A group of tribal nations in Alaska has gone to B.C. Supreme Court demanding their voice be heard on major mining projects in the province’s northwest.
They claim the British Columbia government has failed to consult them on major mining projects proposed for the region — some of which have been identified for fast-tracking by the provincial and federal governments against the backdrop of the trade war with the United States.
"Our main goal is protect the rivers, protect the salmon, protect the culture,” said Guy Archibald, executive director of the Southeast Alaska Indigenous Transboundary Commission (SEITC).
The commission represents 14 tribes, which include members of the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian, whose territory extends across both B.C. and Alaska.
Isn’t Alaska part of the US? Why are they fighting this in a Canadian court?
US citizens in Alaska don’t get a say in the affairs of another, sovereign nation like Canada.
There are treaties giving certain rights to First Nations/Native American groups that you don’t get from being a US citizen. One of those is the right to freely travel between the US and Canada for hunting and fishing on traditional lands. These are rights Canada recognized when they signed the Jay Treaty in 1794. I don’t know if that’s the exact treaty that would be used in this case, but the relationships between and the legal rights of Native Americans and First Nations aren’t always cut off at the border.
The tribes are, at least in paper, sovereign nations
And they’re suing Canada, not charging them with a criminal offense.
Are they marked on a map? Are they recognized by any other nation (not including by their own)?
If not, then they aren’t a nation.
Edit: Just to be clear, Canadian citizens DO have the right to challenge their government. American citizens, however, Don’t get a say in the matter. This is between Canada and IT’S citizens, not the citizens of another, entirely separate country.
The commission represents 14 tribes, which include members of the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian, whose territory extends across both B.C. and Alaska.
Seriously, dude didn’t even have to click the link before commenting. It was right there in the summary.
