Modern Treaties

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MODERN TREATIES

Modern treaties are negotiated amongst the governments of Canada, British Columbia and First Nations in BC. Treaties: are grounded in the recognition of the Indigenous rights; reconcile pre-existing Indigenous sovereignty with assumed Crown sovereignty; do not extinguish the rights, including title, in form or result; and are able to evolve over time based on the co-existence of Crown and Indigenous governments and the ongoing process of reconciling preexisting Indigenous sovereignty with assumed Crown sovereignty.

Learn more about innovative self-government agreements negotiated through the treaty process and signed by the Parties below.

NEgotiations process

Please see the Negotiations Process page, which sets out the BC Treaty Commission’s policies and procedures for Stages 1 – 4 of the six-stage treaty negotiations process.

It also sets out the Treaty Commission’s basic policies on Dispute Resolution and Interim Measures.

Lheidli T’enneh Treaty

May 5, 2018

The new Lheidli T’enneh Treaty was initialed in May 2018. The Parties first initialed the treaty in October 2006. Lheidli T’enneh First Nation held a treaty ratification vote in March 2007 and membership voted not to accept the agreement. Since that time, the Parties updated the treaty to include new provisions enabling the agreement to change as certain key provincial and federal policies for Indigenous peoples are developed.

Tla’amin Final Agreement (Tla’amin Treaty)

April 5, 2016

The Tla’amin Final Agreement, now referred to as the Tla’amin Treaty was ratifed by the Tla’amin Nation on July 10, 2012, by the BC Legislature on March 14, 2013, and by the Government of Canada on June 19, 2014, when it received Royal Assent by Parliament.

The Tla’amin Treaty took effect on April 5, 2016. For recent updates, please see our latest annual report.

Maa-nulth First Nations Final Agreement (Maa-nulth Treaty)

April 1, 2011

The Maa-nulth First Nations Final Agreement (Maa-nulth Treaty) was ratified by the five Maa-nulth First Nations in October 2007, by the BC Legislature on November 29, 2007, and by the Government of Canada on June 18, 2009 when it received Royal Assent by Parliament.

The Maa-nulth Treaty is being implemented by the five independent Indigenous governments: Huu-ay-aht First Nations, Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k’tles7et’h’ First Nations, Toquaht Nation, Uchucklesaht Tribe Government, Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Government, and the governments of Canada and British Columbia.

The Maa-nulth Treaty took effect on April 1, 2011.

Yale First Nation Final Agreement

March 12, 2011

The Yale First Nation Final Agreement was ratified by Yale First Nation on March 12, 2011, by the BC legislature on June 2, 2011, and by the Government of Canada on June 19, 2013, when it received Royal Assent by Parliament.

The effective date has been postponed.

Tsawwassen First Nation Final Agreement (Tsawwassen Treaty)

April 3, 2009

The Tsawwassen First Nation Final Agreement (Tsawwassen Treaty) was ratified by the Tsawwassen First Nation in July 2007, by the BC Legislature in November 2007, and by the Government of Canada on June 26, 2008, when it received Royal Assent by Parliament.

The Tsawwassen Final Agreement took effect on April 3, 2009. For recent updates, please see our latest annual report.