The Wolastoqiyik have occupied the lands and waters of what is now known as New Brunswick since time immemorial. The Peace and Friendship treaties the Wolastoqey are signatories to did not involve the surrender of land, waters or resources. However, over the past centuries, Wolastoqey lands, waters, and resources have been increasingly appropriated by third parties, exploited, contaminated, depleted, and regulated to the point where the ability to exercise Wolastoqey Aboriginal and Treaty rights is in serious jeopardy. The ability of the Wolastoqey to feed families and earn a livelihood from harvesting the natural resources on Wolastoqey territory is seriously diminished, and it has become increasingly hard for the Wolastoqey to practice cultural and spiritual traditions and transmit these to the youth. As such, the Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick takes all Crown land transactions in Wolastoqey Territory seriously.
The Province of New Brunswick oversees land transactions relating to provincial Crown land. Crown land transactions are generally in the form of Leases, Licences of Occupation, Crown Reserve Roads, and Land Exchanges and Disposals. The Province of New Brunswick sends notification of proposed Crown land transactions to the Wolastoqey Communities prior to approval. The Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick provides technical advice to the Wolastoqey Communities on how the proposed transaction could potentially impact Wolastoqey Aboriginal and Treaty Rights.
For more information, please contact Gillian Paul, Legal and Governance Advisor at gillian.paul@wolastoqey.ca