RE:RE:RE:RE:Petition Petition.....Perfectly stated Jiggernaugt. The cheque doesn't even matter because as soon as it is cashed there will be more land keepers or whatever to say it wasn't enough and block the road. Again and again and again.
If there is no real will by the Province or the Feds this will be another mess of a money pit like the one in Manitoba with the Bi Pole hydro lines and the nat gas pipeline in BC. Make a binding fair deal for all stakeholders and legally and physically enforce it otherwise this will be another lost resource opportunity. All it takes is a couple of peole with a tent, campfire, facemasks and a flag to block the roads or rail and there we all sit.
The land around the BC Ferry docks in Tsawwassen are a great example of what can be accomplised when stakeholders actually work together. The docks, condos, huge shopping complex and more housing coming are all on indiginous land. The Band leases the land and mandates band members are involved in all areas of the project thus ensuring the young members learn actual skills and the monies coming in are basically an annuity for the members forever.
I hope I'm wrong but this has all the makings of another stalemate.