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SCC’s Dismissal of Appeal 'Disappointing but not Surprising': Purpose of Action was to Educate the SCC that B.C. is not Implementing the Delgamuukw Decision

Neskonlith, Secwepemc Territory - The Neskonlith Indian Band responded today to the Supreme Court of Canada’s dismissal of an application for leave to appeal, regarding an interlocutory injunction, stopping Aboriginal logging at ‘Harper’s Lake’, pending a full trial addressing Secwepemc Aboriginal title and rights to the timber. The main court action regarding Aboriginal title and rights is still before the court.

Neskonlith Chief, Arthur Manuel, stated today, Feb. 1, "the appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada was a long-shot. We knew that the Supreme Court of Canada rarely hears appeals of interlocutory injunctions, but we wanted to educate Canada's highest court that the Province of B.C. is not implementing the Delgamuukw decision. Our efforts will help the next appeal that comes out of B.C. on Aboriginal title and rights. In the meantime we are seeking a court date to begin the proceedings on the main court action, the trial itself. This matter is not over by any means."

Chief Manuel added, “we are not placing all of our faith in Canada’s judicial system. We know that the courts often place settler’s interests over Aboriginal title and rights, so we are actively seeking support for justice and fairness from outside of Canada and have issued a letter to all customers of B.C. forest products not to buy from B.C. and until we have our Aboriginal title and rights recognized and accommodated by the governments and forest industry, they are dealing in ‘stolen goods’. Moreover, since the Forest Practices Code and Forest Act don’t recognize our traditional and contemporary land and resource uses, then B.C.’s forest practices are unsustainable.”