Support for Halalt Protective Blockade

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Halalt First Nation

Chiefs stand in support of Halalt’s water fight

March 10, 2010

Halalt First Nation received support from provincial and national chiefs on Wednesday in its campaign to
protect the Chemainus River aquifer.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mkiemele/sets/72157623596589944/


Leaders from eight Island First Nations met with Grand Chief Doug Kelly of the BC First Nations Summit who
called for BC and the municipality of North Cowichan to review a decision to pump water from the aquifer to
supply the town of Chemainus.

“There is growing support from Halalt’s neighbours as well as provincially and nationally,” Kelly said during a
mid-day meeting at Halalt. “I urge the province to engage in a dialogue with Halalt. Let's settle this outside of
court. Let's sit down and settle this like good neighbours and resolve the problem in a way that works for all
concerned.”

Support also came from National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo of the Assembly of First Nations who said: “I
offer my support to Chief James Thomas and the community of Halalt First Nation as they pursue meaningful
consultation regarding the use of natural resources in their traditional territory.”

Meanwhile, Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) said: “The UBCIC is
calling upon all First Nations and the general public to assist Halalt, in any manner possible, to protect the
ecology of the Chemainus River.”

The Halalt community has been blockading Chemainus Road, which splits the reserve, since Feb. 25. Last
August, Halalt filed for a judicial review in BC’s Supreme Court of the process that allowed an environmental
assessment certificate to North Cowichan to pump water from the aquifer in order to supply the town more than
7 kms away. The court hearing is scheduled for late May.

Chief Kelly accused the municipality and the province of “muddying its own waters” through logging practices
that caused turbidity. “There is already a water source for North Cowichan and that water source has always
met their needs,” he said of the current surface water supply the feeds the town.

“Halalt is rightfully concerned that the way North Cowichan manages its water,” he said, adding that fisheries
as well as title and rights issues are all relevant.

“There are lots of concerns the Halalt has and wants to make sure the water is managed properly.”

Halalt draws its own water from the aquifer and also supplies the nearby Penelakut reserve and other non-native
neighbours.

Chief Thomas said that there were five main issues that needed to be settled before the blockade ends:
1- Partnership with Halalt in a comprehensive watershed management plan for the Chemainus River;
2- A policy that would ensure that Halalt’s hands were on the tap if pumping goes ahead;
3- Restoring a Chinook plan for the river;
4- Development of a five-year salmon enhancement plan; and
5- A revenue-sharing plan with regard to water sales.

“Our community has silently watched as the many resources in our traditional territory have either been
depleted or disappeared,” he said. “Water is about all we have left and we cannot be silent any longer.”
Chief Atleo agreed. “A true government-to-government relationship will respect the duty to consult with First
Nations prior to development on traditional territories. As stewards of the land, First Nations have an
environmental responsibility. This is why it is so important to work together, as it is our people and our
communities directly impacted by development.

“I encourage all levels of government to work with First Nations to ensure free, prior and informed consent
when it comes to economic development impacting our territories.”

Also in attendance at Wednesday’s meeting were:
Chief Vern Jack, Tseycum First Nation;
Chief Ivan Wayne Morris, Tsartlip First Nation;
Chief Richard Thomas, Lyackson First Nation;
Chief John Elliott, Stzu’minus First Nation;
Chief Trish Cassidy, Qualicum First Nation;
Chief Earl Jack, Penelekut First Nation;
Councillor Ron Alphonse of Cowichan Tribes; and
Councillor Gene August Sylvester, Penelekut First Nation.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mkiemele/

For more information, please contact Halalt councillor Tyler George at 250- 210-0256.
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AFN National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo Supports the Call for Meaningful Consultation and Accommodation with Halalt First Nation

OTTAWA, March 10, 2010

Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo supports Halalt First Nation in their call on the Government of British Columbia and the District of North Cowichan to work together to develop a long-term watershed management agreement regarding the Chemainus River Aquifer.

"In addition to the support voiced by many First Nation leaders in British Columbia today, as National Chief of the AFN and on behalf of the AFN executive, I offer my support to Chief James Thomas and the community of Halalt First Nation as they pursue meaningful consultation regarding the use of natural resources in their traditional territory.

Some progress has been made through the new relationship between the British Columbia government and First Nations in BC, toward respect, recognition and reconciliation of Aboriginal rights and title, but we have a ways to go. A true government-to-government relationship will respect the duty to consult with First Nations prior to development on traditional territories.

