Gitanyow Wilp Sustainability Assessment Process
A review Of all major development projects
The Gitanyow Wilp Sustainability Assessment Process was developed over three years by the Hereditary Chiefs with legal support from the West Coast Environmental Law RELAW program. The Chiefs passed a Consensus Record in late 2020 to pilot the WSAP for one year. As Covid19 dragged on, and no new major projects were proposed, the pilot period was extended.
During the pilot phase, Gitanyow engaged both the federal and provincial governments to inform them of the process and how it would parallel Crown environmental assessments. The WSAP upholds key Articles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples including 5, 18, 20, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, and 32. Further, wilp assessments are referred to in the Schedule H of the Gitanyow Huwilp Recognition and Reconciliation Agreement, 2021.
The WSAP is a process to review all major development projects either within the Gitanyow Lax’yip or affecting Gitanyow rights. For example, where development may affect migratory species such as salmon that Gitanyow rely upon, Gitanyow may elect to review projects and make determinations upon them specific to the Indigenous or Aboriginal right to fish.
A review Of all major development projects
The Gitanyow Wilp Sustainability Assessment Process was developed over three years by the Hereditary Chiefs with legal support from the West Coast Environmental Law RELAW program. The Chiefs passed a Consensus Record in late 2020 to pilot the WSAP for one year. As Covid19 dragged on, and no new major projects were proposed, the pilot period was extended.
During the pilot phase, Gitanyow engaged both the federal and provincial governments to inform them of the process and how it would parallel Crown environmental assessments. The WSAP upholds key Articles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples including 5, 18, 20, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, and 32. Further, wilp assessments are referred to in the Schedule H of the Gitanyow Huwilp Recognition and Reconciliation Agreement, 2021.
The WSAP is a process to review all major development projects either within the Gitanyow Lax’yip or affecting Gitanyow rights. For example, where development may affect migratory species such as salmon that Gitanyow rely upon, Gitanyow may elect to review projects and make determinations upon them specific to the Indigenous or Aboriginal right to fish.
The Gitanyow Wilp Sustainability Assessment Process
Learn more about the history, origin, development and implementation of the Gitanyow Wilp Sustainability Assessment Process with Wilp Sustainability Director Tara Marsden/Naxginkw.
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