Response to announcement on reconciliation process with Office of the Wet’suwet’en

B.C. GREEN CAUCUS

For immediate release
February 8th, 2019

Adam Olsen responds to government announcement of new reconciliation process with the Office of the Wet’suwet’en

VICTORIA, B.C. – Adam Olsen, B.C. Green spokesperson for Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, responded to the statement on the reconciliation process with the Office of the Wet’suwet’en announced by the Province yesterday:

“I am pleased to see that the government is moving forward with the hard work of reconciliation with the Office of the Wet’suwet’en. Over 20 years ago the landmark Delgamuukw ruling recognized that Indigenous title and rights have not been extinguished and continue to exist. This has been ignored by every government, until now.

“However, I will never be able to erase the images of Indigenous leaders being pushed face down in the snow for asserting their inherent rights. This situation could have been avoided and we all share a responsibility to do better.

“What we have seen in the Wet’suwet’en territory points to the urgent need to pass legislation to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This is the only way to ensure that a consistent whole of government approach is taken towards reconciling our relationships with Indigenous peoples in British Columbia. This government has repeatedly committed to doing so and I expect the government to deliver on this promise in the coming spring session.”

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Media contact
Stephanie Siddon, Acting Press Secretary
+1 250-882-6187 | stephanie.siddon@leg.bc.ca