but a little over a month later, some blueberry river members challenged the plan in court, alleging it had been achieved through private meetings involving the chief, without the approval of the elected council or its legal representatives.
“the approach taken by the province is an affront to the dignity of our people, respect for governance and right of self-determination as a first nation, including pursuant to the un declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples,” protested coun. shelley gauthier.
then in september, gauthier and three other councillors combined to oust desjarlais as chief. a lengthy statement accused her of acting unilaterally to approve natural gas permits in an area of cultural significance, without the consent of council.
desjarlais fought back in federal court. her filing accuses her rivals of procedural errors, improper resort to in camera proceedings and breach of privacy by reading her emails.
neither set of allegations has been tested in court. but the desjarlais filing details a dozen related legal proceedings in recent years, suggesting that the blueberry river council is to some degree dysfunctional.
bad news for the petroleum sector, with many drilling permits held up by the blueberry river infighting. i’m told that when the lng canada terminal comes online in kitimat next year, it may have to rely on natural gas piped in from alberta, which won’t pay royalties to b.c.