Province didn’t consult on travel, leaving First Nations at risk, say leaders – News1130

Jun 25, 2020

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – A group of First Nations will be restricting visitors in their territories, despite domestic travel within B.C. being given the green light by the province.

The Heiltsuk, Nuu-chah-nulth, and Tsilhqot’in nations say the provincial government didn’t consult them before throwing the doors open to non-essential travel.

Their priority, they say, is protecting elders and Indigenous leaders say basic safety measures are not yet in place to be able to welcome travellers to their communities.

“This means we cannot make informed decisions about the level or type of emergency measures to enact, and so the safest approach becomes blanket travel bans,” says Marilyn Slett, Chief Councillor of the Heiltsuk Nation.

Chief Joe Alphonse, Chair of the Tsilhqot’in National Government, says he supports that position, adding access to the Tsilhqot’in communities is restricted “to varying degrees.”

Read More: https://www.citynews1130.com/2020/06/25/consult-first-nations-travel-risk/