Executive Council has directed that a referendum be held to determine the opinion of Huu-ay-aht citizens with respect to the proposed Huu-ay-aht Sarita LNG Project.
The referendum question is: “Do you approve the proposed Huu-ay-aht Sarita LNG Project?”
For a copy of the complete public notice follow this link: Public Notice for People’s Assembly
To read the executive motion follow this link: Referendum Motion
Notice is hereby given pursuant to the Huu-ay-aht Election Act that the preliminary Voters’ List for the March 25, 2017 Referendum as authorized under the Referendum and Recall Act by Executive Council will be available for public inspection from February 2, 2017 until the close of voting on March 25, 2017.
Those wishing to inspect the Voters’ List must agree in writing not to use or disclose the information on the list except for purposes of the Election Act.
Eligible voters may request corrections to the Voters’ List using a prescribed form until February 16, 2017 An Official Voters list will be published on February 23, 2017.
Eligible voters who do not wish to have their contact information publicly disclosed must notify the Election Commissioner prior to February 2, 2017.
This year, Huu-ay-aht First Nations wants to erect a new canoe at their Anacla Government Office, and so it has issued a request for proposals for this project. This was previously posted as a totem carving project.
This program was designed to respond to these local labour market needs by providing participants with industry-recognized certificates and experience developing and sharing cultural stories and practices that are approved by their communities.
The main objective of this project is to facilitate a carving project where a Huu-ay-aht apprentice, Executive Council, Ḥaw̓iiḥ, Huu-ay-aht administration and Anacla community members will carve a canoe together under the guidance of a Master Carver.
The final product of this project is to have a carved canoe that can be displayed near the Huu-ay-aht Anacla Government Office. The goals of the project is to create community cohesion, provide a team building activity for HFN government and staff, and begin training a new carver. Additional objectives are that participants will learn from the Master Carver as they give guidance and direction on how to use the tools, cultural and logistical items for consideration, techniques, history involved with carving, and the symbolism of the art work.
For more information, please refer to the complete Request for Proposals – Carving Project, 2017. For more information, please contact Kathy Waddell, Director of Community Services, kathy.w@huuayaht.org or by telephone at 250-723-0100.
On Friday, Huu-ay-aht First Nations issued a press release reacting to news that the Canadian government has decided to appeal the Specific Claims Tribunal decision awarding more than $13.8 million in compensation to Huu-ay-aht First Nations for breaches of duty Canada committed between 1948 and 1969.
Chief Councillor Robert J. Dennis Sr. called the decision “outrageous,” adding, “Part of our reconciliation to this long-term dispute was to seek fair compensation. We trusted Canada’s judicial processes to achieve this, but we are extremely disappointed to hear this will be further prolonged. It is unfair to our Nation.”
Since issuing the release (link to full release), Huu-ay-aht has received support from a number of notable sources, including Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, MLA Scott Fraser, and Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council Vice-President Ken Watts.
Grand Chief Phillip said, “The Minister (Justice Minister Jody Wilson) fully understands why Canada needs to honour the Tribunal’s decisions, yet she chooses to go against her own words. Taking an action like this against one Nation signals Canada’s unwillingness to pursue reconciliation with Indigenous Nations, despite the Prime Minister’s promises”.
“Canada, who has all the resources, continues to exploit the same imbalance of power that first gave rise to this claim almost 70 years ago. Unless Canada withdraws this application, it will again be choosing denial, conflict, and litigation over fair process, resolution, and upholding the Honour of the Crown.” (For copies of the full letter of support from the NTC click here.)
The release issued by the NTC states that they fully agree that, “a judicial review is unfair, and prolonging this clear decision in favour of Huu-ay-aht is a waste of taxpayers’ money.”
It went on to say, “The NTC is calling upon Minister Wilson-Raybould, Attorney General of Canada, to do better and follow the direction of the Prime Minister in his mandate letter to ‘review [the] litigation strategy. This should include early decisions to end appeals or positions that are not consistent with our commitments, the Charter or our values.’” (For the letter of support from the NTC click here.)
In a phone call on Tuesday, Fraser told Huu-ay-aht he plans on writing a letter of support, which he will share with other members of legislature and the public. He said, as the NDP critic for Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, he believes it is important to raise such issues in his riding.
Huu-ay-aht First Nations is extremely disappointed to learn that the Canadian government has decided to appeal the Specific Claims Tribunal decision awarding more than $13.8 million in compensation to Huu-ay-aht First Nations for breaches of duty Canada committed between 1948 and 1969.
The Nation believes a judicial review is unfair and prolonging this clear decision in favour of Huu-ay-aht is a waste of taxpayers’ money.
“This decision to appeal is outrageous,” explains Huu-ay-aht First Nations Chief Councillor Robert J. Dennis Sr. “Part of our reconciliation to this long-term dispute was to seek fair compensation. We trusted Canada’s judicial processes to achieve this, but we are extremely disappointed to hear this will be further prolonged. It is unfair to our Nation.”
Huu-ay-aht filed a claim with the Tribunal in 2011 about logging that took place on former Numukamis IR1 between 1948 and 1969. Huu-ay-aht chiefs petitioned Canada at the time of the logging operations, asserting that the licence should be cancelled, to no avail.
In 2014, the Tribunal found that Canada had entered into an unlawful deal and had breached its fiduciary obligations. The December 2016 Tribunal decision found that the Huu-ay-aht community had suffered significant losses and set the compensation owing.
Following the decision in December, Dennis had expressed his hope that Canada choose a path of reconciliation over the path of court appeals.
Dennis points out Canada’s decision to appeal runs contrary to the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s statement that, “No relationship is more important to me and to Canada than the one with Indigenous Peoples. It is time for a renewed, nation-to-nation relationship with Indigenous Peoples, based on recognition of rights, respect, co-operation, and partnership.”
Huu-ay-aht’s legal counsel, Kate Blomfield of Ratcliff & Company, expressed concern with the legal position put forward by Canada throughout the proceedings and on appeal.
“Canada’s position throughout this process has been that Huu-ay-aht should receive less compensation because the community was poor and could not afford to save and invest much of the funds that it was owed. The Tribunal rejected Canada’s position as ‘patently unfair,’ but Canada is again pursuing this argument.”
“It is extremely frustrating that Canada is unwilling to accept the Tribunal’s decision and reconcile a 68-year dispute“, Dennis adds. “Canada’s decision to appeal flies in the face of the reconciliation that our community is seeking so that Huu-ay-aht can continue our focus on developing a strong economy for our citizens.”