CSTC LUP Vision

"TAKE CARE OF THE LAND & THE LAND WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU"

During the CSTC AGA in July 2006 a resolution was passed to accept the CSTC Land Use Vision, in-princple.  This Vision provides CSTC and its member First Nations with a starting point for developing a Territorial Stewardship Plan (TSP) at the regional scale.  Many of the member CSTC nations are also engaging in developing their own land use visions for their territory, all of which will be connected to the CSTC regional TSP.  There remains considerable work to do in this area, but there are many examples from other First Nations in BC and throughout Canada that have compiled their own land use plans, and provides the CSTC and the BC government with some examples of how First Nations view the stewardship of their lands.

Excerpts from the CSTC LUP Vision:

" This Land Use Vision document represents a starting point for the Carrier and Sekani goal of pursuing long-term land use planning in the territories. Land use planning is one avenue that our nations have chosen to protect our land and defend our rights. It may complement and support work being done in treaty negotiations, and a CSTC Land Use Plan may be incorporated into a final agreement. However, a primary purpose of the Land Use Vision is to establish the role First Nations of the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council in land use planning processes. This document is intended to breathe life into the legal rights and title we possess, and to notify governments and industry of our intentions to embark on a land use planning process. A vision is a starting point for planning— a statement of principles, a proposed framework, and background information on the legal and governance context from which our duty to plan land use activities arises."

"In treaty negotiations, and in the pursuit of a CSTC Land Use Plan, our First  Nations maintain a government-to-government approach to all negotiations with either the federal or provincial Crown. As First Nations who have never ceded territorial nor political sovereignty to the Crown, we seek a reconciliation between and co-existence of Dakelh title and authority and Crown title and authority. Reconciling these two sovereignties must move us beyond the current reality of Indian reserves, poverty, and dependence.

Currently, the governance of our people is in a transitional state. Our members are represented, to varying degrees through the following political bodies:

  • Keyoh and Clan
  • Band Council
  • Tribal Council

Many of our bands have systems in place to harmonize the Keyoh and Clan system with the local band councils, which were created by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC). Some bands are looking to establish this relationship more firmly. For example, many of our members call for a council of Keyoh holders and Hereditary Chiefs to oversee and maintain veto power over the band council, who would maintain responsibility for the day-to-day business of the community. Alongside this suggestion is a call for a custom election process to elect Chief and Council—one that would follow Bahl’ats rather than federal government rules. While there is a diversity of interpretations of Keyoh today, the emphasis placed repeatedly on its importance highlights the strength and perseverance of our traditional ties to the territories. There are, and have been numerous approaches to achieving the same goal for our people: ensuring our community wellbeing and protecting our land. Our First Nations have entered into negotiations with industry, both levels of government, brought our concerns to international bodies, and exercised direct action to protect our land and our communities."

"Our oral history represents the values placed on the land,  water and air by our people. Our management objectives are guided by the philosophy that we are part of the land. Our living and our lives come out of the land. The land is part of our family and we a part of the land. We base our Land Use Vision on the following general principles:

  1. Take care of the land and the land will take care of you. 
  2. All life forms are interconnected and sacred. 
  3. Sharing and coexistence are the cornerstones of Carrier Sekani resource use. 
  4. Territory is not a commodity to be bought and sold — Dakelh people hold both rights and responsibilities to ensure territorial integrity and ongoing stewardship and use. 
  5. Dakelh teachings on land use and ownership are passed from generation to generation. 
  6. Healing: A tremendous amount of work is required in the community to heal the battered body, mind and spirit from years of social, cultural, political and economic dislocation. 
  7. Rebuilding: With healing comes rebuilding of family, language, economic base, political institutions, and control of the territory and resources. 
  8. Reconciliation: Discussions with government and churches to help our healing process of forgiving and reconciling. 
  9. Accommodation: The respective interests of our First Nations, federal and provincial governments need to be discussed, defined, and resolved through negotiations.

These teachings have been maintained throughout all our negotiations with government and industry, and guide our land use planning process."

DRAFT - CSTC Land Use Vision - July 2006 (403 KB)