First Nations leaders in British Columbia have issued a joint statement criticizing calls to amend the provincial Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act in response to a recent court ruling. The statement is endorsed by about 30 First Nations in B.C. and says recent talks of changing legislation are a “fear-based response” from opponents of the ruling “that reaffirm the crucial need to consult and negotiate” with Indigenous communities on mining rights. It calls for British Columbians to “slow down, take stock, and reflect” on the path forward, noting that resorting to “fear-based reactions” risk undoing hard-won progress on reconciliation. The statement says changing the legislation would “grind projects to a halt” as First Nations may be forced to defend their rights through the courts. The statement comes…
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