Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Thursday, November 20, 2014

'Persecuted For Being Indian,' Claims B.C. Couple Charged With Poaching

KAMLOOPS, B.C. - A First Nations couple facing poaching charges claim they are being “persecuted for being Indian.”

Jay Coutts and Fara Palmer were in provincial court in Kamloops, B.C., on Thursday to fight the charges, saying their aboriginal rights are being violated.

They have been charged with one count each of trafficking in wildlife, while Coutts faces an additional count of hunting during prohibited hours.

Coutts told the court that his aboriginal rights trump Canada’s laws.

“All the words in these laws are white-man words,” he said.

“These are laws built for non-native people. It is for white people, not native people.”

The couple say they have constitutional rights based on a number of prominent cases including a recent Supreme Court of Canada decision granting the Tsilhqot'in Nation near Williams Lake, B.C., title to 1,700 square miles of land in the remote Nemiah Valley.

Coutts and Palmer were charged after an undercover operation by the B.C. Conservation Officer Service in April 2013.

They’re accused of selling deer meat to undercover conservation officers in Cache Creek. It’s alleged the officers went to the house Coutts and Palmer were living in and bought meat.

Outside court, Coutts said he was making a living selling the meat — something he believes he has the right to do.

“I’m being persecuted for being Indian — for doing my job,” he said.

“How is it possible that I can sell the hide, but I can’t sell the meat?”

Coutts said aboriginals are allowed to hunt for food and sustenance in Canada and that should mean he’s allowed to sell deer meat.

“My rights existed before 1800 and they still exist today,” he said.

“To my society, it’s integral.”

Coutts and Palmer are in the process of hiring a lawyer.

They are due back in court for arraignment on Jan. 26. (Kamloops This Week)

Original Article
Source: huffingtonpost.ca/
Author: CP | By Tim Petruk, Kamloops This Week, The Canadian Press

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