Kaska, premier both disappointed
The Kaska are proclaiming a moratorium on all resource development across their entire traditional territory in southeast Yukon.
The Kaska are proclaiming a moratorium on all resource development across their entire traditional territory in southeast Yukon.
The proclamation was announced this morning in a press release.
It was signed by Chief Liard McMillan of the Liard First Nation of Watson Lake; Chief Brian Ladue of the Ross River Dena Council; and Chief George Millar of the Kaska Dena Council of Lower Post, B.C.
The release says the only exception will be made for companies which already have agreements with the Kaska and conclude agreements with the Kaska in the future.
The chiefs maintain they were forced into asserting the moratorium by what they describe as the unwillingness of Premier Darrell Pasloski to sit down and resolve matters.
“Unfortunately, it seems consistent with this government’s approach that they will try to march on with mining and oil and gas development in Kaska Territory without involving Kaska,” Ladue said in the press release.
“This will not happen, and in the coming months there will be clear evidence of this demonstrated by Kaska people.”
All three chiefs expressed frustration with the government and what they maintain is a preference for confrontation, not negotiation.
Pasloski, on the other hand, said at noon today from Vancouver he is disappointed with the position taken by the chiefs.
Providing economic opportunities for the residents of southeast Yukon is his priority, he told the Star.
To that end, he’s had four lengthy meetings with the Liard First Nation chief in the last three weeks, Pasloski pointed out.
He said he met with McMillan, Ladue and Miller again Monday in Vancouver during the Mineral Exploration Roundup.
“The meeting was a very lengthy meeting,” Pasloski said.
“I thought it was a constructive meeting; we talked about some specific issues, and I am disappointed that was their take-away.”
Pasloski said he spoke recently during his trip to Watson Lake about how the southeast Yukon holds tremendous economic development opportunities in forestry, oil and gas and mining.
“I firmly believe the southeast can be a leader in the territory’s economy in the next decade,” he said. “This is about the people.”
Pasloski said the residents of southeast Yukon deserve to know they will have opportunities for jobs, and students need to know there will be a future in the area as they grow up.
“My priority is southeast Yukon,” he said. “It is a priority.”
The Ross River Dena Council and the Liard First Nation are two of three Yukon First Nations without land claim and self-government agreements. The 11 other First Nations have reached settlements.
The Yukon government amended the Oil and Gas Act during the fall sitting of the legislature. It removed what was a requirement to obtain the Kaskas’ consent for any new oil and gas activity on their traditional territory in southeast Yukon.
The Kaska have promised legal action, maintaining the Pasloski government had no legal authority to remove the veto.
The consent requirement of veto, they argue, dates back to a 1997 agreement among the Kaska, the Yukon and Ottawa, and is still very much in effect regardless of the Yukon government’s view of the world.
A Yukon Court of Appeal decision in late December upheld the Kaskas’ argument that consultation with the Kaska is required before mineral claims are staked inside their traditional territory.
Both the territorial government and the Yukon Chamber of Mines argued such a system is unworkable because of the confidentiality companies require before staking new mineral claims.
The Yukon government has until Feb. 27 to decide whether it will ask the Supreme Court of Canada to hear an appeal in the case, though the highest court is under no obligation to hear one.
“The mantra of this government is to ignore the rights of its citizens, forcing First Nations down a path of roadblocks, legal action and confrontation,” McMillan said in this morning’s release.
“In the midst of growing First Nation unrest in Yukon and across the country, this comes on the heels of the Court of Appeal recognizing how the ‘free entry’ mining process is now illegal and infringes on the aboriginal rights and title of the Kaska.
“The premier met with us without offering any tangible action to resolve matters. Very disappointing.”
Chiefs Ladue and McMillan could not be reached for further comment this morning.
Just Say'in
Jan 29, 2013 at 8:39 pm
“Idle again” Nothing will change for these reserves until they embrace value added productive work for their communities and their people. Constantly looking for some way to obstruct until someone starts paying you for something going on in “Your Turf” rings of the Indian Mafia. It is no wonder these three bands have never agreed on a final agreement, they can’t agree on anything. It is also no wonder why they are having internal protests daily at their band offices, not everyone is happy with the leadership, or lack of. It is time to have some over site on what is happening with the money. How about Millions in housing money being spent on Hotels that are run into the ground in a couple of years and no idea where the money went. The best defense is a good offense.