2009

13 December 2009 Douglas Treaties Being Ignored Saanichton Vancouver Island British Columbia - Re:  "Rights group to investigate native land claims," 2 Dec 2009.   It is encouraging to see that a body of some recognition, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, is willing to hear a complaint from First Nations in B.C., especially pertaining to the B.C. treaty process.   The article misses the fact that the area from the Malahat south is the territory of the Douglas Treaty Nations of the 1850s. The E&N Railway land grant takes up lands of the Songhees, Esquimalt, Tsawout, Tsartlip, Pauquachin, Tseycum, and Malahat First Nations.   The Saanich First Nations have an existing and federally registered interest in the Goldstream and Malahat areas, which the E&N corridor traverses. The Douglas Treaty of north and south Saanich states that "our village sites and enclosed fields will be protected" and "we will be able to hunt and is as formally", referring to our way of life prior to 1852. This has not been lived up to.   No one hears the plight of the Saanich Nations pertaining to the ongoing derogation and violations of our Douglas Treaty. The spirit and intent of the Douglas Treaties have not been lived up to, yet there is no remedy except suing Canada, which usually results in bankrupting individual First Nations who make those attempts.   Our complaints to the prime minister, the premier, and other elected representatives have resulted in referrals to the B.C. treaty process. They tell us they have no mechanism or authority to deal with Douglas Treaty or pre-Confederation treaty matters. It is a treadmill that goes in circles.   Eric Pelkey - Tsawout Treaty Office.

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