Resource sector about to witness new era of native empowerment – by Barbara Yaffe (Vancouver Sun – January 22, 2014)

http://www.vancouversun.com/index.html

It all began back in October 2006 when an 82-year-old aboriginal man took his folding chair to a Canfor logging road in northeastern B.C., and got comfortable.

George Behn’s quiet act of protest has led to another signal from the courts that, when resource developments challenge treaty rights, the latter almost always prevails.

Author Bill Gallagher has been documenting aboriginal legal challenges involving development projects going back to 1985. He categorizes the one involving Behn, which concluded last month, as: “Native legal win No. 190.”

He compares the litany of aboriginal victories to a popcorn maker: “The rulings came slowly at first; now they’re at full tilt.” Gallagher believes the court cases tell a story of continued ignorance and naiveté on the part of both business and government.

“It’s as if the (aboriginal) winning streak has made little or no impact on their thinking, in spite of the fact many resource projects have crashed and burned along the way.”

In the Behn case, B.C. taxpayers are now responsible for a $1.75-million payout to a logging company because the Crown failed to sufficiently consult the Fort Nelson First Nation regarding its treaty rights.

Behn had two trap lines in the area where Moulton Contracting planned to log. Thus, when Moulton showed up with its logging equipment, there was Behn, in his folding chair.

The court found the government had granted the timber licences to Moulton without consulting the Fort Nelson First Nation “in a manner sufficient to maintain the honour of the Crown.”

Provincial officials had been warned by Behn that he would thwart any logging, but only after the ministry had granted the timber licences.

The province did not warn Moulton about a potential problem until after it had moved its equipment to the site.

Moulton had not sought its own assurances from the B.C. government about prior consultations with local aboriginals.

For the rest of this article, click here: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Barbara+Yaffe+Resource+sector+about+witness+native+empowerment/9418598/story.html