Resource World Magazine

EPILOGUE David D uva l Sensible development policies in Canadian north key to aboriginal employment and welfare B ased on newspaper coverage of road blockages, sit-ins and legal challenges among others, one could easily believe that Canada���s First Nation���s peoples are universally opposed to any form of industrial development on their traditional territories. While that is arguably the case for many native groups in Canada, the Skii km Lax Ha band near Hazelton, BC has sought to embrace development on their traditional territories. Even so, consensus among native groups over resource development in particular ��� both pro and con ��� is hardly uniform. The Skii km Lax H band is pro-development for practical rather than ideological reasons; they want to create employment opportunities for their members. The main goal is to alleviate poverty and the negative social consequences associated with it. British Columbia is home to 203 First Nations and approximately 30 different tribal groupings, representing an estimated indigenous population of 196,000 or about 4.6% of the total population in BC. While some are located within or near large population centres (Vancouver being a notable example) the majority are dispersed in less accessible parts of the province where the exploitation of natural resources is the only significant employment option. In a landmark court decision in 1997, the Supreme Court of Canada confirmed that the Gitxsan First Nation���s rights and title to its traditional lands were inextinguishable, setting the stage for increased native participation in the provincial economy. The Gitxsan���s territories encompass an area of approximately 53,000 km2 from the basin of the upper Skeena River from about Legate Creek to the Skeena���s headwaters and its surrounding tributaries. Since that historic decision, the Gitxsan and other First Nations Groups have pushed for a larger share of the economic activity 54 www.resourceworld.com taking place within their traditional territories. Almost two years ago, the Gitxsan Development Corporation was formed, creating an opportunity for the Gitxsan people to benefit more effectively from the natural resources located on their lands. Smaller bands like the Skii km Lax Ha, which claims the headwaters of the Nass River in its traditional territory, have followed the Gitxsan���s lead, forming native-owned contracting companies including Tsetsaut Ventures Ltd. which was co-founded by the band���s chief negotiator, Darlene Simpson and her husband a few years back. Just recently, the band endorsed two, early stage, development projects: Pretium Resources��� Brucejack Project 65 km north of Stewart in northwestern BC and Castle Resources proposal to reopen the former Granduc Copper Mine, also near Stewart. Tsetsaut Ventures claims to be the largest employer in the Hazelton area with 100 employees on the company���s payroll and more wanting to join up. In addition to providing supply trucks, excavators and earthmovers, the company has the capacity to manage work camps, build core boxes, construct mine buildings, provide cooks, first-aid attendants, geo-technicians and environmental monitors. About 40% of the company���s staff are non native. Last July the Gitxsan Development Corporation announced that it had entered into a joint venture agreement with Brinkman Forests Ltd. to clear and prepare 41 km of right-of-way for the Northwest Transmission Line (NTL) which traverses Skii km Lax Ha Nation. An underlying agreement with the Skii km Lax Ha Nation facilitated the negotiated agreement with Brinkman and created much needed jobs for the Gitxsan people. The NTL is an approximately 344-km, 287 kilovolt transmission line between Skeena substation (near Terrace) and a new substation to be built near Bob Quinn Lake. It is intended to provide a reliable supply of clean power to potential industrial developments in the area; a secure interconnection point for clean generation projects; and facilitate the interconnection of the community of Iskut to the power grid so that community is no longer relying on diesel generation. BC Hydro predicts that the NTL and other planned industrial projects in northwestern BC will generate significant economic development over the coming decade along with good paying jobs for native communities. Infrastructure projects such as this are the key to opening Canada���s often neglected northern communities, much of them native. But what���s really missing in Canada is a comprehensive country wide strategy to create economic opportunities in the north for natives and non-natives alike. A key deterrent to development is the fact that companies operating within the law are often held hostage by special interest groups who are either anti-development or use companies as pawns to leverage land claim settlements with the Federal government ��� at the Canadian taxpayer���s expense. Far too much money is spent on legal disputes which only benefits high priced lawyers working out of comfortable offices in major population centres. Internal strife within the native community is also hampering job creation and the improvement of living standards. In early February, the Hereditary Chiefs office of the Gitxsan nation gave lay-off notices to staff members until the end of March as a means of preserving funds to defend themselves against legal action from some of their own band members. It���s an endless cycle that will surely create more losers than winners. n MARCH 2013

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