Douglas Treaty

Times Colonist: Jul 16, 1985    Central Saanich council unanimously approved issuing a development permit for a 500-boat marina in Saanichton Bay Monday despite warnings from native Indians that development is contrary to the James Douglas Treaty.    Council’s action paves the way for a request for a building permit by Saanichton Marina Ltd.    The area has been zoned for marina use for 16 years.    “The Indian people of Saanich demand that you respect the terms of the treaty,” said Tsawout band manager Earl Claxton.     “In return for making lands available for non-Indian settlement, including the lands where this council is debating [...]

Times Colonist: June 27, 2014 > FROM A1: SUPREME COURT RULING ON ABORIGINAL LAND TITLES For Island First Nations, a 'game-changer' SARAH PETRESCU and LINDSAY KINES Times Colonist A landmark Supreme Court of Canada ruling Thursday could set a significant precedent for Vancouver Island First Nations.    The ruling, which for the first time recognizes a First Nations' right to a specific tract of land, has "huge implications" for the five bands that make up the Saanich (WSANEC) Nation, said Eric Pelkey, treaty officer for Tsawout First Nation.    "This means a lot to us. These are the same issues we are [...]

Collaboration Between Nations Key To Reclaiming Land Rights The W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council is celebrating the victories of BC First Nations who have reclaimed land-based rights in shared territories. Shown above, Musqueam Indian Band, Squamish Nation, and Tsleil-Waututh Nation sign a historic collaboration agreement with Vancouver’s UNDRIP Task Force  Challenges in working with colonial bodies to reclaim land rights Historically, colonial bodies have failed to acknowledge Indigenous perspectives on land ownership, rights, and land use. Where colonial bodies rely on rigidly defined property lines to determine who “owns” land, Indigenous understandings of who can access shared and overlapping territories is [...]

Salmon Habitat & Killer Whales At Increased Risk Due to Ongoing Malahat Expansion: W̱SÁNEĆ Nation Member Protests Carl Olsen - ZȺWIZUT, a W̱SÁNEĆ Nation member has literally taken to the streets. Every Tuesday since March, he stands along the Malahat Highway to raise awareness about the impacts of ongoing construction on the salmon spawning in Goldstream Provincial Park. “Under the (Douglas) Treaty, this stream is protected because we have a right to fish in this stream, but we also have a right to hunt and fish as formerly as well as protect it. That comes first. I have the [...]

Two years of discussions have culminated in a just-signed working arrangement with the Province of BC.  A new Letter of Understanding (LOU) between the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council and the Province of BC is an agreement to have the kinds of discussions necessary for achieving lasting reconciliation.  The LOU is a meaningful first step in attaining the kinds of policy changes necessary to effectively improve the issues most important to members of the W̱SÁNEĆ Nation. This work will include seeking to clarify shared understandings of the Douglas Treaties, and how to move forward together.  “This Letter of Understanding signals an [...]

ÍY, SȻÁĆEL SIÁM NE SĆÁLEĆE This article was originally crafted as a response to concerns expressed by community members on the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council (WLC) page regarding WLC discussions with Government on W̱SÁNEĆ people's inherent, and Douglas Treaty rights. The response became too long to post on social media so this article aims to answer some of those concerns and highlights some complexities of the important work regarding W̱SÁNEĆ inherent rights. Recently, I have found this information to be more critical, and am called to share this perspective with the broader W̱SÁNEĆ community. This article contains an analysis of the [...]

Foraging First Nations class disrupted by police Students ordered to drop knives, sparking protest JUDITH LAVOIE Times Colonist An outdoor class on traditional First Nations practices came to an abrupt end this week after police arrived and told students to drop the knives they were using to forage for roots and plants.    High school students from Lau,Welnew Tribal School were shaken by the incident at Centennial Park in Central Saanich. A Facebook group set up to protest police actions immediately drew almost 2,000 supporters.    However, Central Saanich police defended their response, saying they needed to ensure park users were safe [...]

Chief threatens suit over road Tseycum leader wants money and land for paved-over gravesites on scenic route in North Saanich. It's all about respect, he says. JUDITH LAVOIE Times Colonist The Tseycum First Nation is asking for money and land in exchange for allowing West Saanich Road traffic to continue running unimpeded through the North Saanich reserve.    West Saanich Road was built over Tseycum gravesites and the band hasn't been properly compensated, said Tseycum Chief Vern Jacks.    The band is talking about suing the provincial government, or even digging up the road to rebury ancestors, he said.    Jacks has a [...]

Natives appeal case VICTORIA – Two native men are appealing a precedent-setting decision outlawing pit-lamping – the use of lights to hunt game at night.    Ivan Morris and Carl Olson, of the Saanich First Nation were caught using a flashlight to spot and shoot what turned out to be a decoy deer near Youbou in 1996.    The B.C. Supreme Court rejected an earlier appeal that the 1852 Douglas Treaty allows aboriginals to hunt at night with lights.  Their latest appeal will be heard in the B.C. Court of Appeal. RECENT POSTS How are we doing? [...]