Image Credit: Yekooche First Nation

By Adam Berls

first nations

Yekooche First Nation declares and affirms rights to ancestral lands

Jan 24, 2023 | 3:44 PM

PRINCE GEORGE — Outside of the provincial court in downtown Vancouver, members from the Yekooche First Nation gathered to make a historic declaration.

The first nation issued a declaration and affirmation of their unceded ancestral rights to their lands and resources. The nation says that they will be taking back control of their territory and their ancestors’ resources, and will be exercising their own laws, customs and resource management systems. Chief Mitchell Wilson says the current conditions at Yekooche are not good.

The Yekooche First Nation is an hour and a half west of fort st. james, between the northern arm of Stuart Lake and Cunningham Lake and approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes from Prince George.

Malcolm MacPherson who is legal counsel for the Yekooche First Nations, says that every time they go to negotiate with the Crown, they receive no support, and cites the main road to the village as an example.

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After 27 years of Treaty negotiations, it is fair to say that the Yekooche first nation is tired of the ongoing negotiations with the Crown. While they are not saying no to negotiations, they have decided to take this step towards reclaiming their lands and resources by affirming their ancestral rights.