New Democrats introduce bill to protect heritage First Nations sites

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VICTORIA – New Democrats proposed legislation to better preserve First Nations heritage objects and sacred sites.

“Today we proposed important legislation that would ensure First Nations heritage sites and objects are protected more effectively by provincial law,” said Maurine Karagianis, New Democrat MLA for Esquimalt-Royal Roads. “This legislation would go a long way to protecting B.C. First Nations claims to sacred sites such as burials as well as sacred objects and remains.”

Amendments to the First Nations Heritage Protection and Conservation Act would include a process by which First Nations can request a temporary protection order when people find a heritage site, object or remains. The amendments would also create a First Nations Heritage Protection Program which would provide funding to local governments so that they could protect sacred sites in their communities.

“This bill would go a long way to creating a better set of guidelines that local government and First Nations need,” said Karagianis.

Karagianis noted that the bill could be put to immediate use to help the Penelakut First Nation protect burial sites on Grace Islet, which is being developed without adequate archaeological and First Nations monitoring.

New Democrat MLA for Saanich North and the Islands Gary Holman, whose constituency includes Grace Islet, agreed.

“New Democrats have called on the B.C. Liberal government to intervene immediately to protect the sacred sites of the Penelakut First Nation, including the burial sites on Grace Islet. The current laws do not do enough to ensure that these irreplaceable places are not destroyed forever,” said Holman, who also asked the B.C. Liberal government to step in and protect the burial sites in the legislature Monday.

“In order to ensure we are effectively conserving First Nations culture, artifacts and heritage, we need to see leadership and commitment from the B.C. Liberal government – unfortunately since I first introduced this bill in 2009, we’ve seen no such commitment to better protections,” said Karagianis.