Ehattesaht

Gitxaała and Ehattesaht First Nations rally to enforce UNDRIP

By: Lucaiah Smith-Miodownik, News Writer In the spring of 2023, the Gitxaała and Ehattesaht Nations took to BC’s Supreme Court to challenge the policy surrounding mining minerals like gold, silver, and copper. The Nations argued the “free-entry” system in practice is “outdated and unconstitutional” as it violates the government’s duty to consult Indigenous Peoples. This system — which is currently on pause due to the court’s ruling — allows individuals or companies to “stake claims on those minerals.”  For the Gitxaała and Ehattesaht Nations, the policy is a “colonial holdover.” During BC’s gold rush era, from 1858 to the mid-1860s,…

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