The Vancouver Sun reports in its Tuesday edition the Supreme Court of Canada's declaration of aboriginal title to the Tsilhqot'in First Nation affirms existing principles surrounding aboriginal title.
In a special to The Sun, Catherine Pennington writes that as a Metis woman working in the resource sector, she argues aboriginal communities do not want to block development.
Instead, they want to have a say. They want to know projects are environmentally sound and they want a reasonable share of the economic benefits.
Ms. Pennington, who works for Enbridge, says she is already seeing this kind of relationship-building at work.
From the beginning, Northern Gateway has understood the role aboriginal communities play in the success of the project. While admitting her company has mistakes along the way, she claims Enbridge began building relationships with aboriginal communities more than 12 years ago. Enbridge is offering 10-per-cent ownership and wants to make aboriginal communities full partners in the Northern Gateway project, with a direct share of the economic benefits.
The top court's decision will only help this conversation, and help the process of reaching new agreements on resource development.
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