September 16, 2025
(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) is calling on the Province to consult and cooperate with potentially affected First Nations in order to obtain their free, prior, and informed consent before decisions are made on Crown Land Application #1412379. Crown Land Application #1412379, submitted by the U.S.-based National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), seeks 77 “Crown land” tenures along the West Coast of British Columbia, encompassing First Nations’ ancient village sites.
The FNLC is gravely concerned that Crown Land Application #1412379 does not acknowledge First Nation title and rights holders or potential impacts, such as ecological, cultural, and spiritual impacts. The initial filing of this application by NOLS has circumvented and undermined local governance, proceeding without meaningful consultation and cooperation with First Nations or local communities. The proposed tenures directly intersect with established community plans, B.C. Marine Trails, designated campgrounds, and First Nations’ lands, territories, and resources. Many of the proposed tenure sites lack basic infrastructure such as drinking water or septic systems, which may pose health, safety, and fire risks.
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