What is the role of the BC Treaty Commission?
The three main roles of the Treaty Commission are: Facilitation: assist the parties in making progress through facilitating treaty negotiations, including assisting the Parties in finding solutions and resolving disputes; Public Information and Education: educating the public and providing information and increase awareness of treaty making; and Funding: allocating negotiating support funding to enable First Nations to participate in […]
How many are in the BC treaty negotiations process?
65 self-identifying First Nations, representing 109 current and former Indian Act bands out of all 200 Indian Act bands in BC, are participating in, or have completed treaties through, the treaty negotiations process. This is 54.5% of all BC Indian Act bands. For information on each First Nation in the treaty negotiations process, see negotiations, and for […]
How many modern treaties have been negotiated in the BC treaty negotiations process?
There are seven First Nations implementing modern treaties that were negotiated in the made-in-BC treaty negotiations process: the five Maa-nulth First Nations, Tla’amin Nation, and Tsawwassen First Nation. Maa-nulth is structured as five independent governments, and is counted as such by the Treaty Commission. The Nisga’a treaty was concluded as the BC treaty negotiations process […]
How are my interests represented in negotiations?
Treaty making cannot be done in isolation. Everyone has a role in reconciliation, including the public. It requires the will of communities to initiate change, to embrace the process of moving forward as British Columbians in a new relationship. Although the three parties conduct negotiations, the public has a number of important roles and ways […]
What is the UN Declaration?
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN Declaration) also referred to as UNDRIP, is an international set of standards to protect the rights of Indigenous peoples. As described by the United Nations, the UN Declaration is a “universal framework of minimum standards for the survival, dignity and well-being of the Indigenous peoples of the world […]
Do modern treaties extinguish Indigenous rights and title?
No modern treaties do not extinguish Indigenous rights and title. Aboriginal title and rights are continued through treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements. The Principals agree that the made-in-BC treaty negotiations framework is grounded in the recognition, affirmation and implementation of Aboriginal title and rights. Affirmed in the Principals’ Accord on Transforming Treaty Negotiations, signed on […]