quote:January 2009
To Whom It May Concern:
Ahousaht and Hesquiaht Nations have united. Through the undersigned Hawiih and on behalf of our people, we carry a mandate to advance our inherent Aboriginal title, exercise our authority and give expression to our self- governance. Our commitment was witnessed in a public declaration at the First Nations Summit on November 27, 2008 in Vancouver.
By exercising our authority- we maintain and strengthen our political, legal, economic, social and cultural structures. We are hereby furthering our rights to own, to use our resources, and to develop and control our Hahoulthee . We are giving power to our significant contribution to the development of this province and country and to our economic strength. It is our intention to fulfill our inherited role and take our rightful place in this economy today. We are putting immediate and specific plans in place in regards to royalties, licenses, fees, sales, use and management of all lands and resources within our respective Hahoulthee. Furthermore, Ahousaht and Hesquiaht recognize and will uphold and bring to life the legal victories of the First Nations people in BC and Canada in our Hahoulthee. Through this letter, our intention is to communicate directly that effective immediately:
o We are systematically increasing our presence in our territories so that all will know the power and deepest meaning of Hahoulthee and Hawiih- whether government, businesses or organizations
o We will call upon our traditional laws to use and access the resources in our Hahoulthee with permission from our Hawiih
o Any economic activity in our Hahoulthee must be granted by the permission and authority of our Hawiih
o We are creating plans of action to work together for our economic benefit in our Hahoulthee by addressing- Self-governance, Lands and Resources, Parks and Industry in a phased approach
o We will manage and benefit from the wealth of our Hahoulthee
We extend an invitation to meet in regards to our plans and implementation. For further information please contact Guy Louie and Joe Tom at 250 726 2446.
In the spirit of the New Relationship, and for the well-being of our people,
___________________________ _______________________
Ahousaht Nation Hesquiaht Nation
Maquinna – Lewis George Matlahoa- Dominic Andrews