is the latest in an ongoing battle over resource development at the birthplace of three of Canada's great salmon rivers, a place aboriginal groups consider sacred.

Youth Resistance

Shell plans to drill in the most pristine environment in Northern British Columbia, called, the sacred headwaters. This film was made by youth from that area.

Special thanks to Dogwood Initiative.