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Vancouver, Coast Salish Territory - "I am deeply concerned about the greatly accelerated disposition of our Aboriginal Title lands as the British Columbia Assets and Land Corporation (BCAL) rips through the backlog of corporate applications for land tenure. I am particularly alarmed that BCAL believes that a simple letter reflecting an arbitrary timeline of response, which essentially states that if the community does not respond their silence will be taken as tacit approval of the disposition of land, is being construed as meaningful consultation." Chief Stewart Phillip was responding to the growing concerns of communities over the obviously zealous approach of BCAL's stated goal to eliminate the entire backlog of applications by March 31st, 2002.

Chief Phillip noted "In light of recent events at the Sun Peaks Ski Resort and Halfway River, where communities have chosen to actively defend their Aboriginal Title interests, I would submit that the actions of BCAL has profound implications for all First Nations in British Columbia." The activities of BCAL move away from any possible reconciliation and contradict the intent of the 1997 Delgamuuk'w decision of the Supreme Court of Canada. Delgamuuk'w confirmed that Aboriginal Title exists and that meaningful consultation must occur when there is a possible infringement of Aboriginal Title or Rights.

"When a First Nation receives a land referral, the onus has always been on the community to demonstrate that its Aboriginal Title or Rights would be infringed upon. Often times, there is a very short time-frame to respond which is compounded all the more by many First Nations' lack of capacity to adequately scrutinize the referral's impact. It appears that BCAL believes that the threshold of consultation is nothing more than a letter of invitation to consult and that BCAL has no duty to address Aboriginal Title or Rights."

The fundamental concern is that BCAL, in its attempt to jumpstart the BC economy, will purposely strengthen the rapid expansion of corporate tenures that will only serve to further the alienation of our Aboriginal Title lands and continue the systemic marginalization of our Aboriginal Title and Rights within BC. "Without a process founded on the recognition of Aboriginal Title and Rights, we will see more land-use disputes, like Sun Peaks and Halfway River, throughout the province as tenures are quickly granted and acted upon. BCAL appears to be promoting a frontier-like land development policy which features the stalling or delay of any settlement of the land question while alienating Aboriginal Title lands to third party interests as quickly as possible."