First Nations leaders from B.C.害羞草研究所檚 Central Coast were in London, England in March to air concerns about oil spills.
The leaders were in London to meet with United Nations delegates of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
害羞草研究所淲e raised issues of having shipping legislation be aligned with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP),害羞草研究所� said Heiltsuk (Bella Bella) Chief Marilyn Slett. 害羞草研究所淩ight now the only losses compensated are economic, not Indigenous cultural losses.害羞草研究所�
The Heiltsuk have relied on the ocean for food and ceremonial purposes for 14,000 years.
After the Nathan E. Stewart tugboat ran aground and sunk in the Seaforth Channel near Bella Bella on Oct. 12, 2016 spilling approximately 110,000 litres of diesel and another 2,000 litres of lubricants into the ocean, the Heiltsuk were not compensated for the cultural losses endured, she said during a phone interview from London Thursday.
害羞草研究所淲e felt it was important to bring that issue here. We recognize these types of conversations need to start happening before changes will be made. It害羞草研究所檚 not going to happen overnight, but it has to start somewhere.害羞草研究所�
Joining Slett in London are Hereditary Chief Harvey Humchitt Sr., Heiltsuk Councillor Maria Martin, traditional leader Rory Housty and Humchitt害羞草研究所檚 wife Brenda Humchitt.
They participated in a panel discussion on Monday, March 18 and hosted a side presentation Wednesday, March 20, with the Inuit Circumpolar Council the same day, which they were told was one of the most well-attended side events ever at the IMO.
Heiltsuk Nation was invited by the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) to be part of its delegation.
The ICC is the only Indigenous non-governmental organization with provisional consultative status at the IMO, which means it can send delegates.
害羞草研究所淚t has been amazing to collaborate with the ICC,害羞草研究所� Slett said, noting it was her first time in England and the first time there had been a joint delegation to the IMO.
Recalling the sinking of the Nathan E. Stewart, she remembers receiving multiple phone calls that morning.
害羞草研究所淭here was a lot of emotion. We had several responders going out, including Harvey Humchitt Sr. who is with us here.害羞草研究所�
There were feelings of helplessness once they heard of the boat害羞草研究所檚 grounding and the spilled diesel washing up onto Gale Creek.
It is an event the community will never forget, she added.
害羞草研究所淎t the onset there did not seem to be any coordination or plans around the response so that was something that was the catalyst for a lot of the work we have done first to have our own members trained in emergency response to build that capacity.害羞草研究所�
Slett said there are 170 nation members at the conference and after their presentation they were approached by people from Fiji, Chile, Italy and the Marshall Islands thanking them for drawing attention to the aspect of cultural losses, not just economic.
害羞草研究所淲e travelled all this way and felt we害羞草研究所檝e had a successful trip with people receiving our message,害羞草研究所� Slett said.
Humchitt in a news release said the spill has caused a sense of disconnection and loss that can be compared to mourning the death of a loved one.
害羞草研究所淚t is unjust that Heiltsuk is still fighting to address our cultural losses from the spill, with no support from Canada or international laws.害羞草研究所�
Inuit Circumpolar Council Canada president Lisa Koperqualuk said the ICC was pleased the Heiltsuk sent such a strong delegation to engage with international decision makers on shared concerns, such as inclusion of Indigenous cultural heritage in all aspects of the IMO害羞草研究所檚 work and regulations.
害羞草研究所淲e share these concerns with the Heiltsuk Nation and we will speak as one voice at the IMO.害羞草研究所�
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