Coastal First Nations is an activist group endorsed by just eight of the more than 70 First Nations on the B.C. coast

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This week, Prime Minister Mark Carney flew to B.C. for a meeting with “Coastal First Nations,” crediting them as ancient guardians of the Pacific Coast.

“Coastal First Nations have stewarded the waters of the B.C. North Coast from time immemorial,” he wrote in a statement.

But Carney didn’t meet with a governing body representing the more than 100 First Nations on the B.C. coast. In fact, he didn’t meet with an Indigenous governing body of any kind.

Carney met with an anti-pipeline non-profit that has done business under the name “Coastal First Nations” since 2002. Prior to that, it was called Turning Point, and operated out of the offices of the David Suzuki Foundation.

In fact, the group’s last major event before meeting Carney was a gala to celebrate its 25th anniversary.

Coastal First Nations isn’t even the name on its registration documents. If Carney had used their official moniker, his statement would have read, “The Great Bear Initiative Society has stewarded the waters of the B.C. North Coast from time immemorial.”

Coastal First Nations have stewarded the waters of the B.C. North Coast from time immemorial.

Today I met with their leadership in Prince Rupert to talk about how we can work in partnership to strengthen marine conservation and ocean protection, and to build a stronger and more…

Coastal First Nations describes itself as “an........

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