As stewards of the land, First Nations have an environmental responsibility. This is why it's so important to work together, as it is our people and our communities directly impacted by development.

I encourage all levels of government to work with First Nations to ensure free, prior and informed consent when it comes to economic development impacting our territories."

The Assembly of First Nations is the national organization representing First Nations citizens in Canada.

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For Immediate Release March 10, 2010

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs stated “When a community is compelled to protect their territory and the health of their community, the UBCIC will stand firmly beside them. The Halalt First Nation is a community fighting to protect the Chemainus River and the runs of salmon that they have depended upon for generations. The UBCIC is calling upon all First Nations and the general public to assist the Halalt First Nation, in any manner possible, to protect the ecology of the Chemainus River.”

The Halalt First Nation is asking for a judicial review of a water project of the District of North Cowichan. The District of North Cowichan have continued construction of the water project. On February 25, the Halalt First Nation blocked the portion of Chemainus Road that runs through their community to draw attention to protest the lack of consultation. The Halalt First Nation held an emergency General Band Meeting where Elders and band members unanimously supported the continuation of their protest to protect the Chemainus River and their Title and Rights.

“Water is the issue. Across this province, we are seeing Indigenous Peoples defending their territory and the health of their communities. Like the Halalt First Nation, the Okanagan Indian Band is protecting the Browns Creek watershed, the source of their drinking water. Like the Halalt First Nation, the Tsilhqot’in are fighting to protect their territory by opposing the draining of Teztan Biny by Taseko Mines,” said Grand Chief Phillip. “Like the victory of the Tsay Keh Nay, who prevented the destruction of Amazay Lake from the proposed Kemess North project, the determination and the knowledge that their actions are for the health of their children’s children, will ensure that the Halalt First Nation will prevail.”

Grand Chief Phillip concluded “As Indigenous Peoples, we are increasingly alarmed when third party interests are granted access to the resources of our territories, especially fresh water, government and the courts protect those corporate interests at the expense of our Aboriginal Title and Rights and of the environmental values that many British Columbians hold dear. The UBCIC fully supports a process to resolve this situation that protects the Halalt First Nation’s community drinking water, the Chemainus River and their Title and Rights.”

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Media inquires:
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, Union of BC Indian Chiefs
Phone: (250) 490-5314
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BACKGROUND: http://www.youtube.com/v/y3N1-zF6Z_E

http://www.youtube.com/v/Im0Zgb3SYZM

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Halalt First Nation

Road blockade down on Chemainus Road

March 11, 2010

Traffic was moving through Halalt First Nation on Chemainus Road on Thursday morning for the first time in
two weeks.

That happened after the Halalt community met on Wednesday evening and agreed to take down its blockade.
Chief James Thomas said his community members made the move after hearing about a two-hour meeting
between Halalt, the provincial government and the Municipality of North Cowichan that afternoon.

“We accomplished what we set out to do,” Chief Thomas said of the agreement that all parties will again meet
with ten days to start discussions on a watershed management plan around the Chemainus River.

“We acted quickly and in good faith,” he said of the removal of the blockade. “But if North Cowichan doesn’t
move forward, the blockade goes back up.”
North Cowichan council will meet at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, March 12 to consider its next steps.

Chief Thomas said he hopes the a comprehensive study and plan for the Chemainus River watershed will be
part of a process that will see Halalt, North Cowichan and other stakeholders working together to resolve issues.
“A watershed plan will have to address things like North Cowichan’s official community plan and how growth
and development impacts the water supply, our fisheries and the entire ecosystem.”

He said Halalt remains firm in its demand that the First Nation always has its hands on the tap when it comes to
North Cowichan pumping water from the aquifer to supply the town of Chemainus.

Wednesday’s agreement included a phased approach to watershed management by developing an agenda that
focuses on areas of concern within Halalt’s traditional territory that also lies within North Cowichan’s
boundaries.

The discussions will not address matters that are the subject of Halalt's judicial review application in BC’s
Supreme Court regarding the environmental assessment certificate for the Chemainus River aquifer wells
project.

For more information, please contact
Chief James Thomas at 250-246-4736 or
Councillor Tyler George at 250-210-0256
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Also of interest on this topic . . . http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=11104#p11104

BACKGROUND on the Blockade: http://www.youtube.com/v/y3N1-zF6Z_E