‣ In a long overdue move, the Haida Nation will finally be able to reclaim its land off the coast of British Columbia per an agreement with the Canadian government, CBC News reports:
The Big Tide Haida Title Lands Agreement affirms that the Haida have Aboriginal title over all of the islands’ lands, beds of freshwater bodies, and foreshores to the low-tide mark.
It will transition the Crown-title land to the Haida people, granting them an inherent legal right to the land.
The transfer of the underlying title would affect how courts interpret issues involving disputes.
Gaagwiis Jason Alsop, president of the Council of the Haida Nation, held up the agreement signed Monday to show the crowd.
He said the ceremony represents a move from an era of denial, occupation and resistance to one of peaceful coexistence and recognition that “this is Haida land.”
Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Gary Anandasangaree told the crowd gathered for the ceremony that it was a moment where history was being made.
Anandasangaree said in an earlier interview that the agreement will kick off a five-year transition period and will require legislation to iron out all the details about how this will apply in practice.
He said it is the first time the federal government has recognized Aboriginal title through negotiations.
