From: on behalf of Panel Registry Subject: FW: TNG registration of ...

Climate change will not directly affect community governance but the effects it will have on the land
and on community assets could certainly add more stress to governing an already challenging
situation. In the short‐term, wild fires could destroy housing and public infrastructure, which could
impede
the regular activities of government. Long‐term changes due to climate change will be
more
gradual but they will force more systematic changes to community development.
6.9. Culture
The Xeni Gwet’in are the original inhabitants of the XGCA, occupying and using the land for
thousands of years. Culturally they regard themselves as people of the Tsilhqot’in Nation, which
has a distinct language, a distinct system of meanings and values, a distinct kinship system and a
distinct way of life marked by a blend of sub‐arctic, plateau and coastal practices. 86 The Xeni
Gwet’in are unusual among First Nation communities in the southern half of BC in retaining almost
complete use of their own Chilcotin language and in continuing to hunt, fish and collect berries,
roots and medicines from the land much the same way their ancestors did. It is not an accident that
the Xeni Gwet’in culture is relatively strong. The community is remote and is not inundated by non‐
Xeni Gwet’in culture. It has its own K‐9 school, wherein the language and the culture are taught.
The community makes a real effort to gather together and celebrate its culture at regular times of
the year. The children are taught and encouraged to ride and hunt, fish and collect. And the land
has remained fairly healthy so hunting, fishing and collecting is relatively easy. Indeed, the strength
of the Xeni Gwet’in culture is closely related to the health of the land, since their stories, their diet,
their
medicines, their seasonal movements and their social gatherings all revolve around a healthy
land.
Although the Xeni Gwet’in culture is relatively strong, the culture is at risk of declining as the
outside world increasingly influences the community through TV, radio, internet and consumer
culture and as the youth travel or leave the community for work, education or marriage. Climate
change will only stress the traditional culture further, since it will stress the land upon which the
Xeni Gwet’in culture is inextricably linked. Salmon and trout fishing, to some extent hunting
(moose) and collecting may become more difficult, which may negatively impact traditional food
gathering and local self‐sufficiency. Climate change could accelerate a shift that is already occurring
away from traditional culture, perhaps to a more agrarian culture, if farming is taken up in a bigger
way, or perhaps to a more western rural culture, if store bought foods become the sole food source.
There is no way of knowing how the Xeni Gwet’in culture will respond to the climate
changes. However, what is guaranteed is that the adaptation choices available to the Xeni
Gwet’in will become fewer if the biodiversity and resiliency of the land is compromised by
unsustainable development. If the land remains healthy and resilient, it will more easily
adapt to the coming climate changes and the same is true for the Xeni Gwet’in traditional
culture.
7. The Xeni Gwet’in Vision for Sustainable Development
The Xeni Gwet’in see themselves as stewards of the XGCA and envision sustainable development
and human activity, grounded in an ecosystem‐based approach to land use. The community intends
to continue to be to hunt, trap,
fish, and collect for sustenance. They intend to ranch and guide as
86 Argument of Plaintiff, Volume 1. Roger Williams vs the Province of BC. P. 175
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