First Nations Speak Out on Forestry Certification and
Eco-Standards in British Columbia

PRESS RELEASE

Forestry Eco-Certification Requires First Nation Consent or will be Discredited

(Kamloops, Shuswap Territory/February 14, 2000) The Interior Alliance responded today to the January 14, 2000, announcement by the Minister of Forests, David Zirnhelt, and previous announcements by members of the forest industry, in particular, Weyerhaeuser and Interfor, regarding the three types of forest eco-certification currently planned for application in British Columbia. The three groups involved in developing and approving the criteria and standards for forestry certification schemes are as follows:

• Forest Stewardship Council.

• Canadian Standards Association.

• International Standards Organization.

The Interior Alliance's position is that the lands in the entire south, central interior of British Columbia have never been the subject of a Treaty between the Crown and Aboriginal Nations, and is therefore subject to the unceded, unsurrendered Aboriginal title and rights of the Interior Alliance Nations, as such, a central requirement for any forestry eco-certification scheme will be documented proof of Indigenous Consent. The Aboriginal title and rights of Aboriginal Nations in Canada are constitutionally protected by section 35 of the Constitution Act 1982.

Any attempt to circumvent this requirement will be discredited with buyers and consumers through the "International Forest Market Campaign", currently underway by the Interior Alliance, the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, the Assembly of First Nations and the American based, National Congress of American Indians.

Chief Arthur Manuel, Chairman of the Interior Alliance, stated today "the Government of British Columbia and forestry companies, such as Weyerhaeuser, can hold all of the public dialogue meetings they wish, to try and define sustainable forest management, but unless and until, any forestry operation can show documented proof of Indigenous consent, our Alliance will be out there actively discrediting provincially authorized forestry operations to domestic and international markets and consumers."

Chief Manuel also said "the simple fact is, forest products coming from our Aboriginal title territories without our consent are stolen goods, and furthermore, we believe that the B.C. Forest Act and Forest Practices Code promote unsustainable forest practices. Since the early 1900's, our Elders have witnessed the destruction of our environment due to commercial industrial logging and the resultant loss of biodiversity that goes with such destructive logging practices. In fact, the Upper Adams Salmon run was entirely destroyed due to logging in the mid-1900's. To this day, we are observing destructive forestry practices, and in our view, the provincial government and the B.C. forest industry are only trying to manipulate eco-certification for propaganda purposes. So we are tired of being ignored while our Aboriginal title territories are mismanaged by others. We want a decisive voice in land and resource management in the south, central interior of British Columbia, so that our Aboriginal title, rights, knowledge and values are recognized, accommodated and implemented through the relevant statutes and regulations. Until then, we remain committed to internationally exposing government and industry of their complicity in the theft of our timber and the mismanagement of our forests."