Conversations That Matter: Understanding Indigenous rights and reconciliation
'Over the 27 years since the Delgamuukw decision, the relationship between First Nations and the government of Canada has changed — in some ways significantly. In others, not so much,' says Bruce McIvor, the author of 'Indigenous Rights in One Minute.'
The legal relationship took another step forward following the Haida decision in 2004. That decision led to changes in the way resource and infrastructure projects are approved and built.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was another milestone: first as a healing journey and second in establishing a record of Indigenous history in Canada. It recorded the mistreatment and trampling of rights of First Nations people and shared those stories with the entire country. The Commission heard testimony from 6,500 witnesses, which culminated in a call for 94 actions to further facilitate reconciliation.
Understanding and appreciating the unique legal and societal circumstances Indigenous people lived under and endured for more than 150 years is challenging, McIvor says.
'A big part of reconciliation is calling out misinformation and lies, getting to the truth so that we can have honest conversations. That was my motivation to write the book.'
McIvor joined a Conversation That Matters about what we all need to know in order to talk about reconciliation. See the video at vancouversun.com/tag/conversations-that-matter.
Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Miami Herald
17 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Protests continue over the construction of ‘Alligator Alcatraz' in the Everglades
Hundreds of people gathered in the heart of the Everglades on Saturday—signs raised and chants echoing—to protest 'Alligator Alcatraz,' a migrant detention center being built on a former airstrip in Big Cypress National Preserve. Demonstrators lined both sides of the narrow two-way road leading to the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, a remote landing strip just north of Tamiami Trail. The site, located in Miami-Dade County, is where Attorney General James Uthmeier and Governor Ron DeSantis have expedited construction of the controversial facility. According to officials, supply trucks have been arriving daily to have the center operational by next week. Read more: Meet the folks who live near 'Alligator Alcatraz' and call the Everglades home Dozens of trucks carrying supplies could be seen going in and out of the facility on Saturday as protesters waved their signs towards them. Signs included 'Protect the sacred' and 'Everglades Only,' while others called the construction of the detention center 'Crimes against humanity.' Described by authorities as 'temporary,' the 1,000-bed facility will primarily consist of large tents and trailers, designed to detain undocumented immigrants apprehended in Florida and beyond. Read more: 'Alligator Alcatraz': What you need to know about the Everglades detention camp Since the announcement, the project has faced sharp criticism from Indigenous leaders, environmental groups and members of the South Florida community. They argue that the detention center will damage critical wetlands, disrupt wildlife habitats, and undermine decades of restoration work. At the forefront of Saturday's demonstration was Betty Osceola, a Miccosukee tribe member and activist, who was raised in Big Cypress. Osceola told reporters that she is alarmed at the speed of construction on the detention center, especially when many people still recovering from past hurricanes haven't received comparable support or resources. She was troubled by the sheer amount of resources being funneled into the project and voiced concern about its environmental impact, warning that it could pave the way for permanent development on the land. Read more: Environmental groups file lawsuit over 'Alligator Alcatraz' in Florida Everglades On Friday, two environmental organizations—Friends of the Everglades and the Center for Biological Diversity—filed a lawsuit against federal, state, and county officials, alleging that construction began without proper environmental review or public input, in violation of required procedures.
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Yahoo
EU plans to add carbon credits to new climate goal, document shows
By Kate Abnett BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The European Commission is set to propose counting carbon credits bought from other countries towards the European Union's 2040 climate target, a Commission document seen by Reuters showed. The Commission is due to propose a legally binding EU climate target for 2040 on July 2. The EU executive had initially planned a 90% net emissions cut, against 1990 levels, but in recent months has sought to make this goal more flexible, in response to pushback from governments including Italy, Poland and the Czech Republic, concerned about the cost. An internal Commission summary of the upcoming proposal, seen by Reuters, said the EU would be able to use "high-quality international credits" from a U.N.-backed carbon credits market to meet 3% of the emissions cuts towards the 2040 goal. The document said the credits would be phased in from 2036, and that additional EU legislation would later set out the origin and quality criteria that the credits must meet, and details of how they would be purchased. The move would in effect ease the emissions cuts - and the investments required - from European industries needed to hit the 90% emissions-cutting target. For the share of the target met by credits, the EU would buy "credits" from projects that reduce CO2 emissions abroad - for example, forest restoration in Brazil - rather than reducing emissions in Europe. Proponents say these credits are a crucial way to raise funds for CO2-cutting projects in developing nations. But recent scandals have shown some credit-generating projects did not deliver the climate benefits they claimed. The document said the Commission will add other flexibilities to the 90% target, as Brussels attempts to contain resistance from governments struggling to fund the green transition alongside priorities including defence, and industries who say ambitious environmental regulations hurt their competitiveness. These include integrating credits from projects that remove CO2 from the atmosphere into the EU's carbon market so that European industries can buy these credits to offset some of their own emissions, the document said. The draft would also give countries more flexibility on which sectors in their economy do the heavy lifting to meet the 2040 goal, "to support the achievement of targets in a cost-effective way". A Commission spokesperson declined to comment on the upcoming proposal, which could still change before it is published next week. EU countries and the European Parliament must negotiate the final target and could amend what the Commission proposes.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Yahoo
First Nations have plan to move problem grizzly but need go-ahead from B.C.
Three coastal First Nations have worked together to come up with a plan to move a grizzly bear that's been causing problems on Texada Island — just off B.C.'s Sunshine Coast — but so far, the province has not signed off. On June 13, the B.C. government said there was no "kill order" for the bear — but also that it was "not a candidate for relocation," because it had already been moved twice, before returning to human-inhabited areas. On Texada, the community of about 1,000 people has been divided on whether the bear should be killed or removed or left alone. But Erik Blaney — a legislator with the Tla'amin Nation — thinks the solution is to trap the bear and move it about one hundred kilometres northwest to Bute Inlet, where it can live with other coastal grizzlies and be far enough away that it can't swim back. Previously, the bear was relocated to Jervis Inlet, which is approximately 75 kilometres away. Blaney said he has worked with his nation, the neighbouring shíshálh Nation, and the Homalco First Nation to craft a plan for the relocation. Texada Island lies near the intersection of Tla'amin and shíshálh territory. Stewardship guardians from the nations would work together to trap the bear, which would then be moved by boat, and possibly plane, to Orford Bay in Bute Inlet, which is in Homalco territory. "We have the plan; we have the funding to do it. What we don't have is the province's assistance and backing," said Erik Blaney. He said they have been meeting with provincial officials and have some support, but have also been told that what they're asking is outside current policy — and that to capture and move the bear without a permit could lead to charges under the Wildlife Act. But he sees this as an opportunity for Tla'amin and shíshálh —both of which have self-governing agreements — to look after their lands and waters. "This really shows unity among coastal guardian programs that are doing exactly, you know, what we should, which is protecting the natural resources and wildlife within our territories." Homalco Chief Darren Blaney, who is a cousin of Erik Blaney, thinks it's a great plan. "When Erik called me to see about this bear that could potentially get killed, I give it a chance in Bute," he told CBC News. The Homalco have a tourism company that runs grizzly tours from Vancouver Island up to Bute Inlet. "We have an area that's about maybe five kilometres where the salmon gets into and we get about 50 to 60 grizzlies that come in there when the salmon runs are going," said Darren Blaney. He said it's a place where the grizzlies fatten up for winter. "So yeah, it's a good place for them and it's good for our tourism." The Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship said late Friday afternoon in an email that it is aware of the plan and that there are ongoing conversations between First Nations and the Grizzly Bear Foundation about it.
