Two aboriginal groups in the Cariboo are squaring off in court over land claims.
Although it is frequent that any area's neighbouring First Nations will assert claim over some common grounds, the Tsilhqot'in National Government (TNG) has gone too far for the Northern Secwepemc te Qelmucw (NStQ) Leadership Council.
Both these groups represent collectives of First Nations centred in the Williams Lake area.
Late this week, the NStQ filed court documents to become interveners in the Charleyboy v. the Queen court action, which is the TNG primary claim of title.
"This means we are seeking to get involved in the litigation, because it has the ability to profoundly affect the NStQ," said Williams Lake Indian Band chief Ann Louie on behalf of the NStQ Leadership Council. "This is not the way we like to resolve things, especially with a neighbouring First Nation group. We have tried, patiently and persistently, to find a solution to this matter through discussion and negotiation and those efforts have been rebuffed by the TNG. We must now proceed aggressively to seek a resolution in the court. The TNG is doing itself no favour by maintaining a position that has absolutely no basis in fact or law."
According to Louie, the TNG claim covers about 75 per cent of their own claims, yet the NStQ interpretation of history has no record of TNG activities in a lot of those places.
"NStQ has been participating in the treaty process for nearly 20 years, making an effort to resolve our issues through honourable negotiation. That the Province of British Columbia would, through the Tsilhqot'in Framework Agreement, acknowledge and support a baseless claim is offensive in the extreme, and makes a mockery of the true concept of aboriginal title in British Columbia," she said.
The Northern Secwepemc te Qelmucw (NStQ) includes these bands: Canim Lake; Canoe Creek;
Williams Lake; and Soda Creek . The Tsilhqot'in National Government (TNG) includes these bands: Anaham; Esdilagh; Xeni Gwet'in; Yunesit'in; Tsi Deldel; and Tl'esqox.
