Vancouver meetings set between Coast Tsimshian and Federal Government

Talks over the development of the Fairview Container port are set to resume between the Federal Government and the Lax Kw’alaams and Metlakatla First Nations, as both sides seek out the common ground over development of the Fairview Container Port.

We outlined the details earlier on our portal, Thursday’s Daily News provided another look at a key story in the community for 2008, with a front page examination of the developments.

COAST TSIMSHIAN HOPEFUL PORT TALKS MOVING AHEAD
Senior representatives in Vancouver to meet with both government and port officials
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Pages one and two

The Lax Kw’alaams and Metlakatla First Nations, known as the Coast Tsimshian, say they have taken another step forward in the process of consultation around the development of Phase One of the Fairview Container Terminal.

John Helin and Harold Leighton, chief councilors for their respective communities, are in Vancouver this week negotiating with the Government of Canada and the Prince Rupert Port Authority and working toward a summer deadline.

”We have had some frustrations getting to this stage with the Government of Canada,” said Lax Kw’alaams Chief John Helin. “But with the framework finally in place and negotiations underway we are hopeful that Ottawa will move quickly and allow us to reach a settlement that is fair and respectful for our people.”

Although the container terminal opened this past October, the process of consultation and accommodation of the two communities, which have occupied the area for thousands of years, was never completed.

The two bands started litigation over the federal government’s alleged failure to consult back in 2005. Litigation by the Coast Tsimshian over lack of consultation and accommodation on Phase 1 of the Fairview Terminal Expansion is in abeyance pending the results of negotiations.

“Our people want to be able to support the development of the port,” said Metlakatla Chief Harold Leighton, “And we look to these negotiations to resolve our outstanding issues, and that will allow us to support the development of the port.

Both chiefs want to enter into a mutually beneficial agreement with the Government of Canada to establish and maintain a relationship centered on the development of the port and related economic benefits.

They also have concerns about the proposed expansion of Phase Two of the container terminal, due to archeological remains in that area.

“Our ancestors have lived on the very land the port wants to develop for more than 5,000 years,” said Leighton.

“It is important to us that the burial sites and traces of our history that are here are protected and handled with proper care and integrity,” said Leighton. A separate table has also been established to address archeological issues.

Numerous archeologists including Dr. George MacDonald, OC, founding director of the Canadian Museum of Civilization and director of the Bill Reid Centre at Simon Fraser University, said archaeological sites at Prince Rupert harbour are unique on the West Coast of North America in terms of the volume of middens, cultural artifacts, and human remains that are in place,

“We have recovered hundreds of intact artifacts plus more than 5,000 pieces of wood, bone, or other material that show evidence of being worked and shaped by hand,” said Dr. MacDonald. “But of more importance are the human remains to be found in thousands of square metres of shell middens that are on-site.

“These sites are of worldwide archaeological interest,” said Dr. MacDonald, “and losing them to reckless development would be a terrible loss to the Tsimshian people and to world history.”