With ongoing discussion about the B.C. government suspending or amending its reconciliation legislation, Skeena MLA Ellis Ross said the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) was not needed in the first place.
When DRIPA passed unanimously in 2019, Ross was serving as the MLA for Skeena. Ross, a member of the Haisla Nation and a former chief councillor, has expressed opposition to the declaration and said it was unnecessary.
“As Haisla Chief Councillor, I didn’t support UNDRIP. We were already on a good path that had its foundation in Section 35 of the Constitution and pursuant caselaw. The case law I’m referring to is the court rulings that determined what Aboriginal rights and title is and what it isn’t. The most important case was the Haida decision in 2004. For us it brought peace in the woods and LNG. This ruling finally levelled the playing field between governments and First Nations while balancing society’s needs. UNDRIP is a good document for countries just getting started in dealing with Indigenous issues. Canada is not in that situation. Canada has been making progress for 46 years,” said Ross.
Ross added that DRIPA has caused chaos.
“What I feared was UNDRIP would bring us back to 1982 with court cases, roadblocks, fear, anger and uncertainty. The warnings I gave fell on deaf ears. The business community believed government rhetoric that UNDRIP would solve everything. The non-Natives wanting to address the past and not knowing caselaw believed the political announcements as well. And of course the politicians got what they wanted, standing ovations and votes,” he said.
“Ultimately, I didn’t want what we’re seeing today. I wanted to keep lifting people out of poverty, build strong communities and societies, and not divide Canadians to the point where we all fail. I can’t help but think that I failed in communicating these points effectively.”
