MEDIA ADVISORY – April 6, 2023
VANCOUVER / xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Skwxwú7mesh & səlilwətaʔɬ territories
BC Supreme Court will now hear arguments on Tuesday from Indigenous groups, First Nations, public interest organizations and mining businesses challenging BC’s “free entry” system
Media are invited to a rescheduled online press briefing, Tuesday, April 11 at 8:30am PT, co-hosted by Gitxaała Nation and aligned intervenors in Gitxaała’s ongoing legal challenge.
Intervenor arguments (originally scheduled for Thursday, April 6) have now been postponed until April 11. The full case is being heard at the BC Supreme Court from April 3-14, 2023.
What: BC Supreme Court hearings are currently underway in Gitxaała’s landmark legal challenge against BC’s “free entry” mineral tenure regime, which currently grants mineral claims without Indigenous consultation or consent. A related legal challenge by the Ehattesaht First Nation is also being heard at the same time.
On April 11, the Court is expected to hear from aligned Indigenous nations, Indigenous political organizations, mineral exploration companies and community groups intervening to argue against BC’s outdated system for granting mineral rights. Several of these groups, representing a wide array of voices calling for mineral tenure reform in BC, will hold a joint press briefing ahead of Tuesday’s hearing.
When: April 11, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. PT
Where: Zoom (register here)
Who:
- Gitxaała Sm’ooygit Nees Hiwaas (Matthew Hill)
- Linda Innes, Gitxaała Chief Councillor Naxginkw (Tara Marsden), Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs
- Nuskmata (Jacinda Mack), Mining Spokesperson, Nuxalk Nation
- Kukpi7 Justin Kane, Ts’kw’aylaxw First Nation (TBC)
- Councillor Fred Sam, Nak’azdli First Nation
- Jamie Kneen, MiningWatch Canada and Co-Chair, BC Mining Law Reform Network
- Robert Phillips, Political Executive, First Nations Summit
- Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President, Union of BC Indian Chiefs (TBC)
Contact information:
James Herbert, Senior Advisor, Gitxaała Territorial Management Agency,
778-881-1534, senioradvisor.gtma@gitxaalanation.com
