Utoo Radio with News Sources, March 22, 2024 - B.C.'s Central Coast leaders went to London, England, in March to address oil spill concerns
The leaders met with IMO delegates in London.
Heiltsuk (Bella Bella) Chief Marilyn Slett stressed the need to match shipping laws with UNDRIP. "Currently, the compensation only covers economic losses, neglecting the losses experienced by Indigenous cultures."
The Heiltsuk have relied on the ocean for food and rituals for 14,000 years.
In a phone call to Castlegar News from London, the Heiltsuk community said they had not received compensation for cultural losses since the Nathan E. Stewart tugboat drowned in the Seaforth Channel near Bella Bella on Oct. 12, 2016. The accident released 110,000 gallons of diesel and 2,000 litres of lubricants into the water.
"It was deemed crucial to address this matter in this location." To make improvements, these talks must start. Change won't happen immediately, but it must start.
Hereditary Chief Harvey Humchitt Sr., Heiltsuk Councillor Maria Martin, traditional leader Rory Housty, and his wife Brenda join Slett in London.
They attended a panel discussion on Monday, March 18. They held a side presentation on Wednesday, March 20, two days later. The Inuit Circumpolar Council, one of the IMO's most popular side events, was hosted the same day.
The Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) invited Heiltsuk to join its delegation.
ICC is the only Indigenous non-governmental organization having provisional consultative status at the IMO, allowing it to send delegates.
Slett said, "Collaborating with the ICC has been an incredible experience," emphasizing her travel to England and the historic combined IMO delegation.
After Nathan E. Stewart sank, she vividly recalled the morning phone calls.
Emotions abounded. Harvey Humchitt Sr., was among the responders.
As news of the boat's grounding and diesel spill into Gale Creek spread, they felt helpless.
She believes the community will never forget it.
The initial lack of cooperation or preparations for the reaction drove most of our efforts. We prioritized emergency response training and capacity building for our members."
Slett reported 170 nation-wide attendees at the conference. After their presentation, people from Fiji, Chile, Italy, and the Marshall Islands thanked them for exposing cultural losses and economic problems.
"After travelling a considerable distance, we are pleased to report that our trip has been a success, with people positively receiving our message," he said.
Humchitt likened the leak to grieving for a loved one in a recent news release.
"The Heiltsuk community's attempt to recover from spill-related cultural losses is concerning. Neither Canada nor international laws have supported them despite their efforts."
Inuit Circumpolar Council Canada president Lisa Koperqualuk praised the Heiltsuk delegation's strong engagement with global decision-makers on common challenges. These issues focus on incorporating Indigenous cultural heritage into IMO operations and regulations.
"We are aligned with the concerns of the Heiltsuk Nation and will present a united front at the IMO."
