A Vancouver Island First Nation whose people were the first to greet European explorers in the region almost 250 years ago is taking British Columbia to court, seeking title to their traditional territories and financial compensation.
Chief Mike Maquinna, a descendent of #ChiefMaquinna who met British explorer Capt. James Cook in 1776, says the claim in #BCSupremeCourt seeks to return decision-making, resource and ecological stewardship to the #Mowachaht / #Muchalalaht First Nation.
He says the province has been acting as the sole decision-making authority in the #GoldRiver / #Tahsis areas of northern #VancouverIsland especially with regards to the forest resource, without the consent of his nation.
Hereditary Chief Jerry Jack says the claim filed today seeks title to about 66,000 hectares of land from #FriendlyCove to Tahsis in the north and #ButtleLake in the east, and an undisclosed amount of financial compensation.
#BCpoli #CDNpoli #IndigenousBC #BCFirstNations #NativeCanada #BCNDP #IndigenousCanada #IndigenousRights #HumanRights #GovernmentOfCanada #NoConsent #Landback #FirstNations #TruthBeforeReconciliation #Reparations #Decolonization #Colonialism #IndigenousJustice #UNDRIP #Legal #BCLaw #CanadianLaw #Lawsuit #Justice
