By Wolfgang Depner A First Nations leader said proposed amendments to British Columbia’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act would take a “sledgehammer” to the landmark legislation. Robert Phillips of the First Nations Summit said the amendments would “gut” DRIPA and turn back the clock on relations between the provincial government and First Nations by decades. Phillips’ warning came before Thursday’s meeting between First Nations leaders and Premier David Eby, who has said the changes are necessary to put MLAs, not the courts, in charge of reconciliation. The Canadian Press has obtained a copy of the proposed changes, and while Phillips said a non-disclosure agreement prevented him from commenting on specific amendments, he said First Nations were considering litigation and streets protests if the changes went ahead. DRIPA,… <\/p>\n
By Wolfgang Depner A First Nations leader said proposed amendments to British Columbia’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act would take a “sledgehammer” to the landmark legislation. Robert Phillips of the First Nations Summit said the amendments would “gut” DRIPA and turn back the clock on relations between the provincial government and First Nations by decades. Phillips’ warning came before Thursday’s meeting between First Nations leaders and Premier David Eby, who has said the changes are necessary to put MLAs, not the courts, in charge of reconciliation. The Canadian Press has obtained a copy of the proposed changes, and while Phillips said a non-disclosure agreement prevented him from commenting on specific amendments, he said First Nations were considering litigation and streets protests if the changes went ahead. DRIPA,... <\/p>\n