Summary
In 2020, the ʔEsdilagh First Nation, an indigenous group located in British Columbia, adopted a law in order to protect the Sturgeon River. The law bans any granting of “an Authorization for any use, project or proposed project that could adversely impact the quality, quantity of tu in ʔElhdaqox or Tŝilhqot’in rights and responsibilities.” The law also authorizes use of an emergency protection order to address a critical environmental concern with the river, and requires that any authorization holder must, at the holders expense, “take prompt action to remediate and restore the health of ʔElhdaqox for harm caused, directly or indirectly.”