GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Tribal Council president Bobbie Jo Greenland-Morgan breathed a sigh of relief when the Supreme Court of Canada quashed the Yukon governmentSA国际影视传媒檚 approval of its own land use plan in the Peel Watershed case.
Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo
SA国际影视传媒淔or us as GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n and all other Indigenous groups across the country and specifically those Yukon First Nations who launched the lawsuit, I can only imagine how empowering this is for everyone in the sense that, for me, it restores some hope in the system and in democracy and in knowing that the Supreme Court of Canada acknowledges whatSA国际影视传媒檚 in our final agreements,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
The GTC acted as an intervenor in the case, as GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n traditional territory is included in the Peel River Watershed.
The fight began in 2014, when the Yukon government rewrote a land use plan for the Peel Watershed, flipping the ratio of 'protected area' to 'area open for development' from an 80/20 split to 29/71.
A number of Indigenous groups, including the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, argued that the imposition of the land use plan was not consistent with modern land claim agreements in the Yukon and that an independent land use commissionSA国际影视传媒檚 recommended 80/20 split in 2011 should be the final plan.
The Supreme Court ordered the process back to an earlier stage of negotiations, which will uphold the plan to that point but still allow the Yukon government to propose modifications.
Greenland-Morgan said the court win made her remember many leaders, past and present, who helped GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n argue for their rights.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 really important for our people to understand what it means for the GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n,SA国际影视传媒� said Greenland-Morgan. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a good reminder to our people that hard work pays off, to be persistent and have faith in the democracy of the country, because sometimes we can really lose that hope and faith depending on whatSA国际影视传媒檚 going on.SA国际影视传媒�
Nihtat GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Council president Jozef Carnogursky said the decision was expected but great news nonetheless.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 good for the GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n and itSA国际影视传媒檚 good for the Aboriginal people across Canada,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
He named Robert Alexie Jr. and Norman Snowshoe, former GTC president and vice-president, as key players during the debate.
SA国际影视传媒淭hey always ensured that the GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n rights and interests were protected in the Peel with regards to that case,SA国际影视传媒� said Carnogursky. SA国际影视传媒淭hey were key in developing strategy.SA国际影视传媒�
