Chief Joe Alphonse of the Tsilhqot害羞草研究所檌n First Nation says the 2014 court ruling that resulted in the first declaration of Aboriginal title in Canadian history triggered a decade of 害羞草研究所渉uge害羞草研究所� shifts.

Alphonse said on Wednesday害羞草研究所檚 10th anniversary of the Supreme Court of Canada decision that recognized the First Nation as the titleholder within their traditional territory that there had been a transformation in policy toward Indigenous people that 害羞草研究所渃ut deeper than I ever imagined that one single case could.害羞草研究所�

Speaking in Tsilhqot害羞草研究所檌n territory in the remote Nemaiah Valley in British Columbia害羞草研究所檚 Interior, Alphonse said the 害羞草研究所減endulum害羞草研究所檚 always swinging in politics,害羞草研究所� looking back on the last decade while remembering the adversarial relationship with the Harper-era Conservatives.

Alphonse said he feared a change in the federal government would mean going back to a situation where the First Nation had to fight resource extraction and other threats to their land.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e going to be at odds with them all over again and there will be court battle after court battle,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚f they want to go down that road, we害羞草研究所檙e happy to engage in a fight, but we hope we don害羞草研究所檛 have to.害羞草研究所�

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was joined by provincial officials, federal Indigenous Minister Gary Anandasangaree and Indigenous leaders, along with members of the First Nation in the Nemaiah Valley to celebrate the anniversary.

Trudeau paid tribute to what he called a 害羞草研究所減ivotal moment害羞草研究所� for the country.

害羞草研究所淚t took a lot of work by many, many extraordinary and dedicated leaders to get there, but you never gave up. This is what we害羞草研究所檙e celebrating today, your strength and your resilience,害羞草研究所� Trudeau told hundreds of people gathered for the event.

In a statement, he said the 害羞草研究所渁nniversary emphasizes our ongoing commitment to reconciliation and partnership with all Indigenous Peoples.害羞草研究所�

B.C. Minister of Indigenous Relations Murray Rankin called it a powerful and moving experience to be in Tsilhqot害羞草研究所檌n territory on the anniversary of a ruling that changed Canadian history.

The Tsilhqot害羞草研究所檌n, representing six First Nation communities with a common culture and history, is the only Indigenous group to win recognition of its Aboriginal title to a specific area of land through Canada害羞草研究所檚 highest court.

Reflecting on the decision, Rankin said he believed reconciliation was rarely, if ever, achieved in a courtroom, so the best route to determine Aboriginal title was through negotiation.

害羞草研究所淭he fact that 10 years ago, the Supreme Court of Canada declared that there害羞草研究所檚 actually aboriginal title on the ground, right here in the Nemaiah Valley, it害羞草研究所檚 really, really powerful and poignant to be here,害羞草研究所� Rankin said.

Anandasangaree agreed, calling the Tsilhqot害羞草研究所檌n court decision a 害羞草研究所渕ilestone害羞草研究所� that marked an 害羞草研究所渋mportant step toward decolonization.害羞草研究所�

He said the ruling meant that 害羞草研究所渢itle was rightfully restored and we害羞草研究所檙e here to mark that occasion.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e celebrating a path forward for Canada. While it害羞草研究所檚 very significant for the Tsilhqot害羞草研究所檌n people, it害羞草研究所檚 still very important to Canada as well because for far too long, we have been reaffirming colonial practices and this is one of the very important steps toward the decolonization.害羞草研究所�

He said land was 害羞草研究所渁 critical part of reconciliation.害羞草研究所�

Trudeau and his youngest son, Hadrien, met with First Nations chiefs, and spoke with elders and witnesses involved in the years-long court case.

During the visit, Peyal Laceese, a Tsilqhot害羞草研究所檌n knowledge keeper and songkeeper, presented Hadrien with a pair of buckskin gloves and moccasins, carrying on a long tradition and connection between their two families.

Laceese said his grandmother, Julia Gilpin, gave Pierre Trudeau a buckskin jacket many years ago, and his mother, Denise Gilpin, made Justin Trudeau a jacket as well.

害羞草研究所淪he presented him with that jacket, creating a tradition of multi- generational honouring of our families coming together,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淣ot only trading physical objects, but trading that positivity and that warmth of heart 害羞草研究所� And so here we are in 2024 again hearing of the Trudeau family coming to visit the Tsilhqot害羞草研究所檌n territory, and so I felt obligated.害羞草研究所�

The prime minister travelled to the valley, about 350 kilometres north of Vancouver, just days after his party lost a pivotal Toronto-area byelection in a riding that had been held by the Liberals for more than three decades.

Trudeau said during an unrelated news conference on Tuesday that the outcome showed his government had more work to do to deliver results Canadians can see, but he didn害羞草研究所檛 answer questions. He wouldn害羞草研究所檛 take questions on Wednesday either.

In 2014, the Supreme Court of Canada found the Tsilhqot害羞草研究所檌n successfully proved title by showing regular and exclusive use of the claim area, and that B.C. had breached its duty to consult them. It recognized Aboriginal title in five per cent of what the First Nation considered its traditional territory, while protecting rights like fishing, harvesting and trapping in the broader claim area.

The decision said the Tsilhqot害羞草研究所檌n have lived and roamed for centuries in a remote valley bounded by rivers and mountains in central B.C.

Unlike other parts of Canada, much of the land in British Columbia has never been ceded through treaties and the court said the Tsilhqot害羞草研究所檌n were among hundreds of Indigenous groups in the province with unresolved land claims.

B.C. Premier David Eby said in a statement that a decade after the ruling, the province was continuing to work with First Nation elders and leaders to find a path forward 害羞草研究所渂ased on reconciliation, respect and recognition of rights.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淏.C. is committed to a progressive and deepening government-to-government relationship with the Tsilhqot害羞草研究所檌n Nation because we see time and time again that a rising tide lifts all boats,害羞草研究所� he said.

For Alphonse, the significance of the Supreme Court害羞草研究所檚 decision a decade ago went beyond the borders of B.C. and Canada.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a big story. This is not just Tsilhqot害羞草研究所檌n, not just Canada. This is international,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淭he Tsilhqot害羞草研究所檌n case is giving hope to Indigenous people all around the world.害羞草研究所�

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