The Prince George Citizen

B.C. starts new reconcilia­tion process with Wet’suwet’en

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VICTORIA — British Columbia says it’s starting a new reconcilia­tion process with the Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs, who are at the centre of opposition to a natural gas pipeline in northern B.C.

The province says in a release Thursday that the government and the Office of the Wet’suwet’en are undertakin­g a process focused on Wet’suwet’en title, rights, laws and traditiona­l governance throughout their territory.

The release says B.C. has appointed Victoria MP and lawyer Murray Rankin as its representa­tive to help guide and design the process, adding that Rankin has an understand­ing of the Supreme Court’s historic Delgamuukw decision that helped define Indigenous title. It says the province and the Wet’suwet’en are committed to explore a path forward together that seeks to build trust over time and meaningful­ly advance reconcilia­tion.

The Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs oppose Coastal GasLink’s plans to build a pipeline from northeaste­rn B.C. to LNG Canada’s export terminal in Kitimat, and RCMP arrested 14 people at a blockade last month before reaching a deal with the chiefs.

The province says its commitment to lasting reconcilia­tion is not connected to any specific project, and the new process will build on discussion­s that have been ongoing since Premier John Horgan and Indigenous Relations and Reconcilia­tion Minister Scott Fraser visited the territory in August.

“We all recognize that the path forward will involve challenges. It will take a willingnes­s to innovate and take bold steps together,” the province says.

“This engagement is a historic opportunit­y to advance Wet’suwet’en self-determinat­ion and self-governance, and for the province and Wet’suwet’en Nation to establish a deeper relationsh­ip based on respect and recognitio­n of rights.”

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