> The land claims of everyone concerned were extinguished when British
> Columbia entered Confederation.
That's not true. The appeal judges in the Gitk'san case (Delgamuukw vs the
Queen) specifically ruled that aboriginal title and aboriginal rights (the
court used both terms) were not extingished by time, treaty or the entry of
British Columbia into confederation. They also said that these rights were
not fee-simple, but nonetheless just as real under canadian law, and that they
exist as a burden on Crown title. They court went on to say that governments
and aboriginal people needed to get together and negotiate a reconciliation
between these traditional aboriginal rights to the land and the ownershipo by
the crown.
You obviously feel quite strongly that the people at Gufstasen lake are
ignoring Canadian law - and I agree with you 100%. However the solution does
not line in youj or me or governments doing exactly the same thing - turning
around and ignoring other aspects of Canadian law.
If we are to insist that aboriginal people operate within the framework of
Canadian law, than we must do the same - and Canadian law
(incl;uding the constitution) recognizes "aboriginal rights" based on
traditional occupation as surely as it makes it illegal to occupy private
property.