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Free, Prior and Informed Consent
Indigenous Peoples have a clear right to determine for themselves whether to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ or ‘yes with conditions’, whenever governments or corporations propose actions that could impact their lives, lands, jurisdictions and futures. The exercise of this aspect of the right to self- determination is known as "free, prior and informed consent" or FPIC.
More About This Resource Free, Prior and Informed ConsentIndigenous Fire Stewardship
Indigenous fire stewardship promotes the use of cultural burning practices by Indigenous Peoples in Canada. Cultural burning is an important cultural practice that enhances ecosystem biodiversity, assists with the management of complex resources, and reduces wildfire risk by reducing vegetation.
More About This Resource Indigenous Fire StewardshipBC First Nations Climate Strategy and Action Plan Spring 2022
In 2019 and 2021, First Nations leadership in BC passed resolutions calling for the development of a BC First Nations Climate Strategy and Action Plan (UBCIC Resolution No. 2019-02; BCAFN Resolution No. 04/2019; and FNS Resolution No. 2021.15). The FNLC was mandated to coordinate the development of this work in collaboration with First Nations in BC to ensure: • First Nations’ Title, Rights, and Treaty Rights were asserted and protected in addressing climate change. • First Nations knowledge, laws, legal processes, and worldviews were recognized and implemented in climate planning and response. • Effective and immediate responses to the climate emergency were identified to reduce impacts and v
More About This Resource BC First Nations Climate Strategy and Action Plan Spring 2022Assembly of First Nations Environmental Protection and Climate Action
Climate change, polluted waterways, disruptions to traditional hunting grounds, and the defacing of culturally sensitive lands have a dire impact on quality of life for First Nations, many of whom have long relied on the land for sustenance. The AFN’s Environment Sector advocates for First Nations in exercising self-determination and jurisdiction over environmental issues to protect Mother Earth and support sustainable economic development.
More About This Resource Assembly of First Nations Environmental Protection and Climate ActionParks and Reclamation How First Nations in B.C. are taking back control of stewardship and access in their traditional territories. 2023 CBC
CBC News article on how First Nations in B.C. are taking back control of stewardship and access in their traditional territories.
More About This Resource Parks and Reclamation How First Nations in B.C. are taking back control of stewardship and access in their traditional territories. 2023 CBCAboriginal Harvesting Rights
Aboriginal Legal Aid in BC website with information and resources on Aboriginal harvesting rights in BC.
More About This Resource Aboriginal Harvesting RightsA Guide to Aboriginal Harvesting Rights: Fishing, Hunting, Trapping, Gathering
This guide outlines the Aboriginal harvesting rights of: -status Indians (page 4), -non-status Indians (page 5) and -Métis people (page 10). This guide also discusses: -treaty rights and harvesting (page 12), -conservation, public health, and public safety rules (page 16), -pre-harvest checklists (page 20), -where to get more information about harvesting in BC (page 23), and -where to get legal help if you’re charged with a harvesting offence (page 25).
More About This Resource A Guide to Aboriginal Harvesting Rights: Fishing, Hunting, Trapping, GatheringCultivating Abundance: First Nations Perspectives from the BC First Nations Wildlife and Habitat Conservation Forum
The title of this document, Cultivating Abundance , recognizes that Indigenous Peoples have inhabited and cared for the landscapes and ecosystems comprising what is now called British Columbia since time immemorial. Indigenous Peoples' laws, values, and stewardship traditions maintained complex ecosystems and an abundance of wildlife that in turn sustained vibrant Indigenous Nations, communities, and cultures. The title also points to the ongoing vital role of Indigenous Peoples' jurisdiction, knowledge, and stewardship practices in restoring abundant and diverse wildlife populations across their traditional territories.
More About This Resource Cultivating Abundance: First Nations Perspectives from the BC First Nations Wildlife and Habitat Conservation ForumIntellectual Property and the Safeguarding of Traditional Cultures
This publication by Jane Anderson and Molly Torsen offers legal information and compiles practical experiences on the management of intellectual property for cultural institutions whose collections comprise traditional cultural expressions. It seeks to respond directly to the needs of cultural institutions and Indigenous and traditional communities dealing with the preservation, safeguarding and protection of cultural heritage.
More About This Resource Intellectual Property and the Safeguarding of Traditional CulturesPolicy Paper: Recognizing and IncludingIndigenous Cultural Heritage in B.C.
First Peoples’ Cultural Council (FPCC) has prepared this paper to address the immediate need to revitalize, manage, and protect Indigenous cultural heritage (ICH) in meaningful and substantive ways.
More About This Resource Policy Paper: Recognizing and IncludingIndigenous Cultural Heritage in B.C.Biopiracy: Abolish Corporate Hijacking of Indigenous Medicinal Entities
In this paper, we present an overview of typical cases of global biopiracy, bioprospecting via introduction of cost-effective deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fingerprinting and international protocol with Private-Public-People Partnership concept as excellent forms of utilization of natural resources. We propose certain perspectives as scientists towards abolishing biopiracy and also to foster the fair utilization of natural resources; since the economy of most developing countries is agriculture based, the gross domestic product of the developing countries could be increased by enhanced bioprospecting via introduction of cost-effective DNA fingerprinting technologies and thus not being a pray of corporate hijacking.“Biopiracy is biological theft; illegal collection of indigenous plants by corporations who patent them for their own use” (Vandana Shiva).
More About This Resource Biopiracy: Abolish Corporate Hijacking of Indigenous Medicinal EntitiesTri-council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans: Chapter 9: Research Involving the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples of Canada
This chapter of the Tri-council Policy Statement on research involving Indigenous Peoples in Canada, including First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples, marks a step toward establishing an ethical space for dialogue on common interests and points of difference between researchers and Indigenous communities engaged in research.
More About This Resource Tri-council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans: Chapter 9: Research Involving the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples of Canada