FIRST NATIONS LEADERSHIP COUNCIL

May 27, 2020

Hon. Premier of PO Box 9041 Stn Prov Govt Victoria, BC V8W 9E1 Via Email: [email protected]

Hon. Bruce Ralston Minister of Energy Mines and Petroleum Resources PO Box 9052 Stn Prov Govt Victoria, BC V8W 3E2 Via Email: [email protected]

Hon. Scott Fraser Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation PO Box 9051 Stn Prov Govt Victoria, BC V8W 9E2 Via Email: [email protected]

Re: BC Hydro Phase 2 Review and UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Dear Premier Horgan, Minister Ralston, and Minister Fraser,

Further to the attached April 16, 2020 letter from the First Nations Leadership Council, the October 18, 2019 letter from the BCAFN, and Ministerial-FNLC teleconference meetings on April 30, 2020 and May 7, 2020, we write to you again regarding the Ministry of Energy Mines and Petroleum Resources’ (EMPR) BC Hydro Phase 2 review process. These letters and meetings all sought to ensure a coordinated process among the First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) supported by our technical organization, the BC First Nations Energy and Mining Council (FNEMC). The solutions we proposed were meant to re-set the relationship based upon the commitments and articles in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples including the BC Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. The Chiefs in assembly at our regional meetings all supported similar resolutions last fall, and many First Nations have stated the Phase 1 and Phase 2 stages have not met their expectations. To date, our proposed solutions have all been met with rejection and unnecessary delays.

After the most recent meeting with Minister Ralston on May 7, 2020, we were informed more internal discussion was required by EMPR to consider the proposal we presented. Two calls were subsequently convened with the First Nations Energy and Mining Council and EMPR staff on May 13 and May 14 to attempt to find solutions. The First Nations Energy and Mining Council informed us that all the proposed solutions were rejected by EMPR with the exception of a very limited timeline to review and provide written recommendations to many months of discussions on Phase 1 and Phase 2. Those scope and timeline proposed by EMPR were unrealistic as after a more than 2-year period, we were given 3-4 weeks to review and produce a report. In light of this rejection, we again call upon you to halt the process so we can jointly find a pathway to collaborate on:

1. Review of the work completed to date 2. Jointly coordinate new workshops with First Nations 3. Joint drafting of the recommendations and the final report.

We continue to advocate for a political oversight committee consisting of the FNLC and Ministers of EMPR and MIRR. Given the COVID-19 situation and the months of delays to find a joint solution, we request a 6-month delay in the process. Attached is a proposal and budget for your consideration.

For further communications, please contact Jaime Sanchez at [email protected], cell #: 250-713-1129.

Sincerely,

On behalf of the FIRST NATIONS SUMMIT

Cheryl Casimer Robert Phillips Lydia Hwitsum

Page 2 of 3 On behalf of the UNION OF BC INDIAN CHIEFS

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip Chief Don Tom Kukpi7 Judy Wilson

On behalf of the BC ASSEMBLY OF FIRST NATIONS:

Regional Chief Terry Teegee

Cc: Dave Porter, CEO, BC First Nations Energy and Mining Council [email protected] Don Bain, Advisor to Premier of BC [email protected]

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