Page 13 shows probably the only cumulative effects study that has ever been done. The image on the left was done by Dr. Faisal Moola of the David Suzuki Foundation and Global Forest Watch. This is all the current B.C. and federal development that has happened on the land. These are the five watersheds around my community. The image on the left is the actual footprint, and the image on the right is the footprint with the 500-metre buffer that the federal government uses in the area. When I talk about no forced interference, this is what we're presented with in our territory.
Regarding page 14, when we went through the paperwork and looked at the recommended changes, suggested changes to the environmental assessment, the current issue with the B.C. and federal governments' environmental assessment is that there is nothing in there about first nations. When we go through what's being recommended now, there is no consideration of first nations.
What we hear and see is that they'll take it into consideration. Well, we've seen what consideration gets us. What does that mean, “take it into consideration”? Is it the intent of the environmental assessment to unjustifiably infringe on the treaty? That's a question I have for you guys. Is that the intent?
We're not in here. The first nations are not in here anywhere. We should be at the very beginning. The treaty is a constitutional document. It's part of the Constitution of Canada, yet we don't show up until the very end of it, after permits have been released, after studies have been done. This is where we find ourselves in Site C.