The BC Supreme Court has ruled in favour of five BC First Nations engaged in a 12-year legal battle with Canadian Government over fishing rights.
The ruling says Canada has failed to justify its past and continuing infringement of Nuu-Chah-Nulth Nations’ Aboriginal right to catch and sell fish from their territories.
The original 2009 ruling confirmed the Nations’ Aboriginal right to fish and received final confirmation by a Supreme Court of Canada ruling in 2014.
Nuu-Chah-Nulth Tribal Council President Judith Sayers says the Nations want reasonable opportunities to restore their fishing culture and economic independence for their communities.
Sayers says a federal government settlement to allow the First Nations to fish and contribute to the economy is long overdue.
