Special Report

First Nations Forward

Produced in collaboration with the Real Estate Foundation of BC, I-SEA, Vancouver Foundation, Vancity, Catherine Donnelly Foundation, Donner Canadian Foundation, Clayoquot Biosphere Trust,  North Foundation, Willow Grove Foundation, Canadian Center for Journalism, Victoria Foundation, and the Port Moody Foundation. National Observer retains full editorial control over the topics and the reporting. 

115 Articles

Once managing poverty, now managing wealth

“My girls' lives are going to be so different because of all this opportunity." Haisla Nation Chief Councillor Crystal Smith looks forward as she endures severe personal criticism over her community's participation in mutual benefit agreements with the Coastal GasLink and LNG Canada project to pipe and liquefy natural gas for export to Asian markets from the Northwest Pacific coast.
First Nations Forward
By Brandi Morin | News | June 3rd 2019

In the heart of Great Bear Sea, a scallop farm turns ‘science into profit’

For Coastal Shellfish Corporation, a scallop aquaculture venture located on the rainy northwest coast of British Columbia, two things matter most: sustainable business in an area too familiar with the boom and bust of fishing industries, and that their activities cause as little harm to the natural environment as possible.
First Nations Forward
By Emilee Gilpin | Business, Entertainment, Energy, Culture | April 23rd 2019

Wet’suwet’en hereditary chief: 'Reconciliation is not at the barrel of a gun'

“I kept thinking of the prime minister and how he said there was no more important relationship than the one with Indigenous people. And then here come all these guns…Reconciliation is not at the barrel of a gun.”- Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chief Na’moks reflects on the RCMP raid of a resistance camp blocking construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline in January, 2019.
First Nations Forward
By Brandi Morin | News | April 16th 2019

Stellat'en First Nation's traditional culture 'pretty much gone,' but LNG agreement offered relief from 'enforced poverty'

“At the end it was easy because we negotiated the best deal we could,” said Stellat’an Chief Arthur Patrick.  “Natural gas is more benign to the environment than oil and coal. Natural gas will replace coal in other parts of the world, like China. If we can be a part of that replacement, then I think we’re doing the world some good.”
First Nations Forward
By Brandi Morin | News | April 10th 2019

Here's what happens when an energy pipeline company comes calling

What happens when an energy pipeline developer comes to town? Brandi Morin examines the pressure on a First Nations community in central interior B.C. when Enbridge, with an oil pipeline proposal, and then TransCanada, with the Coastal GasLink project, came calling. Elected Nak’azdli Whut’en Chief Alexander McKinnon relives one of the most difficult decisions of his life.
First Nations Forward
By Brandi Morin | News, Energy, Politics | April 9th 2019

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