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Land title meeting assured development a ‘go’, but sustainability is bottom line
Original Publication Date: July 10, 2014 2:46AM
Publication Updated: January 8, 2025 10:42PM
PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. – About 100 people crowded into a hall in Prince George, B.C., for a meeting to consider the effects of a recent court ruling granting land title to the Tsilhqot’in (sill-ko-TEEN’) First Nation.
Words such as landmark, watershed and game changer, have been applied to the Supreme Court of Canada decision, while policy makers and legal experts agree fallout from the court case will take years to resolve.
Panellists, including lawyer Mavis Erickson, told the gathering the decision will not halt resource development, but she warns business and industry must understand they need consent, not just consultation, before a project begins.
She says the high court ruling, released June 26, means the landscape is changing at a greater rate than ever before for First Nations.
A paper published by the Fraser Institute argues recognition of aboriginal title will create uncertainty over current and future development projects in British Columbia.
The Institute claims the Tsilhqot’in ruling could suspend or shut down projects that are already underway on land where aboriginal title has been claimed.
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